Schumacher ready to go ’home’ after F1 retirement

Michael Schumacher is in no hurry to decide what to do next, as he faces returning to retirement in 2013.

The great German claims he turned down the offer of a two-year Mercedes contract extension in order to return "home" to his wife and children in Switzerland.

"For me, there is nothing better than being at home. For me this means freedom, and I want to enjoy that again soon," he told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper.

However, when he first quit F1 after 2006, the seven time world champion was soon back in the paddocks as a consultant for Ferrari.

Now, he is linked with a similar ambassadorial role with Mercedes.

But Schumacher, 43, insists: "The plan is that there is no plan.

"I experienced formula one from a different perspective," he said, contrasting his comeback seasons with his ultra-successful career between 1991 and 2006.

"Now I’m more open and relaxed. I am going with my head held high."

Schumacher said his latest decision to retire is simply about motivation rather than age or any other factor.

"There were times in the past few months in which I didn’t want to deal with formula one or prepare for the next grand prix," he admitted.