Ecclestone: Schumacher Shouldn't Have Returned

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone believes that seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher should never have made a comeback to the sport.

Ecclestone believes that the 43-year-old shouldn’t have risked his reputation by returning to racing, after first retiring from the sport in 2006.

The 82-year-old told the official formula1.com Website: “I would rather he had stopped as a seven-time world champion than stopping now.

“People new to the sport - people who have joined the F1 fan fraternity just recently - will remember Michael now, not as he was. They don't see the hero that he was but the human that can fail.”

Schumacher made a disappointing return to the sport after making his comeback in 2010, managing only one podium finish during his three years with Mercedes.

The record breaking driver retired for a second time last month, having failed to add to his tally of 91 race victories.

The German won five titles in a row at Ferrari between 2000 and 2004, to add to the titles he won with Benetton in 1994 and 1995.

Ecclestone went on to quash rumours about potentially retiring from the sport himself, adding: "Probably the bad thing with me is that I put in lots of effort to build Formula One the way it is now, so this is my baby and I want to look after it. Sooner or later we're going to have to get a babysitter. When that will be, who knows? I am in very good shape."