Ralf Denies Saying Brother will Retire

Schumacher was quoted earlier this week by German newspaper Sport Bild as saying his brother will "not be driving for very much longer" because of his performances this season.

But the younger sibling said: "Luckily we have everything on tape and this interview never happened. I don't know what he wrote but he definitely didn't write what I said.

"We barely mentioned Michael, that's the strange thing. We were talking about Ferrari, he asked me why the have a difficult time, he asked me if it was only Bridgestone and I said I doubt it was only Bridgestone's fault, and that was it.

"I never mentioned that Michael is about to stop, so it is really weird. I have no clue, I haven't asked. Michael is the only guy to ask, I have no idea and I don't care."

The Schumacher brothers have been on the grid together since Ralf made his debut with Jordan Grand Prix in 1997 and Michael's contract with Ferrari will continue until the end of 2006.

And far from wanting the most successful member of his family to remove himself from the grid Ralf said: "To me, it is great to have him here so I have no reason on earth to wish that he stops and I wouldn't think about it.

"When you stop is your own decision. One day each of us is going to say okay, we have had enough, or whatever, but I don't know when will be the time for him or the time for me."