Schumacher raring to go again

Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher says he is as hungry as ever and has not even given a thought to retiring from the sport.

Speaking on Thursday at a news conference at Ferrari's winter retreat, Schumacher was reminded of his apparent lack of motivation at the end of the campaign when he had already wrapped up his fourth world title.

But the German said the long break - his last race was on October 14 - had left him raring to go.

"This has never been a problem for me. Having four wheels around me is my life, it is not a question of motivation - I just do it."

The German underlined the point by saying his surprise early return to the test track at Fiorano where he set a new track record earlier this week had been due to boredom and his lengthy absence from the car.

"The main reason was to be able to confirm that I could still race a car. Having been so long out of a car, you get concerned. The other reason is that I just got a little bit bored not being in the car - it was too long a time and I just wanted to drive.

"At the same time obviously I had the chance to see what is the latest situation with the new gearbox and other components but the main reason was I was just hot to drive the car."

Schumacher's downbeat mood at the end of last season had led to speculation that he could follow Finn Mika Hakkinen into retirement.

Earlier Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer confirmed that he had been put on stand-by for the US Grand Prix when Schumacher had suggested he might not be in the right frame of mind for the event in the wake of the September 11 attacks.

But the German insisted he had never even given a thought to quitting the sport.

"It is too far away yet and there is no need to think about what to do afterwards. Four wheels will always remain around me but how long I can do that we will find out" said the world champion.

Asked whether he would miss his battles with McLaren driver Hakkinen, Schumacher said: "Yes and no. Yes because he has been a great competitor but he has also been sometimes too fast.

"To some degree it might make my life a little easier, on the other hand there are new people coming up to raise the game again. We will find out.

"But Mika will always be missed because he is a great character and we have had really good contests."