Schumacher's focus turns to 2011

After finishing just 15th at Valencia two weeks ago, he is still on 34 points - 97 behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton and 41 behind Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Schumacher insists that his motivation is as high as ever, but is already working towards the team's preparation for 2011.

"I'm not really thinking about the championship any more, that's unrealistic from my point of view considering the points I have," he said. "So all we do, from my perspective, is try to learn as much as we can and prepare for next year. That's what I'm fully motivated on.

"I have been in all sorts of circumstances in my career and don't worry, I don't suffer at all about this in a way that removes my motivation. I put in as much effort as ever and I drive on a level that I can be happy with."

He added that Mercedes is expecting to return to the form it showed earlier in the year, after he failed to reach Q3 in Canada and Spain.

"We have much better hopes than we had in Valencia," Schumacher said. "Considering where we've been it's difficult to see it getting worse. We believe that with the car we are here with, we can be at the performance before Canada. Anything beyond this requires a bit of luck and certain circumstances."