Michael Schumacher, who retired from Formula One last weekend, has paid tribute to former colleagues Ross Brawn and Paulo Martinelli, following yesterday's announcement that the Englishman is to retire and the Italian is to move to a new role with the Fiat Group.

"I have to thank Ross as he has been on hand to help me with all my successes in Formula 1," said Schumacher. "His strong personality and his natural authority have been of fundamental importance for the team. Ross is able to prepare people for the work they have to do, to help and to stimulate them and to point them in the right direction. In my mind, he will always set the standard.

"In the last six years of Formula 1," he continued, "I have only suffered two engine failures and that says all there is to say about the quality of Paolo's work. It is not because of what happened at Suzuka that we have not been able to take the final title win, but in fact, the reliability of the engine has always been at the root of our success. I hold him in great esteem and wish him all the best on his new professional path."