Todt: Schumacher Can Walk Away When He Wants

Michael Schumacher can walk out of Ferrari whenever he wants, team boss Jean Todt said on Thursday.

The five times Formula One World Champion this week announced he intended to stay at the Italian team until the end of the 2006 season, two years beyond the terms of his previous contract.

Todt said Ferrari would not stand in the German's way if he decided to quit before then.

"Everybody knows that I'm in very close contact with Michael, so I'll know before anybody else what he feels, what he thinks," Todt told reporters at the Canadian Grand Prix.

"And I knew since a long, long time that he did not want to stop. But saying that, you can have whatever contract you want in your pocket and one day, if Michael says he's had enough, that will be enough. It's his decision.

"Ferrari's decision is to have Michael for as long as he wants to drive a Ferrari. If one day Michael says to me 'I don't want to drive' then we can't come with a lawyer and a policeman to make him drive.

"It would be ridiculous. At a certain time of your life, I could even suggest to him that he should do something else with his life," added Todt.

"A contract is only an intention. His intention is to still drive until 2006."

Todt also extended his contract to remain at Ferrari with Schumacher for the same period of time and the Frenchman said the team provided his motivation and inspiration.

"I love Ferrari, I love the team around me. That's my only motivation. I love success. I'm not young anymore but I'm not old enough to just decide to retire," he said.

"I feel I have a responsibility to keep Ferrari secure. Part of my responsibility is to work for the future of the company and the team. It's something I will have to achieve in the coming years."