Schumacher insists he’ll race in 2012
 |
| Michael Schumacher |
(GMM) Michael Schumacher on Sunday moved to quash rumors he is set to return to retirement at the end of the season.
The Mercedes driver's manager Sabine Kehm had already slammed an Italian website for apparently fabricating quotes that suggested Schumacher, 42, was considering his seat.
"These (were) words reported on our website and our editorial staff didn't know anything about it. When we noticed that news, we invited the website to remove it, which was done," a Corriere dello Sport editor told 422race.com.
And at the Mercedes event called Stuttgarter Sternstunden at the weekend, Schumacher moved to end the speculation himself.
"I'll certainly be racing next year, that is definite," the seven time world champion said.
But Niki Lauda thinks Schumacher should quit.
"I have said that if Schumacher cannot make it work by the end of this year he should go, and I stand by it," the triple world champion told the Osterreich newspaper.
Schumacher however hinted that he could stay even beyond his 2012 contract.
"We will have to see how things develop and how much energy and fun is still there," he said.
Willi Weber, Schumacher's former manager, is sure the winner of 91 races is not about to give up.
"He has started something and he will also see it to the end," he is quoted by Die Welt.
Mercedes' competition director Norbert Haug insists that Schumacher is still competitive.
"His speed in the last race was mostly on a par with Nico Rosberg," he said. "He will continue and succeed."
08/14/11 Seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher has put an end to rumors he may retire at the end of the season by insisting on Sunday he will race in 2012 for Mercedes.
"I'll certainly be racing next year, that is definite," Schumacher said at a Mercedes' function.
Rumors of Schumacher's second retirement were fuelled by comments the 42-year-old made to an Italian newspaper, but Sunday's declaration has poured cold water on any retirement talk.
Having won the last of his seven world titles in 2004, Schumacher retired in 2006, only to return to race with German team Mercedes in 2010.
But whether he races on after 2012, when his three-year contract expires, remains to be decided.
"We will have to see how things develop and how much energy and fun is still there," he said.
Currently 10th in the world championship — 202 points behind leader and compatriot Sebastian Vettel — Schumacher is realistic about his chances of an eighth title next season.
"It would be presumptuous if one expects us to fight for the title next year, at the moment we are too far behind," he said.