Jun.8 (GMM) Michael Schumacher thinks his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg is a contender for the 2012 world championship.

"I said before the season that it is too early for the title for us," said the seven time world champion with Ferrari and Benetton.

"I have to correct myself," he is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "At least for Nico it is possible."

Rosberg is just 17 points off Fernando Alonso's title lead after six races, while Schumacher has just 2 points on the board.

"Someone told me they have calculated that I could still win the championship," Schumacher smiled. "I admit there would be a few too many 'ifs' for that.

"But apart from China, I have always been on Nico's pace," he insisted.

In his ultra-successful first career, Schumacher won at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve no fewer than seven times.

"In my comeback I am closer than ever to victory," he insisted.

"I don't know why I've won here so much -- actually it's not my type of track.

"But Monte Carlo showed that we can be quick on this type of circuit," he admitted.

Schumacher, whose contract runs out at the end of the season, insisted his recent technical failures have not got him down.

"I've been around for too long to get upset about it. These prototypes are built in seven months, not seven years, but still they are incredibly reliable."

Meanwhile, Nico Rosberg has now sped past his father Keke's tally of grand prix starts.

Is he now ready to match his Finnish dad's title tally as well?

"I don't think about beating him, I am proud of what my father did," the German is quoted by La Presse newspaper.

"I don't compare myself to him and I'm not thinking about the world championship. Right now I'm thinking about this race, after that we will see."

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