Dennis: Schumi 'agonising' over future

The seven-time world champion's future is set to become clearer at the Italian Grand Prix, when Ferrari will make an announcement about their 2007 drivers.

With Schumacher having made it clear in Turkey that he had yet to make his mind up, Dennis believes that the biggest issue is not risk or money but the lifestyle change should he quit.

Dennis has good knowledge of the torment that champions go through in ending their careers, having been close to two-time champion Mika Hakkinen.

"I honestly feel that this is a decision that he will take at the right time, for the right reasons," said Dennis. "By watching Mika, F1 was a big part of his life that suddenly wasn't there.

"Possibly there have been moments that he has regretted in F1. I think that Michael is agonising about such a dramatic change of his life, that when he decides, I'm absolutely sure he'll have thought it through thousands of times and will be resolute to the decision.

"I don't think he thinks about risk, or money, I think he feels about the loss he'll have in his life."

Although most in the paddock believe that Schumacher will retire at the end of this season, Dennis thinks there is evidence that the German is still in love with the sport.

"There was one moment that was after the American GP," explained Dennis. "At the back of the garages he came down from the press conference, and he picked up every member of his team with genuine enthusiasm and happiness. That didn't look like a person who had finished with Formula One.

"His delight at winning that race was extreme. Can he live without it? Only he knows."