Ralf Schumacher has publicly acknowledged for the first time that he will not be a feature of the 2008 formula one grid.
The 32-year-old veteran confirmed to the German portal motorsport-total.com that, after eleven consecutive seasons at racing’s pinnacle, he will minimally sit out this year.
Schumacher is also realistic about his chances of making a comeback in the future.
“Theoretically that may be possible, but practically you have to wait and see what happens. Formula one waits for nothing and no-one,” Ralf said.
But the winner of six grands prix, all for BMW-Williams, refuses to say he is turning his back on motor sport altogether.
“Until now it has been my life, and motor sport is certainly a big part of my future,” Schumacher said. “In which form, remains to be seen.”
He said he has “no concrete ideas” about what he is going to do in 2008 and beyond, but ruled out racing at Le Mans or on American ovals.
“No matter what car, an oval will never see me, and I will never go to Le Mans, or Dakar,” Schumacher said.
He recently tested for Force India, but has pre-empted the team’s 2008 driver announcement by ruling himself out of the running for a race seat.
“They are starting from scratch and it is therefore not the right thing for me,” Ralf said.
