Post by leeds13 on Apr 21, 2005 6:42:09 GMT -5
Schumacher in talks over new deal
Schumacher has been testing hard ahead of Sunday's San Marino GP
Michael Schumacher has revealed he is in talks with Ferrari team boss Jean Todt about staying on with the Italian Formula One outfit beyond 2006.
Schumacher told Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport: "Jean is talking with me about extending my contract."
The 36-year-old also says Renault's Fernando Alonso would be among the favourites to eventually replace him.
"I consider him, (Kimi) Raikkonen, (Felipe) Massa and (Mark) Webber to be very good drivers," Schumacher said.
The seven-time champion, who joined Ferrari in 1996, will be almost 38 when his current contract expires next year.
But Schumacher has always insisted age will not determine when he retires - rather he will walk away when he stops enjoying racing.
At the launch of the new Ferrari in February, he even suggested he could keep on competing until he is 40.
However, the German trails championship leader Alonso by 24 points ahead of Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix after a disastrous start to the season.
Schumacher has scored just two points in three races so far this year and needs to win at Imola, Ferrari's home circuit, this weekend to get back into the championship battle.
And the prospect of Ferrari's long run of dominance coming to an end - and his younger rivals starting to beat him on a regular basis - has led some to suggest Schumacher could quit sooner rather than later.
Follow live coverage of the San Marino Grand Prix on the BBC Sport website. First qualifying is at 1200 BST on Saturday, second qualifying at 0900 on Sunday, with the race following at 1300.
noooo i want him 2 retire!! let the younger drivers get a chance
Schumacher has been testing hard ahead of Sunday's San Marino GP
Michael Schumacher has revealed he is in talks with Ferrari team boss Jean Todt about staying on with the Italian Formula One outfit beyond 2006.
Schumacher told Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport: "Jean is talking with me about extending my contract."
The 36-year-old also says Renault's Fernando Alonso would be among the favourites to eventually replace him.
"I consider him, (Kimi) Raikkonen, (Felipe) Massa and (Mark) Webber to be very good drivers," Schumacher said.
The seven-time champion, who joined Ferrari in 1996, will be almost 38 when his current contract expires next year.
But Schumacher has always insisted age will not determine when he retires - rather he will walk away when he stops enjoying racing.
At the launch of the new Ferrari in February, he even suggested he could keep on competing until he is 40.
However, the German trails championship leader Alonso by 24 points ahead of Sunday's San Marino Grand Prix after a disastrous start to the season.
Schumacher has scored just two points in three races so far this year and needs to win at Imola, Ferrari's home circuit, this weekend to get back into the championship battle.
And the prospect of Ferrari's long run of dominance coming to an end - and his younger rivals starting to beat him on a regular basis - has led some to suggest Schumacher could quit sooner rather than later.
Follow live coverage of the San Marino Grand Prix on the BBC Sport website. First qualifying is at 1200 BST on Saturday, second qualifying at 0900 on Sunday, with the race following at 1300.
noooo i want him 2 retire!! let the younger drivers get a chance
