Wednesday March 8th, 2000

Michael Schumacher says he is not worried about the possibility of dying in a motor racing accident some day. "If it happens, it happens. You can't protect yourself from it. That's my view. My life has been pre-determined," the German double world champion told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper on Wednesday.

"When it is supposed to end, it will end - wherever that may be.

"I love sports that offer a certain element of fascination, where the risk can be calculated," he told the German newspaper.

Schumacher said individuals should find out what was important in their lives and weigh up the dangers for themselves.

"Actually, you would have to ask yourself, is not everyone who takes part in extreme sports without earning a single penny a little insane," Schumacher said.

"As far as I am concerned, what is at stake is sport that offers a challenge. What would life be like without challenge? It would be dull. I earn a lot of money, but that is really secondary.

"I have been riding go-karts since I was 15 and didn't earn anything then, yet I still had just as much fun as I now do."

Schumacher starts the new Formula One season in Melbourne on Sunday as favourite to win the title for Ferrari after recovering from breaking his leg in a crash at the British Grand Prix last year.