Jean Todt explains the big misconception around Michael Schumacher

Former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt has rejected the idea that Michael Schumacher's confidence bordered on arrogance during his Formula 1 career.

Todt argued that the narrative could not be further from the truth, and in reality, it was an underlying sense of self-doubt that was one of the seven-time champion's biggest strengths.

During an appearance on the High Performance podcast, Todt opened up on his time working with Schumacher from 1996 to 2006, revealing that he was inherently shy. 

"Michael is quite a fragile human being," he explained. "Not the typical hard voice of somebody who knows better than the others. I will give you an example, which for me was amazing and significant of what is Michael.

"After he was world champion, before starting the new season, he asked me to go back to a private track in Fiorano. He said, 'Could you give me half a day where I'm going to do some testing to make sure I'm still good?' I think it's a big strength not to be sure to be good."

Race winner and Champion Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2002

Photo by: Motorsport Images

Asked if those who thought Schumacher was arrogant were wrong, Todt said: "Completely. Michael is a kind of shy, generous guy. But he hides his shyness by looking arrogant. I don't think you do that to help you. I think it's in your character, in your genes, you are like that."

The former Ferrari chief added that as his relationship with the German driver progressed to a "friend and family relationship", he quickly saw behind the mask.

"I mean, very quickly, because the problem was we had to fight going back in '97. He realised that he was protected, he realised he was loved so it goes both ways. So one after the other, it went from a professional relationship to a friend and family relationship."