Michael Schumacher was today forced to defend his reputation as he faced up to the least attractive aspect of his Formula One comeback.

Schumi's reputation at stake!

Michael Schumacher was today forced to defend his reputation as he faced up to the least attractive aspect of his Formula One comeback.

Schumacher has never enjoyed his media duties, and in pondering whether to return he must have questioned whether he again wanted to face the intrusion.

That is despite the fact that he knew he was ready to return, mentally and physically, after more than three years away.

After all, despite his unprecedented success there remain stains on his character, such as his infamous collisions with Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve as he fought for the world championship in 1994 and 1997 respectively. There was his victory in the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix when then teammate Rubens Barrichello was ordered to pull over to allow the now 41-year-old by.

And, of course, there was the deliberate parking of his Ferrari at La Rascasse in qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix as he attempted to thwart then title rival Fernando Alonso.

When asked whether his return was an opening to show he could win in the right way, Schumacher sarcastically replied: "Ninety-one victories, seven titles, you win only in a bad way. Absolutely. Yeah, you're right, I need to prove (myself) now."

When told the initial question referred to the manner he won, and not what he won, Schumacher caustically remarked: "Yeah, I know. I did win all this in the manner in which you are trying to ask questions."

Speaking of the competition that has changed considerably since he last raced, Schumi said: "In the past there was one team able to compete (McLaren with Ferrari), the way it is now there are two or three teams. Last year was probably an exception, and it might be again, but in all honesty it doesn't really matter.

"You are there to win, and against whoever it is you have to look out for. It doesn't matter whether they are young or experienced. When you're in the car you don't look at how old your opponent is or who it is, you just look at how you can be better than whoever it is."

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