Ferrari president hails Schumacher

The Italian further predicted that Schumacher will continue to be at the top of his game for at least two more seasons, should he decide to continue racing.

Di Montezemolo, who ran the Ferrari team between 1974 and 1977 under Enzo Ferrari's supervision, winning two world titles with Niki Lauda, hailed Schumacher as the greatest Ferrari driver of all times.

He reiterated that it would be solely Schumacher's choice whether to retire or not. Ferrari, di Montezemolo said, would allow Schumacher to race as long as he wants to.

"For sure a great role [in Ferrari's successes of the last decade] is that of the best driver I've ever seen driving a Ferrari in terms of capability, consistence and great results," di Montezemolo said.

"I remember great champions with whom I worked. Not just Lauda, who after Michael is certainly the greatest I've worked with.

"But a person like Schumacher [is remarkable] also in his support for the team in difficult times. You all remember the summer of '96 with the axle in Canada, the broken engine in the formation lap in Magny Cours, then the fantastic victory in Spa and then Monza, which signalled the start of more victories.

"You remember Michael's first victory in '96 in an extraordinary race in the wet in Barcelona and you remember many other performances of this driver, who not only is the driver with the most race victories in F1, but also the one who will leave in Ferrari's history an unrepeatable mark.

"And then, who knows if our grandchildren won't see something even better."

Schumacher's contract with Ferrari will expire at the end of 2006, and the German has said he would decide whether to retire from racing or continue in the next few months.

"Michael decides by himself," di Montezemolo said when asked about Schumacher's future. "As far as motivation, concentration, strength, and determination are concerned, I consider him able to do at least two more years in Formula One.

"But I've always said the drivers must decide. Michael knows that if he decides to carry on and continues with us, we are happy.

"If he decides to quit - and he'll have in the next few months the chance of looking inside himself and decide - we'll be sad, but we can understand that, because motivation is the most important thing in life and in sport."