Schumacher may prolong F1 career
World champion Michael Schumacher today hinted he may stay in Formula One longer than expected.
The seven-time world champion has endured a miserable start to the season, claiming just two points from three races going into the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola this weekend.
But that has not put Schumacher off the sport he has dominated for a decade and he today suggested he would be willing to consider extending his stay at Ferrari.
Schumacher is contracted to Ferrari until the end of next season – when he will be 37 – and was widely expected to hang up his helmet then.
But he today admitted informal discussions had been held in private with Ferrari boss Jean Todt over the possibility of a new deal.
Schumacher was quoted in the Italian media as stating contract talks had already begun but he insists he has yet to make up his mind on his plans for 2007 onwards.
He said: “I had a private chat, I am not in discussions. It’s quite open to me at what time I want to extend my contract. Any time I want to take the decision I can do so.
“I am happy right now. My love for the sport is so high I would like to continue but I don’t see any reason to fix myself too early.”
Schumacher is more concerned about his immediate chances of success against Fernando Alonso, the man tipped by some to be his successor at Ferrari.
Renault driver Alonso leads Schumacher by 24 points in the world championship but the German is confident he can start a recovery in front of Ferrari’s home fans this weekend, despite reliability problems in Bahrain.
He added: “We have a new aerodynamic package, our tyre side has improved, we have a different construction.
“I haven’t been doing too much so far but with the preparations we have been doing we are reasonably confident we can fight back.”
Schumacher was encouraged to run a close second behind Alonso in Bahrain before a hydraulic problem put him out of the race.
“It’s not out of our reach,” he said. “They don’t have one particular strong point. There is not one thing only that is the reason for success. It is a package, from the car to the tyres and they have done a very good job.”
