The German benefited from the controversial decision to penalise Alonso five places on the starting grid after blocking Ferrari's Felipe Massa in qualifying - a punishment criticised by Ecclestone, who described it as a "farce".

BBC: SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | Schumi 'had no pressure to quit'

Schumacher has never admitted to deliberately blocking the track but he was found guilty by race stewards and put to the back of the grid.

BBC: Ferrari out to beat Michael Schumacher and Mercedes