Schuey: I can challenge for title

Michael Schumacher insists he is still quick enough to beat reigning champion Sebastian Vettel. The seven-time champion has just turned 43 but says he has not lost any of his pace after testing in Jerez. Schumacher posted the fastest time yesterday – albeit in last season's car with the outlawed blown diffuser. And he is still confident of taking his eighth world title despite being the oldest man on the grid. He said: "I am still around to fight for the championship. Absolutely. Whether we can do it or not is something that will be proven this year." Schumacher is out of contract with the Mercedes GP team at the end of this season and would not commit on whether he would be extending his Formula One career. He added: "I never gave any prognosis about my career. The right time will come to discuss my future." Schumacher's new car for 2012 has yet to be launched, yet he is confident the delay will not hamper their chanced of remaining in thetop four in the constructors' championship. He added: "The main point is the reliability factor. If the car has a certain performance, then it will be reasonably quick, unless you have unexpected circumstances, which we have had in the past. "We have learned our lesson and our programme is done in a way and we believe in it. "We had a productive day. We did a lot of mileage – not just cruising around. We did some very good work with the new tyres that we have to face this year. "That was the main focus for us. We used the old car and know what the difference is between this year's and last year's car and are trying to understand a programme. "Here you only see what we do on the track, but if you imagine on what we do during the winter time. "You talk about the drivers having short breaks but think about the mechanics and engineers and how they have to work on what we finally get on the track." Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, who will start testing his new McLaren today, has enlisted the help of Didier Coton. The experienced manager has worked with several racing drivers, including former double world champion Mika Hakkinen, and will be helping the British driver along with XIX Entertainment.