Schumacher offered contract for life

Michael Schumacher has been offered a 'contract for life' by Ferrari and the reigning champion says he will continue to work for the team after he finishes his driving career. The partnership of Ferrari and Schumacher has been one that's hard to beat and the Maranello marque is happy to have Schumacher drive for them until he is 100 of he feels like it.

"I recently spoke to the president of Ferrari, Luca Di Montezomolo, who more or less offered me a contract for life," Schumacher said. "He (Di Montezomolo) told me, 'if you want to drive until you are 100 years old, then drive till you're 100 years old'. After I finish my driving career I will continue to work for Ferrari, but everything's working to perfection at the moment that I have very little effort to make so I think I'll be able to stay focused on my job a while yet."

Schumacher dismissed moving into team management, which he thinks would not suit him: "That job just isn't for me. I don't think I would like it at all," he said. With 34 points the German is 14 points ahead of nearest rival Ralf Schumacher and many believe he is well on his way to his fifth world title. Michael has always said that he will stay with Ferrari until the end of his career and there has been speculation that he may retire when his current contract expires at the end of 2004 -- although with a contract for life, Schumacher retiring is maybe just wishful thinking for some.