After testing for Force India on Thursday, Ralf Schumacher finally acknowledged that it may have been his last time at the wheel of a formula one car.
At the end of eleven seasons in the sport with Jordan, Williams and Toyota, the winner of six grands prix said at Jerez: “It is not planned that I will drive for Force India in 2008.”
Schumacher, 32, endured a difficult day at the wheel of Spyker’s re-liveried 2007 car, including an hydraulic problem and two spins.
He was also the slowest of the 20 testers on duty, and more than six tenths off the pace of the other Force India contender, Vitantonio Liuzzi.
The German told reporters late on Thursday that he has been contemplating the possible end of his career since the middle of the 2007 season.
“I do not believe that next year I will be here (at Force India),” Schumacher is quoted as saying by the German press.
“It looks as though that was my last ride in a F1 car.
“I now have to consider what is best for me. Maybe it means I will stay at home,” Ralf added.
“Of course I am not blindly slamming the door, but it (any offer) would really have to make sense.”
The 2007 testing year concludes at the Spanish circuit on Friday, although McLaren and Renault will not be in action after already reaching their 30,000km annual mileage limits.
