Beer belly fear keeps Schumacher working hard

BERLIN, Sept 13, 2011 (AFP) - Germany's seven-times Formula One champion Michael Schumacher admits he is motivated to work out by fear of a beer belly as much as trying to beat current champion and compatriot Sebastian Vettel.

"I am always going on about how I would look with a beer belly," the 42-year-old Mercedes driver told German fitness magazine Fit for Fun.

"Fortunately, I'm vain enough to put in even more work in the gym." Schumacher has always followed a punishing personal fitness programme and the hard work seems to be helping as he finished fifth at Monza last Sunday in the Italian Grand Prix behind winner Vettel.

He also finished fifth at the Belgian Grand Prix at the end of August and claimed fourth, his highest finish this season, at the Canadian GP in June.

Having won the last of his drivers' world championship titles in 2004, Schumacher has been largely disappointing since he came out of retirement to race for Mercedes for the start of the 2010 season.

The ten points he won in Monza lift him to eighth in the drivers' table as defending champion Vettel of Red Bull continues to dominate with 284 points after claiming his 8th Grand Prix win of the season on Sunday from 13 races.