Schu could switch team in 2007
The 56-year-old former triple world champion, who switched from Ferrari to join Brabham at the end of 1977, suggested that there is a high possibility that Michael will make a similar move later this year.
Germany's Schumacher, 37, told a magazine on Sunday that it was '99 per cent certain' that he would race his final grand prix in a red car.
''But if he voluntarily talks about this one per cent,'' Austrian Lauda told 'Bild' newspaper, ''then in truth the probability is bigger than we all think.''
Schumacher has been linked with switches to McLaren and Toyota, but the most likely destination for 2007 – should he not stay at Ferrari or retire – is actually Red Bull Racing.
However, that team's new 'chief technical officer' Adrian Newey says that the first goal – before hiring star drivers – is to build a better race car.
But the Briton told Autosport: ''It would be tremendous to work with Michael. He's one of the few great drivers I haven't had the opportunity or pleasure of working with.''
A Ferrari spokesman, too, played down all the gossip of recent days. Luca Colajanni reckons Schumacher has always pushed the Maranello team to do better.
''It is everyone's goal,'' he told the 'dpa' agency, ''to put Michael in a competitive car again.''
01/09/06 (GMMf1NET) At the same time as warning Ferrari to up its game, Michael Schumacher has refused to rule out switching to another team in 2007.
The seven time world champion, who managed only to win the embarrassing US grand prix last year with the F2005 car, told Der Spiegel magazine that it is '99 per cent certain' that he would race out his career in red.
''But you always have to leave even the most remote possibilities open,'' the German cautioned.
37-year-old Schumacher's claim came in the same interview as advising Maranello based Ferrari to take on more staff, and warning that he could quit if not given a competitive racer in 2006. He suggested that 'carelessness' played a part in Ferrari's fall from grace.
''After 84 grand prix victories,'' he explained, ''it is hard to stay motivated if eighth or tenth in the races is the maximum goal.
''That also applies to the team.''
But Michael admitted that even he could have worked harder last year. Thirteen years older than the new champion, Schumacher confessed that he 'could have done more' to be physically prepared for season '05.
He admitted: ''Maybe that would have added another tenth of a second to the race car. As one gets older, things do not get simpler.''