Michael Schumacher says he will drive for Mercedes again in 2011 - because he has not reached his "final target" of winning an eighth world championship.
The 41-year-old German returned to Formula 1 this season after three years in retirement but has been well off the pace in the drivers' championship.
Schumacher said: "When I came back [the target] was to win another title. That's what I'm here for, very clearly. I know the final target, where I want to go, I'm confident I can achieve it."
Ahead of the German Grand Prix, a race he has won four times, Schumacher is ninth in the drivers championship, 109 points adrift of leader McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and 54 points behind team-mate Nico Rosberg.
There have been rumours that Schumacher, who signed a three-year contract, might stop at the end of this season. But despite his struggles this season, the former Ferrari man insists he has the patience to see his comeback through.
"I'm not perfectly happy with my own performance [this season]," said Schumacher, who signed a three-year deal with Mercedes.
"There is an expectation out there which is impossible to meet. I'm not a magician. I just need time time (to get back to the top) and I will take the time."
Schumacher's Mercedes team were world champions last year as Jenson Button took the drivers championship and the team lifted the constructors trophy in their previous guise as Brawn GP.
It's the first year Michael's had to drive a car that hasn't been built around him. Hopefully, Michael will still be here next year. I don't think he can quit now - he has to stay next year. He has to stay until he's winning races, for himself to leave the sport." Jenson ButtonAnd Schumacher, who won his last world championship in 2004, admitted this season has not gone as smoothly as he had hoped.
"You think there might be a possibility to continue on from where the team was last year. You do wish you could go straight ahead. As you know, this hasn't happened." Schumacher
