Michael Schumacher: 2012 Race of Champions unlikely to be last

The German, 43, announced earlier this year that he would retire from Formula 1 at the end of the season and said he does not plan to compete in any other categories.

Schumacher has signed up for this year's Race of Champions in Bangkok, however, and said on Monday that he is open to return to the event in the future.

The seven-time world champion will partner Sebastian Vettel for Team Germany.

"The Race Of Champions is always a very special event," Schumacher told RoC's official podcast.

"And this time it's in Bangkok close to Christmas so I'm very much looking forward to racing with my old mate Seb for another repeat of our title.

"But my lucky number is actually number seven. So we've got to do this and then the one after. That would be the ultimate. Obviously this means I'm not retiring from the Race Of Champions yet.

"I could have retired from it by the end of this year, but I don't want to. It's too much fun. And as long as I'm still a bit competitive in it, why not?"

Vettel, still fighting to become the youngest three-time Formula 1 world champion this year, is also looking forward to the end-of-year event alongside his compatriot.

"It's still too far away but that's the target we've been fighting for the whole year," Vettel said of his F1 hopes.

"Obviously it would be fantastic but whatever happens I'm looking forward to the Race Of Champions.

"It's always fun to enjoy time away from the track with the other drivers - not just from F1 but rallying, touring cars and all sorts of motor sports round the globe.

"We obviously want to win our sixth ROC Nations Cup but I think Michael will stick with me in the future because we've got to get at least seven. It's a lucky number for him, so that's the big number we have to achieve."