Adapted from GMM
Michael Schumacher says he hasn't decided what to do beyond his 2012 race contract with Mercedes.
It emerged recently that the German was open to talks to extend the deal, but he told selected reporters in Turkey that he is not yet making plans.
"Just as when I retired in late 2006, I have not thought about it," said the seven time world champion, who signed a three-year comeback deal with the German marque beginning last season.
"Really, I don't know," Schumacher told O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper as well as correspondents for prominent publications L'Equipe, the Daily Express, La Gazzetta dello Sport and El Pais.
"I have many hobbies, I have my family. I don't see myself working with a formula one team unless I am driving, which I love deeply. My passion for competition is still very much alive," said the German.
But whilst singling out 2002 as his period of greatest strength in his first career, Schumacher acknowledges that at 42, he is not now quite as good.
"If you ask me if I am the same, the answer is probably not. But the success I had was because maybe I am exceptional. Probably I still am exceptional to do what I do at the age I am now. If formula one had become ten seconds (per lap) faster, perhaps not. But that's not the case. Ask the physios and the drivers and they'll say unanimously that I am still up there," added Michael Schumacher.
Talking about 2002, Michael Schumacher would be happy to see formula one return to the A1-Ring.
Not all of Schumacher's memories of the track are sweet, such as 2002 when he was booed on the podium after being gifted Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello's win.
But the 42-year-old said: "I've been always happy to race in Zeltweg, from the early days in Formula Ford and F3 all the way to F1. I like the track a lot and it's a good thing the same layout has been kept," added Schumacher.
Michael Schumacher says he hasn't decided what to do beyond his 2012 race contract with Mercedes.
It emerged recently that the German was open to talks to extend the deal, but he told selected reporters in Turkey that he is not yet making plans.
"Just as when I retired in late 2006, I have not thought about it," said the seven time world champion, who signed a three-year comeback deal with the German marque beginning last season.
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| Michael Schumacher at the wheel of the Mercedes W02 - Photo: WRi2 |
"Really, I don't know," Schumacher told O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper as well as correspondents for prominent publications L'Equipe, the Daily Express, La Gazzetta dello Sport and El Pais.
"I have many hobbies, I have my family. I don't see myself working with a formula one team unless I am driving, which I love deeply. My passion for competition is still very much alive," said the German.
But whilst singling out 2002 as his period of greatest strength in his first career, Schumacher acknowledges that at 42, he is not now quite as good.
"If you ask me if I am the same, the answer is probably not. But the success I had was because maybe I am exceptional. Probably I still am exceptional to do what I do at the age I am now. If formula one had become ten seconds (per lap) faster, perhaps not. But that's not the case. Ask the physios and the drivers and they'll say unanimously that I am still up there," added Michael Schumacher.
Talking about 2002, Michael Schumacher would be happy to see formula one return to the A1-Ring.
Not all of Schumacher's memories of the track are sweet, such as 2002 when he was booed on the podium after being gifted Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello's win.
But the 42-year-old said: "I've been always happy to race in Zeltweg, from the early days in Formula Ford and F3 all the way to F1. I like the track a lot and it's a good thing the same layout has been kept," added Schumacher.