Formula One: Schumacher Decision After Monza

Michael Schumacher confirmed yesterday that he will make a statement about his future after Sunday's Italian grand prix at Monza. The 37-year-old German driver could announce an end to his illustrious career which has produced an all-time record 89 grand prix wins to date.

"I understand that the announcement arouses some interest," said Schumacher yesterday. "We have already made known that the declaration will be made after the race as we want to focus on what is an important [race] date. I am in full agreement with this. I can only add that I will not discuss the subject until Sunday."

The German newspaper Bild Zeitung has already claimed that Schumacher will not be included in Ferrari's driver squad for next season, and was therefore ready to retire.

"It is absolutely fair for the media to offer an opinion or speculation, but we are sticking with our position that there will be no indication about Michael's future plans until after the race," said his press spokesperson, Sabine Kehm. "We will stick to the programme, but while some people are writing that he is definitely retiring, it's worth adding that only a couple of weeks ago many newspapers were running big stories saying absolutely the opposite."

The gleaming ranks of formula one transporters were inched into place in the Monza paddock yesterday with most of the attention focusing on the bright red Ferrari articulated trucks.

Schumacher has won the race four times in his career, each time driving for the Italian team, but if he decides to call it a day at the end of the season the adoring tifosi will be watching him on Sunday in action for the last time.

Never has the Italian grand prix been played out against such a backdrop of intense speculation, which has been stoked by the fact that Ferrari will not announce its 2007 driver line-up until after the last exhaust has been stilled on Sunday evening.

What is certain is that Kimi Raikkonen will be one of the Ferrari drivers next year, bringing down the curtain on the Finn's tempestuous and largely unsuccessful five-year stint with the McLaren-Mercedes team.

It remains to be seen whether Schumacher feels his position as the unchallenged Ferrari No1 has been usurped by the decision to sign Raikkonen, or whether he wishes to have one final flourish in an attempt to put the ambitious incomer in his place.