Schumacher Still 'in Love' with F1

Seven-times World Champion Michael Schumacher says he is "more in love" with Formula One than ever and has no plans yet to leave the sport.

The 36-year-old Ferrari driver is the oldest man on the grid but says he enjoys competing more now than he did at the start of his career.

"I think I am more in love with it now because I know the sport much better, I know what I am doing," he told a news conference at the team's winter retreat in the Dolomites.

"When you come into the sport, you are very hot to do it and you very quickly enjoy it. But there are also a lot of things to do and a lot of things to struggle with and it's a love and hate life but it has turned more to the love side," said the German.

Asked whether he has any idea when he will finally bow out of the sport, Schumacher said: "There is no time-frame for me. There is obviously not the intention to make long term contracts because at my age you have to take it year to year. I will obviously think what my future is going to be at the appropriate time.

"I have a contract that runs until the end of 2006 and for me there is enough time to talk at the right moment about it but I see no end at the moment. I'm sorry," he said.

Ferrari dominated the World Championship last season and Schumacher said he doesn't expect to see any surprise challengers in the upcoming season.

"I would expect [McLaren] Mercedes to be there more from the beginning, so they will be stronger for the whole year but other than that it will be pretty much the same," he said of the likely rivals.

The season-opening Australian Grand Prix takes place on March 6.