Bernie Ecclestone believes that it is not impossible that Michael Schumacher could have a change of heart at some stage and return to F1.

Indeed, the Englishman goes so far as to say that the German could end up driving for Renault.

"I know that Renault would take him immediately," Ecclestone told Sport-Bild. "It's up to him."

Ecclestone also suggests that the seven, possibly eight-time, World Champion was rushed into making a decision regarding his retirement, with Ferrari keen to confirm, and reveal, its 2007 line-up.

"I have the feeling that he had to make a decision at a time when he really didn't want to," he admitted.

One only has to look at Schumacher to see that he dearly loves his racing, and is still ultra-competitive. All of us change our minds, sometimes on a daily basis, and the Ferrari driver is no exception. What might make perfect sense today, can appear misguided tomorrow.

Pitpass has always felt that when Michael does retire it will be a spur of the moment decision, he'll wake up, or perhaps arrive at a circuit, and suddenly say to himself; 'this isn't for me any more'. And that will be that.

We cannot help but feel that despite what he's saying right now, in a few months time, or maybe a year from now, he'll realize that the school-run and helping Corinna with the horses is not for him. Furthermore, helping Ferrari with its testing and development will not satisfy him, it will merely reawaken his competitive instinct, and much like Nigel Tufnell at the end of This is Spinal Tap, will opt to join in rather than watch from the sidelines.