Michael Schumacher will stay on at Ferrari as an assistant to new chief executive Jean Todt.
"The basis of my future will be that of a super assistant to Jean," Schumacher said at the Ferrari World Finals, the racing team's traditional season-closer.
The seven-time Formula One champion, who retired from racing last week, did not elaborate on what his new role would be. The German said he needed to time to reflect on what he might be able to offer Ferrari.
PHOTO: AP
"At the moment I don't have a definite answer," Schumacher said. "I want to take myself away from the world of Formula One for a few months to think about my life. Then I'll have a better idea of what I can do for Ferrari."
The 37-year-old Schumacher said he was looking forward to a new pace of life.
"The last few years have been very intense and everything has always been prepared down to the most minute detail. Now maybe the time has come for me to have a different kind of life," Schumacher said.
"Things will certainly feel different in December when, instead of preparing for the season as usual, I can take it easy and get used to the fact that I am no longer an active racing driver," he said.
Todt, who was appointed Ferrari chief executive on Wednesday following a stint as team principal, said the team would call on Schumacher for advice but that the former driver would not be expected to be a day-to-day member of the team.
"We will look to make the most of Michael's knowledge for sporting, technical and strategic choices," Todt said.
"Michael will not be obliged to be present at the factory, nor at tests or grands prix, but he will be an indispensable interface for important decisions," he added.
Following the announcement, Schumacher walked out onto the track at Monza -- where he recorded five of his 90 Formula One victories -- to bid farewell to the thousands of fans who had gathered to see him.
"Seven days to create the world. Seven titles to create a myth," read one banner. Another, "Michael, we have another dream."
After posing for photos and shaking hands with supporters, Schumacher drove about 20 laps of the track, first in Ferrari's 2006 Formula One race car, and then in a two-seater Ferrari FXX, with Todt in the passenger seat.
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