The relationship between Michael Schumacher and Ferrari seems to be destined to last forever. After eleven years as a driver for the Scuderia, winning five Drivers’ and six Constructors titles with the team, Schumacher has extended his contract and will continue working as a consultant for the Prancing Horse, which he has been doing since 2007, for another three years.

This has been announced by Michael on his website: "Yesterday Ferrari-President Luca di Montezemolo and me agreed in extending our cooperation for another 3 years. I am very happy about this as I always liked to be part of the Ferrari-family and as the name Ferrari also for me symbolizes passion, quality and highest sportiness. We agreed that I will give my input more and more into the GT-department, the area of the road-cars. I already enjoyed a lot participating in the development of the Ferrari California, the 430 Scuderia and the new 458 Italia which we will present next Tuesday on the Frankfurt Motor Show, and so I very much look forward to participating in future projects."

Schumacher also wished Giancarlo Fisichella well for his Ferrari debut today. The German had originally been destined to stand in for Felipe Massa but an old motorcycling neck injury prevented his return and the seat was initially filled by test driver Luca Badoer for two races before Fisichella was given the nod last week. "I wish him well for Monza," Schumacher said in a note posted on his website. "We know each other for so many years and we still play that often together football for the Nazionale Piloti team that I can imagine well what it means for him to be a driver for Ferrari now. Ok, then: welcome in the Club, Giancarlo."