Ross Brawn will turn his attention to Michael Schumacher’s expiring contract in the middle of next season.<\/p>\n
Mercedes’ other driver Nico Rosberg has already inked a new deal beyond next year, but there have been questions about Schumacher’s desire to keep racing and also speculation linking Kimi Raikkonen to the seat in 2013.<\/p>\n
“We have a contract (with Schumacher) for next year and if he is happy then I see no reason why we cannot continue with an agreement in 2013 as well,” team boss Brawn told Italy’s Autosprint magazine.<\/p>\n
The Brackley based team has finished 2011 fourth in the constructors’ standings, but the W02 car was below the German marque’s expectations.<\/p>\n
Asked what went wrong, Brawn answered: “We thought it was important to have a rather short wheelbase but the reality with the exhaust systems showed that we were not right.<\/p>\n
“So we did not start with the right basis.”<\/p>\n
Schumacher’s former boss at Ferrari Luca di Montezemolo is not sure the 42-year-old German is the right man for Mercedes.<\/p>\n
“This last two seasons has not been about a driver (Schumacher) representing modern motoring,” he told the La Politica nel Pallone programme.<\/p>\n
“He made the choice to come back, and I don’t think he had a competitive car, but to me it’s a shame that a champion like him is not even on the podium.<\/p>\n
“I would wish to see him close the second phase of his sporting life with a much greater satisfaction,” added Montezemolo.<\/p>\n
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