In-depth interview - Michael Schumacher

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher has played down suggestions he may join Brawn in an unspecified senior role next season.

Schumacher, who dominated F1 between 1994 and 2004, worked closely with Brawn GP owner Ross Brawn during spells with Benetton and Ferrari.

"If I would have wanted to work, I had the options, and may even now have the options," Schumacher told BBC Sport.

"But right now, it is not what I am looking for."

Following his decision to retire from F1 at the end of the 2006 season, Schumacher served as an advisor for Ferrari, initially assisting former chief executive Jean Todt, and also test driving for the Italian team - which he continues to do.

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However, he stated he has not missed the thrill of F1 and has no intention of making a committed return to the sport.

"I haven't had the need of the adrenaline all these years," he said. "What I'm doing now is for the pure pleasure.

"I have put myself a certain distance away from it and it doesn't feel the same at all.

"When you're inside you're so deeply involved in the details and I'm certainly not because I don't want to dedicate the time for it.

"I have a nice distance in order to overview things from a relaxed base and from that point of view give decent input."

The German has also tested a Ducati MotoGP bike since leaving F1, but has expressed no desire to make a serious switch to two wheels.

Brawn, 54, is credited with playing a vital role in Schumacher's hugely successful F1 career, particularly in devising race strategy for the driver.

Schumacher and Brawn won five drivers' titles together at Ferrari

He was technical director at Benetton for Schumacher's back-to-back World Drivers' Championships in 1994 and 1995 and followed the driver to Ferrari in a similar role, as the German won five consecutive drivers' titles from 2000 to 2004.

Now as owner of Brawn GP - formed after the purchase of Honda, where Brawn had been operating as Technical Director - his expertise have seen the team dominate the 2009 season.

With eight races gone, the team have amassed 112 points and hold a 20-point lead in the constructor's championship, whilst Jenson Button heads the drivers' championship.

Button has so far won six of a possible nine Grands Prix, causing some commentators to evoke comparisons between the impact Brawn has had on the Brit's career to that he had on Schumacher's.

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