Bernie: No idea if Schumi’s leaving

Editor

Bernie Ecclestone has denied knowing the fate of Michael Schumacher – after all even Schumacher doesn’t know what his future holds…

Bernie Ecclestone has denied knowing the fate of Michael Schumacher – after all even Schumacher doesn’t know what his future holds.

A miss-spoken sentence from Ecclestone on the Belgian GP grid caused chaos as the F1 supremo unwittingly hinted to the BBC’s Eddie Jordan that Schumacher was retiring.

“I’m sorry that he’s leaving us not being a winner, because he is a winner,” said the 81-year-old.

And although Ecclestone attempted to backtrack almost immediately, it didn’t stop the rumours of the 43-year-old’s pending retirement from doing the rounds.

Ecclestone, though, has now done his best to clear it up, insisting he doesn’t know whether Schumacher is on his way out because even the seven-time World Champion does not know.

“I said I would hate to lose Schumacher,” he told ESPNF1.

“The reason for this was that I was asked the question would I miss Schumacher and I said yes.

“He doesn’t know if he is leaving. I spoke to him and he said honestly I have not decided and he would tell me.”