Former team owner Eddie Jordan believes Michael Schumacher was pressured by Ferrari into retiring from Formula 1 before he was ready to.

Schumacher ended feverish speculation about his future by announcing at Monza that he would bring down the curtain on his glittering career at the end of the 2006 campaign.

But Jordan, who gave Schumacher his F1 break at Spa in 1991, reckons the 37-year-old German was edged out of his seat because Ferrari already had new signing Kimi Raikkonen and incumbent Felipe Massa on its books.

“I have my own view about the Ferrari situation,” he told ITV Sport in a special tribute programme to Schumacher that will be aired on Monday.

“I think that Michael was pushed out.

“They’d already signed Raikkonen and it was very difficult of them to get rid of Massa.”

ITV Sport commentator Martin Brundle offered a different view, suggesting that Schumacher backed away from a head-on contest with Raikkonen in the same team.

“It’s a shame, and you could construe that he’s run away from racing with Raikkonen next year as well, and I think that just takes a little away from his achievements,” he said.

Brundle emphasised his respect for Schumacher’s talent, however, rating him as one of the three greatest drivers of all time.