Schumi signs new two-year deal with Ferrari?

Ferrari team leader, Michael Schumacher has apparently agreed a deal to stay with the Scuderia in 2007 and 2008, having signed a new ?60 million contact.

Although there is still no official confirmation from the team and no announcement is expected until the summer, British newspaper, The News of the World is reporting that the deal is done, although he has a special clause in it, that means he could quit one year early, if he felt the desire.

"Michael is going to carry on next year," a Ferrari 'insider' told the tabloid 'paper. "He sees no reason why he should retire because the motivation to win is still there. Only a few people at the team know the deal has been done."

Schumacher himself meanwhile, he will get a ?5 million per year pay rise under the new agreement, hiking his rumoured salary from ?25 million to ?30 million, is understood to be extremely happy with the deal.

"I will continue doing what I do as I have always done - with great enthusiasm and a will to win. Things are fine within the team. Everyone is pulling in the right direction and we all want to win," he said recently when talking in the countdown to next weekend's San Marino GP.

Where this leaves Kimi Raikkonen, who is thought to have signed a letter of intent to join Ferrari in 2007 is unknown. However, unless the Finn is guaranteed equal number one status it now seems unlikely he will move from McLaren-Mercedes, something that will almost certainly mean Juan Montoya is left as the odd one out, when Fernando Alonso joins Ron Dennis' squad from Renault next year.

Who will partner Schumacher in '07 is unclear then, although MotoGP ace, Valentino Rossi is still said to be a possible, as of course will be current number two driver, Felipe Massa.