No team boss role for Schumacher

Michael Schumacher has no plans to be anything more than an advisor to Ferrari, his manager Willi Weber has insisted, dismissing speculation that he is being lined up to become a team boss

The seven-time world champion's continued presence at tests, allied to the fact he is regularly sent updates of track data, prompted rumours in the German press that Schumacher was being groomed as a future team boss.

But Weber, who is continuing his involvement with Schumacher despite the end of his F1 career, is adamant that there are no plans for the German to take on an extensive role that would require a full-time commitment.

"If it would be Michael's intention to be at all the races again, he might as well have continued to be a racing driver," said Weber.

Sources close to Schumacher have also told autosport.com that the reports of a future team boss role are wide of the mark, and come from misinterpretation of the thoroughness with which he is embracing his advisory role.

"What happens currently, is that people draw simply the wrong conclusions," said the source. "While it might be true that Michael gets all relevant data on his laptop and he takes part in a number of meetings, that does not necessarily mean he will become race director.

"His role is currently described as an advisor and Michael, being his usual thorough self, wants to have all the information in order to advise properly."

It is understood that Schumacher's current role with Ferrari has no limits, and that it could well change year-on-year depending on how much involvement he wants to have with the team.

There are also currently no plans for Schumacher to test the new F2007, despite reports suggesting that a run was likely.

Schumacher's spokeswoman Sabine Kehm said: "At this point in time, no test of Michael is scheduled."