World champion Michael Schumacher, warming up for the defence of his title, has warned against soaring costs in Formula One.

"I can understand efforts to make access to Formula One more affordable," the Ferrari driver told German Sunday newspaper Welt am Sonntag in an interview made available a day before publication.

"The costs at the moment are too high and not only for the small teams," the German, who is going for a record sixth world title in 2003, added.

Schumacher also said he was hurt by criticism saying the sport had become less attractive, partly because of overwhelming domination by himself and Ferrari.

"It is odd, not to say paradoxical, to have the feeling that you have to apologise for doing such a great job," he said.

World governing body FIA have introduced a series of measures over the close season to make the sport cheaper and more even.