MONZA, Italy (AP):

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher announced his retirement from Formula One yesterday, moments after winning the Italian Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver will leave the sport at the end of this season, following the year-ending Brazilian Grand Prix on October 22.

"One day the day has to come and I felt this was the moment," Schumacher said. "I always said that the day I will retire I will just do nothing for a while. Then I will see what my mind will be."

Ferrari said it would announce a "new role" for Schumacher at the end of the season.

"I will always be part of the Ferrari family," Schumacher said.

Schumacher added that he wanted to make the decision now so team-mate Felipe Massa could work out his future with the team. Ferrari also announced that Massa will continue next season and be joined by Kimi Raikkonen, who moves over from McLaren-Mercedes.

No delays

"There was no reason for me to make my decision any later than (Massa) had to make his," Schumacher said.

The 37-year-old Schumacher will retire with every major record in Formula One. His seven titles are two more than Juan Manuel Fangio's five.

The 90th win of Schumacher's career moved him within two points of leader Fernando Alonso in this season's standings. Only three races remain this season and Schumacher has a chance to win an eighth title before he quits.

Alonso was penalised five places on the starting grid for blocking Massa in qualifying and he started 10th. He had just moved into third position when his engine failed 10 laps from the end.

Schumacher started second and passed pole sitter Kimi Raikkonen in the first round of pit stops.

Ferrari moved past Renault in the constructors' standings, and now leads 168-165.

Schumacher won his first two titles with the Benetton team in 1994 and '95, then restored Ferrari to prominence with five consecutive championships from 2000-04.

"It's not as if I'm lacking anything," said Schumacher, who added that he made up his mind to retire after winning this year's United States GP in July. "Might as well leave while I'm still at the top level."

Schumacher showed signs of vulnerability when he won the 2003 title by only two points over McLaren-Mercedes' Kimi Raikkonen.

The German responded with another dominant year in 2004, though, winning a record 12 of the first 13 races.

Alonso ended Schumacher's title run last year, as Schumacher and Ferrari struggled to adapt to rule changes intended to stop their dominance.

Ferrari attributed the problems to its Bridgestone tires. Schumacher won only one race, the United States GP that only six drivers contested due to safety concerns with rival Michelin tires.

"I really loved every single moment," Schumacher said of his career.