Ralf Schumacher says he is confident of securing a good seat on the formula one grid beyond 2007.
The 31-year-old German, who is out of contract at the end of the year, has struggled to match the pace of his teammate Jarno Trulli at the wheel of the TF107.
But despite speculation that he might not be offered a drive either at Toyota or elsewhere next season, Schumacher insisted that he is not entertaining the concept of early retirement.
The German broadcaster RTL reported this week that Toyota could already be eying Japan’s Takuma Sato as a worthy occupant of the ride alongside Trulli in 2008 and beyond.
Ralf told the news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) that his manager Hans Mahr has scheduled contract talks with the Cologne based team’s officials for the upcoming summer period.
He insisted: “There is no time pressure. I am absolutely certain that I will be in formula one also next season.”
Schumacher said he had not given “a single thought” to suggestions that he might have to involuntarily follow his elder brother Michael into the slow lane.
Speculating as to his problems with the Toyota this year, Ralf attributed some of the blame to the ‘car’ and some to ‘bad luck’.
“And I probably made some mistakes too,” he said.
Ralf added: “But I have proved over the past ten years that I am one of the best F1 drivers, and with a better car I will prove it again.”
