Schumacher enjoys new-found popularity

Michael Schumacher is motivated for the 2001 season

Michael Schumacher says that he no longer has an image problem and feels more accepted as an individual.

"It is good that people are slowly getting to look at me differently but it's a pity that it took them such a long time," Ferrari's Formula One world champion told German weekly Stern.

"The character of Michael Schumacher, me as a private person, has not changed but I feel more strongly accepted now.

The people don't try so often to twist what I say and when it happens, I don't care as much as I used to."

The three-time world champion has been portrayed in the past as cold and aloof, even arrogant, and took until last year to establish a strong rapport with Italian fans.

He said he and his wife Corinna would not change their lifestyle: "VIP events are not our world. They are too superficial."

People keep asking me but I'm only 32 and can easily carry on until I'm 35 or even after that

  Michael Schumacher

Spending more time with his family would be his main concern once he had retired, he said.

"Then I will live only for them and give them all my time."

However Schumacher said that he still had a few good years ahead of him and did not know when he would retire.

"People keep asking me but I'm only 32 and can easily carry on until I'm 35 or even after that," he added.

The German said there were still moments when he thought about the crash at Silverstone in 1999 in which he broke a leg but he added that it had not slowed him down:

"When the red light goes, then I want to fight and win the race. That's the only motivation I need."