Schumacher warning to title rivals
 |  Schumacher is looking forward to regaining that winning habit. |
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LONDON, England -- Michael Schumacher has sent out a defiant message to his title rivals despite his own sorry start to the Formula One season.
"Anyone who wants to write us off doesn't know us," the seven times world champion said on his personal website after he retired from Sunday's Spanish GP for a third non-finish in five races in his Ferrari.
But former grand prix star Eddie Irvine has already written off the German's chances of retaining the title, claiming Schumacher was 'boring'.
The Irishman is more impressed by current championship leader Fernando Alonso of Spain, who has 44 points to a paltry 10 for Schumacher.
"The guy (Alonso) is awesome. When the pressure's on, he doesn't seem to make mistakes like Michael does. He's the new king," Irvine, who retired at the end of 2002, told BBC radio.
"Kimi Raikkonen's up there as well. The guard is changing, and I think it's about time because Michael is the most boring world champion ever," he added.
Predictably, Schumacher is dismissive of such talk.
"Of course this result was anything but productive in regard to the fight for the championship title, there's no two ways about that.
"But the first few races this season showed how much can happen during just one weekend and how quickly everything can change to somebody else's favor in Formula One.
"So I'll say it again: The season is very long and there is a lot of room for things to happen. Sure, the fight for the title has become a lot more difficult for us," added the 36-year-old German.
"But nothing is lost yet. We will carry on working and we will carry on fighting ... it's not over yet."
Ferrari won 15 of last year's 18 races with Schumacher victorious in 13.
Reuters contributed to this report.
