Ferrari want seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher to work as assistant to team boss Jean Todt although the German, who retired from the sport last week, said he will wait before deciding on his role.

"Michael will be a super assistant to Jean Todt," Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo told reporters at the Ferrari World event on Sunday.

However, Schumacher told a news conference, before his emotional farewell to Italian fans at the Monza racetrack, that he would take his time before making any decision about his future role.

"I can't say anything precise about what I will do in the future and I don't want to define my role inside Ferrari yet," Schumacher told a news conference.

"I will take a break in the coming months and then I will be more clear about what I want to do.

"Ferrari have left me free to decide and have given me the time that I need to make up my mind," he added.

Schumacher said he was looking forward to having a change of rhythm in his life.

DIFFERENT LIFE

"The last few years have been very intense and everything has always been prepared down to the most minute detail and now maybe the time has come for me to have a different kind of life," he said.

"Up until now there hasn't been much change in my life, the work has always been the same, the routine the same but things will certainly feel different in December when, instead of preparing for the season as usual, I can take it easy and get used to the fact that I am no longer an active racing driver".

Thousands of Ferrari fans turned out at Monza on Sunday to say farewell to Schumacher who took to the track with other members of the team to salute the supporters for a final time.

Along with Ferrari driver Felipe Massa and test drivers Luca Badoer and Marc Gene, Schumacher put his F1 car through it's paces before a ceremonial lap carrying the Italian flag.

'Thanks Schumi!' and 'Ferrari Forever' read banners held aloft by fans as Montezemolo and Todt also took the applause of the red-clad 'tifosi' before parachutists descended from the sky, one carrying a 'Grazie Schumi' flag.

Schumacher and Todt then rode together in a Ferrari street car while Montezemolo paid tribute to the German.

"Michael was the most extraordinary driver in Ferrari's history and that is saying something given we have had the best drivers in this sport. He was always a team man and always willing to help others," said the Ferrari president.

"There were never rows or arguments -- with Michael we have always been united and strong," he added.