Highlights

Ralf Schumacher won't ask older brother for advice

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-10-16 08:41

BERLIN - Ralf Schumacher will not ask his older brother Michael for any advice when the seven-times world champion retires after next Sunday's Formula One finale.

"He's probably going to stay as an adviser to Ferrari and certainly won't help me get any better," Ralf, 31, told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

He added that his 37-year-old brother had not helped him with any advice since he was a child.

"He certainly helped when I was a go-cart racer but after that he had his hands full with his own stuff," the Toyota driver said. "In Formula One, we were obviously competing against each other."

But Ralf added that his brother's name and reputation had probably helped him earlier in his career.

"The name 'Schumacher' definitely helped me get in," said Ralf, who said he could see himself racing until he was 40. "But I had to drive fast on my own. Or did you ever see Michael sitting in the cockpit with me?"

Ralf said his brother's retirement will not hurt Formula One and added that he won't miss him as a driver.

"Formula One has proved throughout its history that it is not dependent on any single driver and that won't be any different after Michael leaves," Ralf said.

"As a brother, I'm sorry Michael won't be around but as a driver, (his retirement) doesn't change anything for me.