Highlights

Schumacher avoids retirement talk ahead of Italian GP

(AP)
Updated: 2006-09-07 10:00

The Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Sunday could be the last time Michael Schumacher is seen in Formula One in Italy, but the Ferrari driver is giving nothing away.

Ferrari's Formula One driver Michael Schumacher of Germany (R) and fellow Ferrari driver Felipe Massa of Brazil sit in a gondola in Venice September 6, 2006. The Italian Formula One Grand Prix will take place on September 10. [Reuters]

"All I can do is ask everyone to understand that I don't want to touch on that subject until next Sunday," Schumacher said in comments posted on his Web site.

Seven-time world champion Schumacher, whose contract with Ferrari expires at the end of the season, reportedly is to announce his pending retirement when the Italian team announces its drivers for 2007 after the Monza race.

Schumacher, who holds every major record in Formula One, said that Sunday's race would be special.

"Monza is always a special race... Lots of significant things have happened here over the years," he said.

And the German driver, who trails defending champion Fernando Alonso by 12 points with four races to go, is still dreaming of claiming an unprecedented eighth title.

"It's not impossible," Schumacher said. "I think we still have every reason to dream of winning both (driver and constructor) titles."

This season Schumacher has won five races _ one less than Alonso, but the German has been less consistent than the Spaniard with nine podium finishes _ three fewer than Alonso.

But Renault driver Alonso also wants to add to his tally by winning in Italy.

"I want to win Monza too," Alonso said. "It is one of the legendary circuits, so it would be special to win there, and even more so to beat Ferrari at their home race. We know how important the championship is, but this is a big race as well."

Schumacher, who is renowned for driving at the limits of what is permitted in Formula One, acknowledged that he will have to be aggressive if he is to catch Alonso.

"Our strategy has to be attacking. We have to close the gap and the only way to do that is by consistently putting on the pressure and pushing hard."

The 37-year-old, who has been a fixture in Formula One since making his debut in 1991 added: "It's not the first time we've been in a situation like this and our experience will be of help to us."

Schumacher has won 89 Grand Prix races in his 15-year career and finished in the top three 152 times, more than any other driver in the history of the series.

Sunday's Italian Grand Prix will be Schumacher's 247th Formula One race.