May 6 (GMM) Michael Schumacher admits he is more relaxed now but denies this new attitude explains his lack of performance after returning to formula one in 2010.

In an interview with Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung, the seven time world champion said until his retirement in 2006 he was immersed in the "negative aspects" of formula one.

"It absolutely wore me down," said Schumacher, who has struggled to match the pace of his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg so far this season.

He continued: "I believe people have noticed that how I was extremely dogged in the past I am now more calm, in a way that previously I was only able to be sometimes."

But as the criticism mounts, particularly after China where Schumacher struggled notably, he insists: "I have not lost any focus or my determination.

"I am still taking it seriously and am still very hard on myself. In that way nothing has changed," said the record winner of 91 grands prix.

Schumacher admits his biggest problem with today's formula one is the tyres.

"The narrower front tyres, both for the dry and for the rain, I don't know from my past. Each driver needs to learn how they behave and so my colleagues have a head-start."

He explained that where previously he would be using practice sessions to work on fine-tuning for the race, he is now feeling uncertain on Fridays as to how the weekend will develop.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version