Schumacher reveals new ambition after title

Michael Schumacher ruled out any plans to retire and vowed to bid for a seventh World Championship next season after becoming the most successful driver in history.

The 34-year-old German won a record sixth title after finishing eighth in the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka yesterday to eclipse 1950s legend Juan Manuel Fangio.

"I love this sport, so there is no reason for me to quit," said Schumacher, who has been dogged by retirement speculation despite resigning with Ferrari until the end of 2006.

Schumacher also insisted he was not better than Fangio after becoming the first man since the Argentine to win four successive titles.

"That man is much higher than I see myself," added Schumacher, who took the title by two points after clawing his way back from last place having damaged his nose cone in an early collision with BAR's Takuma Sato.

"You cannot take a personality like Fangio and compare him with today. I have a lot of respect for what Fangio achieved.

"What he did stands for itself and what we achieved today is unique in another way."

Schumacher would have claimed his title even if he had finished outside the top eight as McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen was unable to grab victory, coming second to Rubens Barrichello - whose win helped Ferrari to a record fifth successive constructors' title.

But Schumacher was made to work harder than he wanted by Sato and also had a dingdong battle with the Williams of his brother Ralf which ended up in another collision.

Barrichello deserved his second win of the season as he came home 11 seconds ahead of Raikkonen, whose McLaren team-mate David Coulthard was third.