Schumacher: If it ain't broke…

"The point is that when I extended to the end of 2004, I felt that maybe that was the time I should retire," Schumacher said in Canada, "but the longer I stay with the team, the happier I am and the more relaxed things are. It's because we have been successful, which eases some of the pressure we had in the past. It brings us together more. If you look at the difficult moments we had at the start of the season, nobody really got nervous, we stuck together and nobody complained.

"At Ferrari it's an atmosphere that I very much love to work in and feel part of. I've had almost 50 wins with Ferrari and it would be nice to add some more. They say never change a winning team. That's what we are from the past and what I think we will be in the future.

"Nobody is at the age where they are over the hill and it's amazing how much spirit there is in the team. I don't see an end to it at the moment. You can't always win, some years will be more difficult and maybe this year is one, but if we can stick together and win one more, that would be great."

Schumacher denied, once again, that he was motivated by records, adding that the final numbers did not matter to him. He also gave his support to team mate Rubens Barrichello, who has not as yet had his Ferrari deal extended beyond the end of 2004.

"We've had a good time and a successful time together and in the past the team has not announced things together," Schumacher said. "If Rubens is as quick as he has been and is now, I don't see why it shouldn't continue."