‘On the limit of rules, on the limit of driving’

Former F1 champ Michael Schumacher Says He Made Mistakes & Learnt From Them

Ruhi Batra | TNN


Schumacher in Brussels on Wednesday for a campaign against drunk driving

Brussels: For those who threw the words ruthless and manipulative at Michael Schumacher, the man has a simple answer. “I was there to win. That’s what the sport was about.”

Sure there are things he regrets. Sure there are things the seven-time world champions would’ve done differently. But he had a purpose. His job was to win and he did. Unapologetically.

“Ruthless? I don’t think so. Yes I was there to win. Everybody puts in a lot of effort. There is a lot of investment. There was a lot of personal investment. There were rules that you were allowed to act into. Most of the times, I was exactly within the rules. I was on the limit of the rules but at the same time I was on the limit of driving. Some people may agree and some may not,” he says with consummate ease.

In a career that spanned 16 years and seven world titles, there were times and occasions when his sporting ethics were called into question. Schumacher, however, drove on, his sense of purpose and destiny unmatched by any man in the sport’s history.

Now, retired and probably having time to reflect on things other than lap times, Schumacher knows he pushed the limits a few times but he won’t give you the impression that he regrets doing anything. “Certain things I would do differently. Absolutely yes. I was in Formula One for 16 years and it would be pretentious to say that I never made mistakes. That’s what life is about. To make them and learn from them,” he says, his face never betraying a single inner thought.

A career that spanned 250 races, there’s one that will always occupy a special place in the regenmeister’s heart. “Suzuka 2000,” he answers, without hesitation. “It was a big milestone for the team and personal career. In light of the things that had developed just beforehand, it was a very important moment for all of us.”

Schumacher spent his career seeing off one challenge after another. Pretenders came and went. But now Schumacher has taken on a task that isn’t as easy overtaking a car that’s in your way.

Nearly half of the road accident fatalities all over the world are put down to drunk driving.

A staunch supporter of road safety campaigns and part of the “Think Before You Drive” campaign, Schumacher has lent his name to Bacardi’s latest social responsibility initiative — Champions Drink Responsibly, launched here at the Autoworld, a museum dedicated to automobile history.

It’s a cause that he feels very, very strongly for. One would imagine that he has personal experience of the problem and its afflictions. But Schumacher dismisses that notion immediately.

“It’s not a personal campaign. I’ve the luxury with my fame, so-called, to reach people who like to listen to us. If I can save one person’s life because I’m raising their attention to the problem of drunk driving, it’s great. This is the best thing that could happen to me. If I could save one person’s life, it would give me great satisfaction. It’s not about money, it’s about giving back,” explains the man, who single-handedly donated $10m to the 2004 tsunami relief fund.

About moving away from F1 racing, Schumacher says, “Retirement isn’t that bad.”

If you could drive a Ducati monster when you wanted to, even you wouldn’t complain. “I want to enjoy life. With my family and friends. I’d been in certain strict routines and machinery that I wanted to step out from and now I’m searching for things to enjoy. I’ve the luxury so why not try. There are no serious intentions. I’m sure you understand, I’m paying for it, not getting paid for it (laughs). So I’m just doing what I enjoy doing.”

Any plans of coming to India?
“I’ve no plans right now but I wouldn’t rule it out. Your country is a very nice country. I haven’t been in India properly to see the country but I’ve friends who’ve been there and they enjoyed it. So who knows one day I might pass around but certainly incognito rather than one big promotion tour,” he signs off with a teasing smile.

Source :- TOI Newspaper