Schu scotches retirement talk

Schumacher will have completed 12 full seasons in Formula 1 when he leaves Suzuka in a fortnight's time. It has been speculated that it would be an opportune time for the German to bow out. It is said that his wife Corinna would be happy with a decision to stop.

Some drivers, like Niki Lauda and James Hunt, have stopped mid season once the retirement decision was made (only, in Lauda's case, to return later), while others choose to keep their plans confidential, telling only their team management. Some, like Jackie Stewart, even keep it from their nearest and dearest, preferring not to put them in a '10 green bottles situation' as they count down the races. Those sentiments though, tended to belong to an earlier era when the risks of the sport were much higher.

Schumacher certainly has not driven the last two races like a man with retirement thoughts in his head. After his US Grand Prix victory on Sunday night, Schumacher was asked the question: 'Michael, what is true about these rumours you are going to retire if you get the sixth title?'

"Nothing," he smiled.