Brawn wants Schumacher to stay beyond 2012

Mar.16 (GMM) Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn has confirmed that he would like to keep working with Michael Schumacher beyond the 2012 season.

The seven time world champion's three-year Mercedes contract expires this season, and the 43-year-old said on Thursday that he has "no timetable" for talks with the Brackley based team.

There have been reports that Mercedes sees McLaren's Lewis Hamilton - also with an expiring contract - as a potential successor to Schumacher.

Team boss Brawn, however, admitted he hopes Mercedes and Schumacher live up to their expectations in 2012.

"We look forward to continuing to work with Michael," he told SID news agency, "because that would mean we are successful in what we are doing.

"If Michael stays in the team, that would mean that we are coming closer to our goals," explained Brawn.

"At some point in the season we will decide to continue, or do something else."

Schumacher, however, denied that 2012 is "any more important than any other" season in terms of his future.