Schumacher: I will definitely not give up

Michael Schumacher will not let a string of technical problems stand in the way of a possible contract renewal at the Mercedes Formula One team, the record world champion said.

The seven-time champion told Motorsport aktuell magazine that he doesn’t want to decide on his future based on emotions.

“It will have no influence,” Schumacher said in reference to the bad start into the season. “You must take other things into account when you make decisions with such an impact.” The 43-year-old has a meagre two points from seven 2012 races, in which he was stopped four times by technical problems and by an accident in another race.

Schumacher came out of retirement in 2010 as he joined Mercedes on a three-year contract. He is yet to win a race for them.

But Schumacher was first in qualifying at the recent Monte Carlo Grand Prix and teammate Nico Rosberg won the first race for Mercedes in more than five decades at the Chinese Grand Prix, indicating that the team has become more competitive this year.

“I will definitely not simply give up,” Schumacher said. “I continue to believe in our joint project and that we can do something great with Mercedes.”

Mercedes motorsport chief Norbert Haug said that the team and Schumacher “will sit together at a given time and reach a joint decision.”