Schumacher offered Ferrari role

"Michael will be a super assistant to Jean Todt," Ferrari president Luca Montezemolo at Monza on Sunday.

But Schumacher, who retired after last week's Brazilian Grand Prix, has yet to decide on any future role at the team.

"I can't say anything precise about what I will do - I don't want to define my role inside Ferrari yet," said the 37-year-old German.

"I will take a break in the coming months and then I will be more clear about what I want to do.

"Ferrari have left me free to decide and have given me the time that I need to make up my mind," the German added.

Ferrari are in the process of rebuilding their team following the departures of technical director Ross Brawn and engine supremo Paolo Martinelli.

Finn Kimi Raikkonen has already joined from McLaren as Schumacher's driver replacement.

new team boss Jean Todt.

Following much speculation as to FIA President Max Mosley's impending retirement, rumors arose in 2004 to the effect that Todt would run for the office. Mosley commented that though Todt would make an excellent president, he was quite happy at Ferrari; however, it has long been assumed that when Michael Schumacher retires from F1, Todt will leave his job. In an apparent bid to maintain Todt's loyalty, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo promoted Todt to the head of the entire Ferrari operation, including street car production.

The French government has made Todt a Chevalier of its Legion d'Honneur.

On September 28, 2005, Todt announced his engagement to former Bond girl and actress Michelle Yeoh.[2] At the end of the 2006 season Michael Schumacher did indeed leave Ferrari for retirement and Todt was promoted to be the CEO of Ferrari, taking a step back from active day-to-day running of the team.

The Frenchman, who was appointed CEO of Ferrari on Wednesday, will serve as managing director of Ferrari’s sporting division for a transitional period.

Ferrari plans to give retired Formula 1 superstar Michael Schumacher a "super-assistant" role to support its newly-promoted CEO Jean Todt.

According to the Frenchman, who will continue to attend races "for the time being", the seven-time world champion's unique understanding of racing makes Schumacher the perfect muse in matters of driver selection, sporting decisions and even the direction of the firm's road car plans.

"Michael has always been interested in following young drivers," said Todt at Ferrari's end-of-season celebrations at Monza.

"I remember Michael talking to me about Felipe [Massa] when he still was in lesser series.

"He also talked to me about Kimi [Raikkonen] before he entered F1 so he has a unique eye, and it will be important to allow us to make choices on the drivers of the future and also to follow the current drivers."

Todt added that Ferrari wanted to take advantage of the wisdom and experience gleaned over 11 years of competition together at the highest level, in which Schumacher and the team amassed 11 drivers' and constructors' titles.

"Michael is one of the greatest drivers in the history of motor racing," he said.

"He has a unique knowledge of racing, so we'll try to take advantage of his knowledge in the best way to take choices for the team at a sporting and technical level.

"He won't have any particular obligation to be present neither in the factory nor at the races nor at private tests."

But Schumacher said that while he was happy to work with Ferrari in the future, right now all he wanted was a break before deciding on his next career step.

"I don't think now there is any need to specify in concrete terms exactly how and what [I will do]," he said.

"I am very happy to be involved in these ways [described by Todt], but I look forward first of all to get this reset I was talking about since announcing my retirement.

"I wanted to get some distance from everything in a way and this distance I will take through the next months and then I will have a much more clear point of view on exactly what I would like to have.

"I just want to first of all experience a different kind of life and then I want to understand what exacty is what I want."

Ferrari's president Luca Montezemolo said at the press conference that "Michael will be a super assistant to Jean Todt."

"I'm very happy that Michael will continue to work with us and to share our choices and contributing to them and this is important," he added.

"Even if he won't be inside the cockpit, his experience and his professionalism will be very useful for the future of Ferrari."