Michael Schumacher has said that he needs "a little bit more time" to decide on his future in Formula One, suggesting that he is in no rush to extend his comeback despite reports claiming he had signed on for 2013.
Schumacher initially returned to the sport in 2010 on a three-year deal with the Mercedes GP squad, and 2012 will represent the final year of his contract.Recent reports from Germany had suggested that the seven-time F1 champion had already agreed a contract extension for 2013, but Schumacher has denied that this was the case.
And despite his team mate Nico Rosberg shoring up a new contract extension on Thursday, he told reporters in Abu DHabi that he was in no rush to sort his own future out.
"According to some journalists, yes," he grinned when asked if a new deal was close, "The reality no, because I told you already several times that this is not the time to talk about it."
He added: "I need a little bit more time to see about myself and how we are heading, and some input to see if that is what I want or not."
Schumacher will be 44 when the 2013 season begins, but he insisted that his decision on whether or not to continue in F1 would be based on car performance rather than his own age, after two years in lacklustre Mercedes machines.
"It is more about how we maximise the potential of what we have made. It took some while to do so, talking about our general performance," he muttered.
"You have to assess where you are and what needs to be done, and then to transform it. You would rather do this early than late, but we have to understand that we were later than we hoped to be."
He added: "The important thing is, are we on the right track? Did we take the right measures? And I think yes, but it has to be proven in the future."
Mercedes have made some substantial signings to help boost their performance in 2012 and the future, bringing in Aldo Costa from Ferrari, Geoff Willis from HRT and Bob Bell from Renault to their backroom staff.
And while Schumacher is still yet to be sold on the team's future, Rosberg told reporters that the new appointments had proved to him that the team was going places.
"I saw this summer that this team means business and is doing what it takes to become the best," he said when explaining his reasons for signing the new deal.
"Of course I waited a little bit in the summer to see how things were going, but it's absolutely clear that [things are improving] and with Ross [Brawn] too, he's been strongly implementing all his changes going forward."
He added: "I know I've got to be patient, but great times lie ahead, I'm sure."
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