In 2008, Formula One seems to have found its conscience. A raft of environmental engineering developments will be introduced over the next decade with the goal of F1 cars no longer being powered by fossil fuels. Racist taunts of Lewis Hamilton were swiftly and effectively dealt with in testing at Barcelona. And in the light of allegations about Max Mosley’s reported Nazi sex sessions, manufacturers, former drivers and automobile clubs have distanced themselves from the FIA President to protect F1’s image.

Out front though, in the charge of the F1 Caring Sharing Brigade, is Michael Schumacher.

“I think Formula 1 should take a leading role because we have role models there and they can transmit the message. It is broadcast all over the world. We have huge viewers so Formula 1 knows about its responsibilities and is active about it.”

For years Schumacher has worked with the FIA and Bridgestone on global road safety campaigns. Now he is tackling the worldwide problem of drink driving as a (paid) ambassador for Bacardi Ltd.

In the next seven years one in six people on the planet (more than one billion) will have been killed, injured, bereaved or left to care for a victim of road accidents. Drink driving plays contributes enormously to those statistics and a large percentage of the population know, directly or indirectly, victims of drink driving.

“I am fortunate. I do not know anyone who has been victim of drink driving,” says Schumacher. “But the number is increasing, whether it’s because of the economic situation that’s maybe better than in the past or whether it’s easier to access (alcohol). I don’t know. It’s sometimes very difficult to talk about this, but I think what is important is to discuss and try and find strategies to prevent it happening.”

Schumacher is clear on what should be done. Zero tolerance, as in many Scandinavian countries, is the only option he says:

“If you start to say yes… a little bit, what is a little bit for somebody and another person? It’s very different. Human bodies… react very differently to the amount of alcohol you drink.”

Despite strength in numbers (fellow F1 racer Mika Hakkinen performs a similar role for another drinks company) Schumacher’s crusade will be tough. At the recent Brits music awards in London many of the acts staggered drunkenly to the stage to receive their awards. And for many youngsters those role models are highly influential. Even fellow F1 drivers like Kimi Raikkonen have been portrayed as hard partiers.

“I’m pretty sure there are a lot of people around that like to listen and follow what I’m doing rather than what the bad examples are doing,” says Schumacher.

As for hard partying fellow F1 drivers, he is sure that none have ever get behind the wheel while still intoxicated.

“I’ve been around more than 16 years now, and I’ve never seen somebody taking alcohol in the amount that would influence or show any alcohol the next day,” he says. “Sure, you drink a beer or a glass of wine the night before and the next day you are completely OK.”

As you would expect for the most accomplished F1 driver of all time, he has never felt out of control in a car “No. I have not but I know the problem exists.” And so he struggles to imagine what it must feel like. I suggest an experiment, with complete safety cover, with him trying increasing amounts of alcohol to find out how much it takes to make the best driver in the world lose control. Schumacher does not find the suggestion appealing.

“I don’t really think it makes any sense because you should probably do it on the worst drivers in the world, because it’s these guys who drive around the roads.”

Retirement from F1 has given Schumacher more time with his family at home in Switzerland. They have just come back from a skiing holiday, just as the F1 season gets into its stride. “A ski week when I would normally have been testing or racing is a luxury,” he says.

But there are signs that home life is starting to make him twitchy. For years a Harley aficionado, he has taken up sports motorcycle racing and has finished in the points. But doing a Valentino Rossi and swapping codes full time is out of the question. “Why should I? What could I gain?” he says. “But I love bikes and I enjoy using them on the track.”

Already a rock climber, Schumacher has found another gravity-defying sport to keep his adrenal gland pumping; parachuting. He has already jumped in America and Spain. “I enjoy excitement,” he says with a grin. “Certainly jumping out of an extremely perfectly running plane somehow is exciting.”

Burning fossil fuels has always been a necessary aspect of Schumacher’s job. But he is keen to see F1 and road car manufacturers accelerate their environmental programmes.

“We all live within this globe, we all want to live as long as possible, we all have kids, we all want them to continue to have kids. So we have to take care and we cannot be reckless.

“In Formula One we start next year with an energy saving braking system. In this respect Formula One can be very important because the development time you have in Formula One is so short. (Ferrari’s) road car department and other road car companies will benefit hugely from it, and the environment will as well. People say F1 should do more but you cannot change the world in one day. It’s not possible. You have to do it in steps that are achievable and you have to understand the problem. I think that it has been understood, this issue, and Formula One is reacting to it.”

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