Schumacher blasts Formula One bad boy image

London, Jan 27(ANI): Formula One racing driver Michael Schumacher has blasted claims that he is the bad boy of the sport, and that he is returning to prove that he can win fairly.

During his long career the seven-time world drivers' champion has been involved in several controversial incident.

Schumacher has been vilified in the British media for his involvement in title-deciding collisions in 1994 and 1997, among other issues like interfering in team orders and driving dangerously to win points.

"Ninety-one victories, seven titles, you win only in a bad way. Absolutely. Yeah, you're right, I need to prove myself now," The Mirror quoted Schumacher, as saying.

The German had a dubious clash with Williams' Damon Hill in the final 1994 race to win his first title, and in 1997 he was stripped of all his points after trying to ram driver Jacques Villeneuve in the title decider.

The 1994 incident was viewed by the FIA as a racing incident, and brought no sanction; whereas the 1997 incident saw Schumacher disqualified from the championship standings. German and Italian newspapers had also condemned his actions in 1997. (ANI)