Schumacher Rules Out Team Switch

Seven-time world Formula One champion Michael Schumacher has ruled out the possibility of ending his career with the McLaren team, his agent Willi Webber has told the German press. Ferrari driver Schumacher has been competing in the shadows of Formula One's young guns Fernando Alonso, the new world champion who drives for Renault, and McLaren's flying Finn Kimi Raikkonen. Webber, who said 36-year-old Schumacher is likely to retire in 2008, told Wednesday's edition of the daily Stuttgarter Nachrichten that rumors of a move to McLaren were simply that. "Let's put an end to this rumour: I can categorically exclude (the possibility of) Michael Schumacher leaving Ferrari for McLaren-Mercedes," he said. The rumor began because Schumacher had rejected a fresh contract from Ferrari. "First of all, Michael is doing fine at Ferrari and secondly, his image is much more in line with Ferrari and their sport cars than Mercedes and their luxury cars." He added: "I can't say for definite but it's likely that 2008 will be his final season."