Schumacher insists Ferrari relationship ‘good’

Michael Schumacher has jokingly admitted that he will pay close attention to not driving into the wrong pit box at the beginning of 2010.

For the past 14 years, the German has called Ferrari’s pit area home, but this season he will need to look for the silver-clad mechanics of Mercedes GP before making a pitstop.

“You’re right,” he said in an interview with Germany’s Bild newspaper. “The Ferrari guys would probably give me rain tyres in the sunshine,” the 41-year-old joked.

Schumacher has already been branded a “traitor” by sections of Ferrari’s ardent Tifosi, including those in the Italian media, and it is rumoured they were again not impressed with his first television commercial for Mercedes-Benz.

Debuted at the beginning of the Mercedes GP livery launch on Monday, the ad shows a winking Schumacher step out of a red sports car wearing silver overalls.

“Seriously, the relationship with Ferrari will always be good,” the German insisted. “They already invited me to the traditional football games at the races.”

Schumacher also said earlier this week in Stuttgart that Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali invited him to the recent Wrooom media event.

“You can’t forget and deny all the good moments together,” he explained. “I’m still in regular contact; every so often Stefano calls me up.”

Schumacher suggested however that his new Mercedes tenure could be a long-term one.

He has already signed a three year contract, and told Bild that “after three years it need not be the end”.

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