Schumacher admits defeat…for now

Michael Schumacher has turned his attention to 2011 after admitting he is too far behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton to challenge for this season's world title.

After finishing eighth at Silverstone, he is languishing down in ninth place at the halfway point of the championship – a staggering 109 points behind Hamilton - and has yet to challenge for victories or even podiums.

By contrast, team-mate Nico Rosberg is still in with an outside chance of winning the title after another solid third place finish at Silverstone.

Unsurprisingly, Schumacher would rather look towards next season and getting the car and team working the way he wants so that he’s got the best chance of returning to winning ways.

"I'm not really thinking about the championship any more, that's unrealistic from my point of view considering the points I have," he said. "So all we do, from my perspective, is try to learn as much as we can and prepare for next year. That's what I'm fully motivated on.

"I have been in all sorts of circumstances in my career and don't worry, I don't suffer at all about this in a way that removes my motivation. I put in as much effort as ever and I drive on a level that I can be happy with."