Schumacher not downhearted

The Brazilian Grand Prix closed out the 2004 Formula 1 season. The final race did not bring a win but was Michael Schumacher downhearted? "No," commented the German champion. "There is no reason to be sad after this race. We have had a fantastic season! We won both world titles and more races than we ever dreamed possible so we can't feel any delusion."

Michael Schumacher.

Photo by Bridgestone Corporation.

"I must say that at the start of the year when we presented the new single-seater, how surprised everyone was by how cautious we were. During winter too everybody speculated on how 2004 would see an end to our series of victories. Honestly...we too were thinking the same thing!"

Michael recalls his initial astonishment when he saw the competitors' lap times from the winter tests, hence his prudence. "Having dominated to the extent we have is extraordinary; this is what we should take from the season. We can be proud with what we have achieved."

Immediately after Sunday's race there was, naturally, some disappointment. "It was more for Rubens", explains Michael. "It would have been great for him to win his home race and I am really sorry the he didn't manage to do it. The weather conditions didn't help. We wanted to win the last GP of the season but we couldn't do it. Still, we have to admit that the other teams did better than we did. They deserved this end to the season."

Will the champion now allow himself a well-earned holiday? "I had a little break in the week before the Brazilian GP and so I don't feel too tired. There were other times during the season in which I felt more tired than I do now. I am even in shape for another couple of races but I know how important it is to rest and spend a quiet winter."

"Over the past few years I have tried different ways of completely detaching. This time I will do the same again and, obviously, I cannot wait to spend some time with my family."

And did he have any views on the new season? "The new rules will make things interesting and we all have to get used to them. However, the years of experience have proved that the rules are irrelevant; the best team always wins. We have been the best for quite a while and you can bet that it is our desire for things to remain that way for quite a bit longer."

-ferrari-