That's the view of rival team boss Sir Frank Williams, who believes a string of accidents plays on the mind of the seven-times world champion.

The German icon has been fortunate to escape virtually unscathed from all but one of his car-wrecking shunts.

In the last two years he has had two of his biggest accidents and seen younger brother Ralf escape in two more.

Schumacher has a new £15million family home in Switzerland, a £350m fortune and sits at the head of virtually every record in the book.

But he will walk away from the dangerous sport he loves, for the sake of his wife Corinna and children Gina-Marie and Mick.

Williams said: "Michael has had more than his fair share of accidents.

"When he puts the light out at night and settles in for sleep it will be on his mind every once in a while.

"Michael makes mistakes when he is put under pressure and has had a few car failures. That is not being disparaging about Ferrari because it happens to everyone.

"There are also his children. He has just handed over £5m to the tsunami disaster fund, which is a fantastic gesture.

"I bet it was about his children as much as the devastation itself."

Williams added: "I think he will go on until the end of 2006."