Ralf Schumacher has ruled out following his older brother Michael back into formula one.

At the weekend, 36-year-old Ralf kicked off his fifth consecutive season driving a Mercedes in the German touring car series DTM.

He was a respected winner of 6 grands prix, driving most recently for Toyota in 2007, but despite his famous brother’s return to F1 with Mercedes, Ralf told Germany’s Der Westen that his own grand prix career “is over”.

“Formula one is exciting and beautiful, but the DTM is much more friendly, we don’t have to travel all around the world, everything is familiar.

“I like that,” the German said.

Michael Schumacher is a “potential witness” for the current proceedings of a Stuttgart court, according to his former manager Willi Weber’s lawyer.

Weber, who now handles Williams rookie Nico Hulkenberg’s career, is defending more charges relating to the company Pole Position Marketing.

The company handled official formula one merchandising for both Schumacher and his younger brother Ralf.

Weber was sentenced to probation and a hefty fine two years ago, so for the latest charges – involving the embezzlement of DUR 1.2 million – he could be jailed.

“Michael Schumacher,” said lawyer Barbara Livonius, “would be a potential witness.”

Jun.10 (GMM)  Michael Schumacher looks set to stay at Mercedes in 2011.

The famous German, who initially retired in 2006, is believed to have signed a three-year contract prior to returning to formula one this season.

But after a difficult re-acclimatisation, it had been widely speculated that the 41-year-old might prefer to step back out of the race cockpit at the end of 2010.

Boss Ross Brawn said in Turkey that he hopes both Schumacher and Nico Rosberg stay at the team in 2011.

Schumacher’s younger brother Ralf also thinks the seven time world champion is staying put.

“I think he’s pretty happy with what he’s doing and, as far as I know, it’s a three-year plan, so I’m sure we’ll see him around for a while,” he told 422race.com.

And Schumacher himself is quoted as saying on Thursday: “For me this is not a one-year project.”

That commitment might lead to Mercedes eventually calling off development of the silver MGP-01 in order to concentrate early on its 2011 successor.

“By mid-season, we must look to put the F-duct in and catch up to the top,” Brawn added.  “If it is worthwhile to keep attacking then we will do it, if not we will concentrate everything on 2011.”

The Briton told Italy’s Autosprint magazine that he still thinks the pacesetting Red Bull cars are still within reach.

“Some aspects of their car is different from all the others,” he explained.  “Other teams will introduce these elements in the next races.

“I know that everyone is looking with great interest at their exhaust system,” said Brawn.

May 7 (GMM)  Michael Schumacher on Friday confirmed he is now feeling more comfortable at the wheel of his 2010 Mercedes.

Earlier at the Circuit de Catalunya, his younger brother Ralf remarked that “everything for Michael looks a whole lot better” as he outpaced the sister car driven by Nico Rosberg in both 90-minute sessions.

“Here I’m feeling comfortable with the car, it does do what I’m asking it to do,” said the German, after driving the revised W01 car with a longer wheelbase.

Nico Rosberg, meanwhile – who had previously been outpaced by Schumacher in just four other official sessions this season – said he “went wrong on the setup” of the updated car.

It had been suggested prior to the weekend that the changes implemented by Mercedes might suit Schumacher but cause Rosberg, who is currently second in the world championship and 40 points ahead of his teammate, to suffer.

“I’m not sure, we’ll have to see,” team boss Ross Brawn told the Evening Standard last week when confronted with the theory.

Apr.22 (GMM) Two more of Michael Schumacher’s supporters have backed the seven time world champion amid his currently lacklustre 2010 return to formula one.

On Wednesday, Bernie Ecclestone and Norbert Haug hit out at the negative reports about Schumacher’s form in the W01 Mercedes, and now his younger brother Ralf Schumacher is asking the critics to “lay off a bit” and “stay fair”.

“He himself knew that, after a three-year break, he could not go in and win again straightaway like before,” 34-year-old Schumacher told the German daily Bild.

“But the expectations from outside were, of course, very big. Clearly Michael probably hoped to be somewhat nearer the front after four races.

“With regard to the times he is not so far away as the points make it seem. I believe a good result is soon possible,” added Ralf.

David Coulthard said in the German press after Shanghai that the weekend had been “the darkest” in the 41-year-old’s entire career.

But on Wednesday, ahead of his debut in the DTM series this weekend, Coulthard insisted it is “ridiculous” to write off Schumacher now.

Niki Lauda said after China that the German’s performance had been “mediocre” but he thinks it can be remedied with “practice, practice, practice”.

And another former GP winner Jochen Mass, who raced in the 70s and 80s, said he is neither “surprised nor disappointed” about Schumacher’s current form.

“No one should forget that he hasn’t driven for three years and could do hardly any testing,” he told Express.

“We might not see the old Michael back again, but he can still be very good, further forward in the rankings and with a little luck winning again,” added Mass.