Schu leaves comeback door unlocked
But the 37-year-old German, and his long time manager Willi Weber, insist that speculation of an imminent return to the grand prix grid is wide of the mark.
"I can assure you that there is no more 'formula one driver Michael Schumacher'," Schumacher told 'Express'.
Weber told a similar story, and repeated his denial that the Schumacher camp were considering a multi-million dollar bid by Audi to lure him to DTM.
Weber told Sport1: "I have nothing against the series, but a seven time world champion does not need to drive in DTM."
Schumacher adds that, at least at the moment, he is not keen to reunite with a steering wheel of any kind, 'except for my go-karts', he smiled to 'ARD' (German association of public broadcasters).
He insisted: "What I want to do is take some time out until it becomes clear what I want to do in the future."
10/25/06 (GMM) Michael Schumacher on Wednesday ruled out switching to DTM, but left the door open for a return to motor racing in the future.
"Why would I do that?" the retired seven time world champion told Sport Bild when asked about speculation linking him with Germany's touring car series.
"But I can only answer these questions with certainty from my point of view today. Niki Lauda made a comeback (to F1), Mika Hakkinen returned in the DTM — these things only happened after a while.
"I cannot give a one hundred per cent guarantee today about what I might do in two or three years."
Schumacher, 37, might have left the door to a racing comeback unlocked, but he also did not appear disturbed at the prospect of his former rivals returning to the test track in four weeks.
Indeed, he said he had already planned a vacation with his wife and two children for late November, and admitted that he was now looking forward to 'attracting less attention' after sixteen years of F1 stardom.
Schumacher said: "I have always wanted to go diving with whales but I was always at the right place at the wrong time. Now I will have time to wait for them!"
With more time also for his family, Schumacher said he will therefore be able to devote time to his other passions — such as his role as an ambassador for UNESCO.