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Michael Schumacher is looking forward to one of his favourite race weekends, despite knowing it could be the last Japanese GP of his Formula 1 career.
Mercedes announced last week that the seven-times World champion, now 43, will be replaced in 2013 by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.
MOTIVATION INTACT
Schumacher also arrives at Suzuka with a 10-place grid penalty, punishment for smashing into the back of Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne's Toro Rosso car at the preceding 2012 Singapore GP.
He said: "My motivation is intact after the news, especially because Suzuka is one of the season's highlights for me. I enjoy the circuit, it has sections that challenge a driver as almost nowhere else. Then there are the fans: they love motor racing and it's fun to feel their passion."
Schumacher won two of his titles at Suzuka (2000 and 2003) and another with Benetton in 1995 was secured at Japan's Aida track and has also won six times at Suzuka.
TAKING HIS TIME
Although he has no seat at Mercedes in 2013, after making his comeback with them in 2010 following his retirement from Ferrari in 2006, Schumacher has yet to declare time on his F1 career.
Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn told Reuters he expected his friend to take time considering his options.
The team hase offered him an unspecified role for 2013 while Ferrari-powered Sauber could be interested in putting him in one of their cars according to some reports.
Sauber's Mexican driver Sergio Perez will join McLaren in 2013 to rake over from Hamilton.
Schumacher is mathematically out of the title chase, 12th overall and 151 points behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso with six races and a maximum of 150 points remaining.
Mercedes announced last week that the seven-times World champion, now 43, will be replaced in 2013 by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.
MOTIVATION INTACT
Schumacher also arrives at Suzuka with a 10-place grid penalty, punishment for smashing into the back of Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne's Toro Rosso car at the preceding 2012 Singapore GP.
He said: "My motivation is intact after the news, especially because Suzuka is one of the season's highlights for me. I enjoy the circuit, it has sections that challenge a driver as almost nowhere else. Then there are the fans: they love motor racing and it's fun to feel their passion."
Schumacher won two of his titles at Suzuka (2000 and 2003) and another with Benetton in 1995 was secured at Japan's Aida track and has also won six times at Suzuka.
TAKING HIS TIME
Although he has no seat at Mercedes in 2013, after making his comeback with them in 2010 following his retirement from Ferrari in 2006, Schumacher has yet to declare time on his F1 career.
Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn told Reuters he expected his friend to take time considering his options.
The team hase offered him an unspecified role for 2013 while Ferrari-powered Sauber could be interested in putting him in one of their cars according to some reports.
Sauber's Mexican driver Sergio Perez will join McLaren in 2013 to rake over from Hamilton.
Schumacher is mathematically out of the title chase, 12th overall and 151 points behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso with six races and a maximum of 150 points remaining.