Schumacher, five times a winner in Monaco and the most successful driver in the history of Formula One with 86 wins, recognised that his career was a chequered one with lows to match the highs.

"Everyone's got some spots on their clean vests," he declared.

"I believe that I've had for the most part a clean vest in the 15 or 16 years that I've been in Formula One and there are perhaps a few darker points in there where some may dispute or criticise things. But I can live quite well with that."

Schumacher's manager Willi Weber had spoken earlier about envious enemies and the driver agreed that there were plenty of rivals in the paddock eager to see him punished.

He did not expect a reconciliation any time soon.

"Those who opened their mouths and made their snappy comments are now certainly too chicken to come to me and talk to me one on one," he said.

"The others who are more reasonable have come up to talk to me about it.

"It's like anything else in life. You can't only have friends. You've got those who envy you and are foes. You've got to come to terms with that. Why should it be any different than in real life?"