Ferrari count on Schumacher's help

Ferrari's technical director Mario Almondo has revealed that Schumacher will be kept in the loop of Ferrari's progress at races - and the team hope he will be able to offer as much assistance as possible.

"I've been in Ferrari for 15 years with various jobs, and next year I will head a slightly different organization," Almondo said. "There is no magic, but a close group who will give 200%.

"Schumacher will be part of the group. We will take advantage of his experience to develop the F1 car and the road cars. We'll have a remote connection when he won't be at the GPs: he makes a difference even from home."

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo revealed, however, that Schumacher will have an office at Ferrari, and the Italian reiterated his faith in the German continuing to help Ferrari in the future.

Di Montezemolo told Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport: "Schumacher, who I wished would race for one more year, is already interested in his new role and he will also act as a talent scout in karting for us. He will be precious.

"Michael will be a consultant for Ferrari. He will have his office, he'll come over whenever he wants to, and he will attend some GPs.

"He knows everything about racing and F1, he'll help us with our decisions."

Sporting director Stefano Domenicali added that Schumacher's departure has delivered Ferrari staff with a fresh motivation to push - and prove their strength when Kimi Raikkonen arrives.

"With Michael's retirement a chapter has ended: we don't have a fundamental reference point anymore, but all of us want to demonstrate the worth of this team," he said. "The management believes in us, but we must bring the result home."

Speaking about the expected battle between Raikkonen and Felipe Massa to gain the lead status in Ferrari, Domenicali said: "At the beginning both drivers will start from the same level, as usual.

"Based on our championship needs we might eventually take a different route."

But the Italian promised there will be one significant change next season: "Kimi's public approach looks distant - we promise that he'll be quick, and he'll smile more."