Schumacher denies 'driver list'

and that Eddie Irvine was not on it.
It has been suggested that Schumacher does not want the Irishman to stay on
at Ferrari with him for a fifth year.

The men featured on the list are believed to be Sauber drivers Jean Alesi
and Pedro Diniz, and Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer.

Schumacher said, "I want Eddie to stay. Why should we change a winning team?
Eddie is the quickest team-mate I have ever had and we work very well
together. Any talk of problems between us is rubbish."

However, Schumacher did say he 'could easily live with a guy like Diniz or
Alesi.'

Irvine has recently said he was not considering whether to stay at Ferrari
or not.

If he did decide to leave insiders believe he would rejoin Jordan.

Alesi drove for Ferrari from 1991-95 and makes no secret of the fact that he
wants to go back.

"Ferrari is the team I have always dreamed of - before I went there, while I
was there and after I left," said the French driver. "My dream when I signed
for them was never to drive for another team. But for me to go back, they
need to ask, and nobody has done."

Insiders believe it is unlikely that Schumacher would want the emotional
Alesi at Ferrari, even if the two are friends.

The wealthy Diniz is considered a serious contender, while Prost driver
Jarno Trulli is also said to have been approached by Ferrari.

However Badoer is unlikely to be a serious contender. The Italian has been
unimpressive with Minardi this season.