Todt: Schu will improve

The team's sporting director, Jean Todt, sounded a warning to the team's rivals: "The Michael Schumacher we see next year will be the best Michael Schumacher ever," he told The Independent.

"He's as motivated as he has ever been and if he went off the track at times this season, it didn't embarrass him too much as he won the title. If he feels he is not competitive enough, that is when he will stop."

There have been persistent rumours about a Schumacher retirement ever since the middle of the 2003 season. This is hardly surprising considering the fact that most multiple champions in history have lost their motivation after a few titles.



Juan Manuel Fangio called it a day halfway through the season after his fifth world title, although he might certainly have won more. Thrice-champion Niki Lauda quit the sport twice during his prime and more recently Mika Hakkinen grew bored with the circus after two championships.

But Todt believes Schumacher won't have that problem: "He is very intelligent. He loves driving and being with the team and winning races. He never compromises - it's amazing.

"If we don't see him for two or three days, it's because he's off doing some karting. It's in his blood. So next year he will be the best we have ever seen him."