There's still fire in Michael, Ralf feels burning rubber

I have been given a clue to the will-he-won't-he perennial poser over whether Michael Schumacher is ready to extend his career after his comeback contract runs out at the end of this season. And it stems from no less a trusted authority than his younger brother Ralf.

The German Grand Prix legend has recently revitalised his reputation, particularly with some impressive qualifying shows, albeit with some bad luck in the races, after a pretty dismal last two years.

Question marks have been raised over the 43-year-old's eagerness to carry on and neither he nor his Mercedes boss Ross Brawn, the mastermind behind all his seven world titles, have indicated which way he will go.

But sibling Ralf, himself a former Grand Prix racer, has opened up on the issue that is intriguing the Formula One paddock.

Whether secretive Michael will be happy at Ralf's confident forecast remains to be seen, but it could be based upon conversations they have recently held.

Schumacher junior says: "Michael came back to celebrate successes with Mercedes. And until he himself succeeds he will not give up. I still see a lot of fire in him. And he is pushing hard as he showed in testing in Mugello last week."

Failing to hit high spots

Schumacher senior has been a record-breaking genius with 91 wins, 68 pole positions and 76 fastest laps in 291 races.

Mercedes tempted him back on a three-year deal worth around £60 million (Dh355.2 million) — but so far, aside from his recent run of qualifying improvements, he has failed to hit the high spots that were once exclusively his own.

Not for much longer, according to Ralf, who predicts: "I think we will see Michael on the podium soon. At some point there surely comes a moment when the body cannot do it any more — but my brother is super-fit and, when I look at him, that problem is still a good few years away."

Michael, ahead of Sunday's Spanish GP, has pinpointed his problematical Pirelli tyres as his main barrier to better race results and has dismissively attacked them with: "It's like racing on raw eggs."