Ecclestone Hopes Schumacher Races 'For a Long Time'

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone hopes World Champion Michael Schumacher continues to race in Formula One for many more years, although the Briton says Schumacher could retire at the end of this season.

"It depends how it goes for him this year," Ecclestone told Gazzetta dello Sport. "If he gets regularly trashed by the young lions, then maybe he'll think about it and leave. But he loves racing too much.

"The trouble for him is that if he quits he is left with nothing to do. Naturally I hope he'll carry on for a long time. The Schumi trademark is synonymous with F1, like Ali was for boxing."

74 year old Ecclestone said he himself has no plans to retire any time soon. "Absolutely not," he said when asked by the newspaper if he thinks about quitting.

"If I left I'd get bored to death. I'd rather die while sleeping, or in an accident. I don't have probable successors, I don't have heirs. But I'm sure that after me F1 will be very different. Maybe better, but very, very different."

Finally, asked for his forecast for the upcoming season, Ecclestone predicted "an even more spectacular Championship than 2003."

"The new rules were useful to avoid the boredom of 2002, that is the World Championship with only one car and only one driver, Schumacher," he explained. "This year we'll have at least four teams fighting for podiums, better than ever. I think that Michael will really have to sweat for his seventh Championship."