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Schumacher turns 37 in fighting spirit
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-02 21:51
LONDON, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Michael Schumacher turns 37 on Tuesday, hungry
already for a year that could be his farewell to Ferrari and last shot at an
eighth Formula One championship.
"Let's hope for a better season," said the German on his website after the
dominance of 2004 translated into a depressing 2005.
"It's not looking too bad...there are many things pointing in a good
direction.
"Most of all, I see the same fighting spirit (at Ferrari) that I feel," said
Schumacher. "We're all on the same page; we want to play a major role in the
fight for the title (in 2006). So we're going to go for it again."
The oldest driver on the Formula One starting grid -- and also the most
successful ever with his 84 wins, 142 podiums and 1,248 points scored -- knows
he cannot defy time for much longer.
With Renault and McLaren dominant last year, and Toyota spending heavily to
move into contention, he faces an uphill challenge.
Since the 1960s, only three men have won championships while 37 or older and
the last was France's Alain Prost in 1993, his final season when he was 38.
"He won't win another world championship," Finland's former champion Keke
Rosberg told F1 Racing magazine last month, disagreeing with plenty of other
insiders who believe tyre and engine rule changes will only help the German.
"The world -- and the world championship -- now belongs to the young ones."
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Ferrari have said Schumacher is welcome to stay on after his contract expires
at the end of the year and he has said he wants to continue for as long as he is
enjoying himself.
But the situation has been complicated by world champion Fernando Alonso's
surprise move from champions Renault to McLaren for 2007.
With Schumacher now entering the twilight of his career, however competitive
he remains, there is a clear successor to the German available for next year in
Kimi Raikkonen.
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