Motorsport
Report: Renault boss Briatore signals interest in Schumacher
By DPA
Apr 13, 2006, 13:00 GMT

Hamburg - Renault team boss Flavio Briatore is interested in signing Michael Schumacher again but for now has been told that there will be no deal, for now, Germany's Bild daily said on Thursday.

Schumacher won his first two of seven world titles 1994 and 1995 under Briatore at the Benetton team before moving on to Ferrari. A return in the dusk of his career to drive for the Italian Briatore would make him come full circle.

Schumacher's Ferrari deal expires at the end of the season. His manager Willi Weber confirmed to Bild that Briatore had tested the terrain but that Schumacher must first decide about his racing future and will then first talk with Ferrari.

'We have known each other for a long time and talk a lot. He has now hinted that we should talk with him before a possible signature at Ferrari. He seems to be interested.

'(But) I made it clear to Flavio that we won't talk with anyone until Michael has decided on whether he wants to continue. We would (then) first talk with Ferrari only,' said Weber.

Renault will lose world champion Fernando Alonso after the season as the Spaniard is moving on to McLaren-Mercedes.

Schumacher, 37, has so far said that he will very most likely stay at Ferrari if he continues, but there is also ongoing speculation that Ferrari are after McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen.