Michael goes forward with Merc

Michael Schumacher is continuing his relationship with Mercedes-Benz. Photo / Supplied

The seven-times Formula 1 world champion is keeping drivers safe

Mercedes-Benz and Michael Schumacher have announced a long-term partnership which will extend far beyond motorsport and Formula 1.

Schumacher will mainly be involved with the development of the Mercedes-Benz safety and comfort systems Intelligent Drive and represent the company as an ambassador. For many years the seven-times Formula 1 world champion has been working on road safety; as a partner he will support Mercedes-Benz's involvement in this field.

As a racing driver Schumacher's motto was: "If you don't go forwards, you go backwards". He motivated himself and his team to achieve new developments and top performances. Now he is placing his expertise at the service of road users by searching for the best solutions for safety on the roads, together with Mercedes-Benz.

"The future interests me much more than the present and past," said Schumacher.

"During my Formula 1 time I always believed that you must not allow yourself to rest on your laurels, but that you must continuously try to improve. In so doing I was often able to rely on the help of all the technologies available to me in the car and use them to my advantage. That is why I am a declared supporter of driving assistance systems in the racing car and in the road-going car."

Dr Joachim Schmidt, executive vice-president Mercedes-Benz Cars, sales and marketing, said: "We are proud that Michael Schumacher, the most successful and best-known racing driver in the world, is again joining us as our partner. Right from the time when he was a Mercedes-Benz junior and of course in the last three years as a driver in our Formula 1 team, Michael Schumacher has always been committed to our company's projects. This is why it is only logical for both sides to pool their expertise and know-how and to use them for enhancing driver assistance systems and thus improve safety on the roads within a partnership."

Schumacher will be making his first appearance as a partner of Mercedes-Benz on May 1, at "Handelsblatt Pathfinder - The future starts today".