MAY 23, 2012

Schumacher still highly motivated

Michael Schumacher is still sounding like a driver who wants to race on beyond his current Mercedes contract, which expires at the end of the year.

In Monaco the seven times champion refused to be drawn too deeply into that subject and claims it is not yet on the radar for discussion at Mercedes. He added, however, that has not been deflated by his tough start to the season.

Schumacher has scored just two points so far, via 10th places in Malaysia and Bahrain, while team mate Nico Rosberg has 41 points on the board and a win in China.

"I have been a bit on unlucky side," Schumacher said, "but we are a team and one big family and we win and lose together. I don't feel at all disappointed, quite the other way around in fact. I am very motivated because I can see the progress that we have made."

Team principal Ross Brawn added: "That's Michael all over. He loves a challenge, digs pretty deep and his performances have actually been very good. Just as there's a big reaction when things happen to him, I'm sure there'll be a massive reaction if he's successful too."

Schumacher added: "Monte Carlo is one of the places where driver input, rhythm and momentum pays out more than anywhere else, so hopefully I can do something."

His cause will not be helped by a five-place penalty on the Monaco grid after his incident with Bruno Senna in Barcelona.

"It is not exactly ideal here of all places!" Brawn said.

While refusing to be critical of the Spanish stewards' decision, he said that he viewed the coming-together very much like a case of two people heading towards each other in the street who move the same way and accidentally bump into each other.