Ecclestone: Schumacher Not a Turn Off for F1

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone is happy the sport has a great driver like Michael Schumacher but says it would be enough for the German to win half a dozen times a year rather than almost every race.

"It's great to see a superstar," Ecclestone said in an interview with the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

"But I say that with the following reservation - Michael shouldn't win every race, perhaps just six or seven a year, otherwise you get a shock when he doesn't win, which actually happened to me in Monte Carlo," he added.

Schumacher crashed in the tunnel during the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo in May when his perfect start to the season ended, but he went on to clinch a seventh Formula One world title at the Belgian Grand Prix last month.

His second-place finish at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium was only his second defeat in 14 races this season and he now holds a commanding 40-point lead over his Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello with four races left.

Asked if Schumacher's dominance was making the sport a turn off Ecclestone replied: "No, I don't see any problem at all." However, he said he understood why there is criticism that the season has been made dull by Schumacher's domination.

"Most of the fans want to see more exciting races and not such a long winning streak," Ecclestone told the newspaper. "But when they look at what great racing was going on behind Michael - the four-way battle between Renault, BAR, Williams and McLaren - that was great stuff."

Ecclestone also said he would welcome the return of former Champions Jacques Villeneuve and Mika Hakkinen to Formula One. Both have been reported to be mulling comebacks.

"Jacques was always fast and he should get a chance to prove that he's still got these skills," said Ecclestone. "If that were to happen it would benefit the sport.

"The same is true for Mika. Both these names, these characters represent charisma. That's what we need."