Schumacher discussing Ferrari contract extension

Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is talking to Ferrari about staying on after 2006.

Asked whether team boss Jean Todt had talked to him about eventual replacements, the German told the Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper yesterday that the main discussion had been about his own future.

"To tell you the truth, Jean at the moment is talking with me about extending my contract," he said. "Sometimes we talk about drivers, but in very general terms."

Schumacher, the most successful driver in the history of the sport, said however that Spaniard Fernando Alonso, Renault's championship leader, would be a good choice as eventual replacement.

"I consider him, (McLaren's Kimi) Raikkonen, (Sauber's Felipe) Massa and (Williams' Mark) Webber to be very good drivers," he said.

Of the four named, Todt has hinted at a preference for Raikkonen although Brazilian Massa is a former Ferrari test driver managed by his son Nicolas.

The seven times champion, who joined Ferrari in 1996, will be almost 38 when his current contract expires.

Todt and other key Ferrari bosses such as technical director Ross Brawn also have contracts expiring at the end of 2006.