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Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug insists Michael Schumacher won't be walking away from F1, instead he'll be fighting for the 2011 World title.

Schumacher's return to Formula One with Mercedes GP has been anything but the success story the seven-time World Champ had hoped for. Instead of fighting for race wins and podiums, he's been battling just to finish in the points.

This has led F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone to predict that Schumacher may opt out of his three-year contract at the end of this year - his first. "If Schumacher doesn't perform I doubt whether he will want to stay," said Ecclestone.

However, Haug insists Schumacher is in it for the long-haul, adding that he believes the German and his team-mate Nico Rosberg made up the perfect driver line-up.

"Michael will concentrate for the rest of the year on achieving the absolute best results. Next year he will go for the title," Haug told Kicker magazine.

"He is still totally cool and relaxed, he wants success - and that impressed us all."

He added: "I would not have any other line-up than Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg."

But while Mercedes have continued to back Schumacher, others in Formula One have criticised his return, saying the German has lost it and made a mistake returning.

To those critics, Haug says: "I think it is unnecessary to defend a seven-time World Champion.

"But, on the other hand, I understand the discussion. Although the answer to the question of whether he still can is quite clearly, yes."