Michael Schumacher has said he will continue racing next season, the German determined to see out his three year contract.

Weeks after almost pulling off a surprise podium result, the seven-time champion is back at Silverstone, scene of three of his ninety-one wins and also the 1999 crash which brought his season to a sudden halt.

With a year of his three-year deal with Mercedes still to run, the German was keen to scotch rumours that he might head back into retirement at season end, telling reporters that he's here for a bit longer.

"I've always had the option to stop at any moment I wanted," he revealed. "But I'm here for a fixed target, a three-year programme, and that is what it is."

Asked about the progress of his mini-Me, Sebastian Vettel who has already won six of this year's eight races, the seven-time champ said: "Records are there to be broken by whoever, and Sebastian is on the way.

"I just have good feelings about this," he continued. "Seeing him, how he has developed, it relates to the story of how I made Formula One popular in Germany, increasing the interest for the motor industry that has supported these young kids to get their chance. He took his, and has learned from everything he could, and it is great to watch that."

In terms of his own race this weekend, the German admitted that he would be happy to see some rain, having revelled in the conditions in Canada.

"In the rain we could talk about a podium," he smiled, "whereas in the dry, although we might have an improvement in the car, a podium would be out of reach."