Michael Schumacher has said that he would consider a return to Formula One 'right now' after admitting that his bid to stand in for the injured Felipe Massa this season was heavily based on emotion.

The German tested a two-year old Ferrari in August in an attempt to demonstrate his fitness, but any thoughts of a comeback were scuppered when a neck injury - sustained which pursuing his new-found love of motorcycle racing at the start of the year - flared up and led to the decision to remain retired. Reflecting on his actions, Schumacher admits that he had been affected by the injury to Massa - which briefly left the Brazilian in a 'life-threatening' condition - and did not approach the request to return 'rationally'.

"It wasn't really a rational decision, it was an emotional decision," the seven-time confessed to reporters at the recent Race of Champions in China, "At the time, I thought 'why not, it's part-time, it could be funny.

"Having met with [Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo], I looked at all the points - in particular, that it was Felipe, who is like a brother to me. Part of the reason I retired was to hand over the car to him because he deserved to stay in a team with a top car so, taking the fact that it was him having the accident, having to suffer, it was very easy to convince myself."

Asked whether he would be prepared to replace Massa should the Brazilian's own comeback for 2010 be dented by the head injuries that he sustained in Hungary, Schumacher admitted that he would think twice.

"Right now, no," he smiled.

Having already admitted in Beijing that he might be tempted to celebrate another Nations Cup success - shared with Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel - with a trademark cigar, Schumacher has since extended his partnership with the Bacardi through to 2011. He will continue to act as an ambassador for the spirits brand, promoting its anti drink-drive' message.

Schumacher has partnered Bacardi since 2008, and the extension to his deal is rumoured to be worth around $1.5m a year.