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[Jean Valjean]

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Ferrari want Schumacher to test new cars

By Michele Lostia Monday, September 11th 2006, 16:54 GMT

Ferrari's chief race engineer Luca Baldisserri wants Michael Schumacher to stay involved in testing the Italian squad's cars once he retires at the end of the season.

Schumacher announced at Monza he will stop racing in Formula One after 14 years when this season finishes in Brazil.

Ferrari said Schumacher, who will be replaced by Kimi Raikkonen, would remain involved with them, and that his new role will be announced at the end of the year.

Baldisserri said Schumacher will be missed for several reasons.

"Schumacher has been with us for 11 years and I can say he's brought everything we have now: he's given us precious suggestions on work methods and he's been a role model not only at the wheel, but also in his professional approach," Baldisserri told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It will be a big problem to carry on at the same level without him.

"I don't know Raikkonen well: we only have information from the engineers who worked with him at Sauber. Well, when he gets inside the car he gets his job done very well, he's very quick, but Schumacher knew how to do other things too and created an incredible relationship with the team.

"He contributed to produce winning cars, while now it will be up to us to give the driver a car capable of winning.

"I've already asked (Jean) Todt and (Stefano) Domenicali to convince him to test our cars. After all, driving is the thing he loves most."

Race and test technical manager Nigel Stepney also predicted it will be difficult to cope without Schumacher.

"It will be a difficult winter," he said. "We are losing what has been for us the focal point all these years, that's why I'm saying pre-season testing will be difficult for us, because we'll have to build with Kimi the same level of confidence."