Ralf Schumacher has played down reports that he is prepared to walk out on the BMW-Williams Formula 1 team.
Team boss Frank Williams wants to keep the German next year, and is already looking for one new driver following Juan Pablo Montoya's decision to join McLaren in 2005.
Williams, though, is baulking at Schumacher's reported £13million wage demands and has already drawn up a list of potential replacements, which includes Britain's Jenson Button.
At the weekend, the German media reported Schumacher was prepared to sever his ties with the British-based outfit because of their handling of contract negotiations, and was quoted as saying Williams had called him a "money-grabber" as well as pulling out of a last- minute deal.
However, the 28-year-old issued a statement on his personal website, www.ralf-schumacher.de , to calm the tension between the two camps.
"All I wanted to do was to give an idea of what was going on and to counter press reports that implied that I was only interested in money," said Schumacher.
"All of that has absolutely nothing to do with what we are working for at the moment.
"Everyone's focus is only on the start of the season and the first race in which we want to achieve maximum success.
"Everything else will just work itself out, I'm sure."
Montoya, meanwhile, is confident Williams will be a serious contender in the forthcoming season, which starts in Australia on March 7th.
He told the Williams website, www.bmw.williamsf1.com : "Unlike last year, we can fight for victories with the Williams FW26 from day one.
"We have a great car, and I am as proud as everyone else at WilliamsF1 and BMW who have worked very hard."