The last known official interview with Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher was recorded on 30 October 2013, two months before his life-altering skiing accident in the French Alps on 29 December 2013.
Now ten years on since that fateful day robbed the sport of one of its greatest drivers, at the time of his accident (although retired for a year) Schumacher was a record seven-time F1 World Champion, whose 91 Grand Prix victories are only usurped by Sir Lewis Hamilton. The Briton ties the German on a record amount of Driver's titles.
On this tenth anniversary of the Meribel tragedy that nearly cost Schumie his life and kept him out of public sight ever since. According to family and close friends with access - such as Ralf Schumacher and Jean Todt - he is simply: "He is no longer the Michael we knew in F1."
His final interview we publish below in full to mark this sad occasion, thanks to the official Schumacher website where the video was first published by Michael's family in 2018.
What was your most emotional world title: your first ever in 1994, or the first with Ferrari in 2000?
The most emotional one definitely is 2000 with Ferrari. 21 years of no championship for Ferrari. Four years for myself failing to achieve it and finally 2000 Suzuka winning the race. An exceptional race and win the great championship. The most respected guy in all those years definitely was Mika Hakkinen, great fights but a stable private relationship.
How physically demanding Formula 1 is really?
Formula 1 is tough. It used to be a lot harder, with no power brakes, and no power steering, in past
days compared to nowadays. But anyway it's one of the toughest sports that you can do.
days compared to nowadays. But anyway it's one of the toughest sports that you can do.
Did you have a Formula 1 idol as a child?
In my young days of Karting looking around and, yes, I saw Ayrton Senna, I saw Vincenzo Sospiri who I admired a lot as a kart driver. But my real idol was Toni Schumacher. [Football goalkeeper who played for the German National team in the late seventies and eighties.]
Have you always known that you would set racing records, or did you ever doubt your abilities?
Records are one thing, doubts... I think is very important to not be too overconfident, to be sceptical to look for improvements, to look for the next step. I always felt I'm not good enough, I needed to work on myself and I guess that was one of the recipes.
You've always said that success is a team effort, but isn't the Formula 1 a one-man act?
Success in any situation of life or most I know anyway is about teamwork. Yourself you do what you do, as
a team you'll be much stronger and Formula 1 is teamwork.
a team you'll be much stronger and Formula 1 is teamwork.
You led the Benetton and Ferrari teams to world championship titles, and you helped shape the lead-up for
If you go back to the various teams I've been driving for, the missions with Benetton after kind of four to five
years building it up, winning the championship, the same for Ferrari. We tried the same with Mercedes in less time. Is the one thing in common? I have to say yes there is.
years building it up, winning the championship, the same for Ferrari. We tried the same with Mercedes in less time. Is the one thing in common? I have to say yes there is.
As part of your ongoing efforts to improve, do you analyze all the other drivers or only the best ones?
To develop yourself to find other steps you not only look at the car, you look at yourself, you look at the drivers. You're not only looking at the front drivers, you're looking at everybody so I did because everybody has some special.
You've always said that kart racing is the best training ground for all subsequent classes of racing. Why is that?
Karting is a good preparation for future motorsports because it gives you a lot of facilities that you can develop yourself, a lot of skills that you can develop and the fighting, the wheel to real racing that's one of the big learning you get from Karting.
Is it possible to reach the top of Formula 1 on talent alone?
Talent in motorsport as in any sport is important but that's not all you need really to develop lots of
different skills. Karting is a good base to prove your talent but even to find out about the other needs you need as a race driver.
different skills. Karting is a good base to prove your talent but even to find out about the other needs you need as a race driver.
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