Michael Schumacher returned to a grand prix circuit on Saturday to take Zinedine Zidane for two laps around Magny-Cours in a black Ferrari FXX sportscar.

Both retired sporting legends are in France as part of a fundraising effort for the ICM brain and spine charity and Michael spoke to Ted Kravitz after his spin about the charity, chauffeuring a World Cup winner and why he has been keeping a low media profile.

Ted Kravitz: Nice to see you again, Michael. We just spoke to Zinedine – how was it driving round with him?

Michael Schumacher: Well I was watching him and making sure he was all right but he seemed to enjoy it, although he was a bit tense I have to say, naturally because the car is actually going quite quick. I don’t know, what did he say?

Ted: He said it was an incredible experience, you’re a very good driver and that he’s mad on Formula 1…

MS: All right then. We both came here for our projects, him for ELA and myself for ICM, and that was the most important thing that we raised the attention to how important this actually is and how much everybody can help by donations and by giving their support.

Ted: Is ICM related to motor racing because, as we saw with Kubica’s crash, the spine and the head [are vulnerable] in accidents.

MS: It’s more about Parkinson’s and several brain disorders, which one person in every eight can or does actually have.

There’s a lot of study and medication to support people that have those problems, but there is no cure, no prevention.

The aim [of current research] is to go the next step and not let it happen.

Ted: Are you supporting the same charity at the Race of Champions?

MS: Yes, exactly, it’s all the same project.

Ted: And are you looking forward to that because you’ll be racing against Lewis?

MS: Yeah, why not? It should be good fun. I mean, I don’t take these things too seriously. I remember last time I even missed the lights, still had to do another half a lap or something and I stopped it!

But I just look forward to the fun of it, the same way as I do with go-karting or when I ran the car today.

Ted: Would you have liked to race Formula 1 against Lewis?

MS: It’s not really a question, because if I would then I would have done so, so obviously not somehow.

Ted: Since we last spoke he has won a couple of races – how impressed have you been with him?

MS: You know, part of my job – and that’s why I’m so quiet to the media – is that I’m working inside Ferrari, I obviously participate in the internal meetings in the background, I consult.

But it requires to keep a distance of the business of commentating, because I want to keep things as quiet and as smooth as possible, I don’t want to irritate anything or anybody.

So I hope my supporters understand that I have gone a bit quiet on the media side, and I hope you understand too, but there’s no point to talk about other drivers because they do what they do but it’s not about me commentating on them.

Ted: If I could ask you about Ferrari then – it looks very promising for you here this weekend, do you think Felipe and Kimi can challenge for the championship by the end of the year? After all, this time last year I seem to remember we were talking about you not being able to challenge and then you came back and there was nothing in it…

MS: I thought about that when I saw certain things happening this year. Why not? I had an unfortunate situation last year with the engine failure towards the end [at Suzuka], otherwise it would have been a lot closer. The season is long.

Si alde Miki-Dobi zicea cursa trecuta ca nimeni nu-l mai baga in seamna pe Schumi. Offff mare %@%*$ e Miki asta!
Cu acest interviu mi-am terminat misiunea pe week-end-ul acesta si asa am scris destul. Acum am sa-mi iau o mica pauza pentru a ma bucura cum trebuie de sfarsitul sesiunii.

Ionut Bratu

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