Thursday March 14th, 2002

Four-time World Champion Michael Schumacher has revealed he is in favour of reducing the amount of testing in Formula One.

Team bosses from all Formula One teams will hold a meeting on March 19, which is aimed at discussing different proposals to reduce the costs in Formula One, and drivers like former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve have expressed their desire to see a reduction in testing allowed during the season.

Ferrari driver Schumacher said ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix that he supports Villeneuve's idea, but keeping the same amount of Grands Prix during the season.

"I would like to see a restriction on testing but keeping the number of races the same," said Schumacher today in Malaysia. "Teams need time to prepare for the season and a break after it. The only way to have more races would be to have one each week."

Schumacher, who has won the last two Championships in his way to becoming Formula One's most successful driver in terms of number of victories, also dismissed the idea that Formula One is boring despite his dominance in the past years.

"Interest in F1 does not seem to have declined," said Schumacher. "But to be honest, I don't care. I just want to win. But I don't think I have been over-dominant. Last year there were several winners and even after we won the Championships in Hungary, I think the remaining races, with the exception of Monza (coming after the September 11 events) were all interesting."

Published at 09:13:37 GMT