Ferrari: from SI

Schumacher: Giving up is not option
Posted: Monday May 16, 2005 3:03PM; Updated: Monday May 16, 2005 3:05PM

LONDON, May 16 (Reuters) -- Ferrari's Michael Schumacher is looking
forward to Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix as much as ever, even if others
have written off the Formula One champion's chances already.

"I always enjoy coming here. It's just a lot of fun to wind your way
through the streets," the German said on his website on Monday.

"Even though it will be difficult for us this time, because the position
on the starting grid at Monaco is somewhat decisive for the outcome of
the race, that does not diminish my excitement.

"We are looking forward to taking on this challenge. Giving up is not an
option, but giving up before you try is completely out of the question,"
added Schumacher.

"This is sports and in sports anything is possible."

Schumacher has not won a race since the penultimate round of last season
in Japan, the longest drought he has suffered since joining Ferrari in 1996.

Ferrari, constructors' champions for the past six years, won 15 of the
18 races last season but have gone without a victory for six races now.

Renault, winners in Monaco last year, have won four out of five races
with Spain's Fernando Alonso leading the championship after three victories.

Austrian Niki Lauda said at the weekend that Schumacher's title hopes
were over, with Alonso on 44 points and the German just 10.

The 36-year-old has retired three times in five races this year and his
failure to finish the last round in Spain means he must run early in
Saturday's first qualifying when track conditions are unfavourable.

"The rules call for that and we will naturally try to make the best of
it," said Schumacher. "We may be going through somewhat of a weak phase
right now but that's the way it is in sports - there are always ups and
downs.

"We were doing extremely well for an unusually long period of time and
now we're having to struggle a little bit. But we know what the reasons
for that are and that's the most important thing," added the German.

Schumacher has won five times in Monaco but not since 2001, retiring
last year after a bizarre collision with Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya's
Williams in the tunnel while following the safety car.

Copyright 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

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MC


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