Michael Schumacher has issued a clear warning to Scuderia Ferrari that he wants a car this year that can put him firmly in contention for the Formula 1 World title, or he will quit at the end of the coming season. In an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel yesterday he said that he would decide on whether to continue mid way through 2006.

"If I don't have the chance to win races and to challenge for the title I don't think I will be very keen to extend my career," the seven times F1 World Champion told Der Spiegel. With 84 Grand Prix victories, 142 podium finishes, and 1,248 points scored, he is the most successful driver ever in the sport's history. At 37-year-old though he is also now the oldest pilot.

"If we want to progress we need more staff. In Formula One you cannot afford to stand still. I want to know where we're heading." Schumacher added in the interview. The German's contract with Ferrari concludes at the end of 2006, while the Scuderia has been closely linked with McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen and MotoGP star Valentino Rossi for 2007.
 

Ferrari's second driver this year Felipe Massa has been signed on just a single year contract leaving the way clear for the Italian team to sweep the decks clean at the end of 2006. While many insiders believe that the Rossi deal is already done, Ferrari's management have made no secret of their enthusiasm for McLaren's Finnish star Kimi Raikkonen, who may feel unsettled by the arrival at the Mercedes-powered team of the 2005 F1 World Champion, Fenando Alonso, who is due to switch from his current Renault berth for 2007.

After five straight titles with Ferrari Schumacher finished a distant third last year behind Alonso and Raikkonen, winning just one race, the farcical six-car United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis. He described the 2005 season as "catastrophic," adding that "after all the successes, carelessness crept in."