Wife gives Schumacher green light for new deal

Michael Schumacher’s wife has given the Mercedes driver a green light to keep racing in formula one.

Earlier in Montreal, the seven time world champion insisted it took Red Bull and Ferrari "five years" to build winning projects.

The comments triggered widespread speculation in the German press that, because his current three-year contract ends next year, Schumacher is set to sign an extension through 2014.

"No matter what Michael does, he has my full support," Schumacher’s wife Corinna, who has been at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve this weekend, told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

But the great German will be 45 in 2014, and Niki Lauda is not sure Schumacher should stay around that long.

"Some teams take five years to be successful, some are faster," said the former triple world champion. "But first Michael needs to get on a par with his teammate (Nico) Rosberg."

"And he definitely doesn’t have five years for that," added Lauda.

Since his return in 2010, Schumacher has been outscored by Rosberg to the tune of 86:168 points, while the qualifying defeat stands at 6:20.

Schumacher’s manager Sabine Kehm said in Canada: "Michael’s ability and motivation are beyond doubt. He wants to build something big with Mercedes and he can definitely contribute a great deal towards that."