“Finally the season will start! I feel like a child looking forward to Christmas.” That’s the view of Michael Schumacher who will make his return to Formula One racing in just a weeks time.
The seven-time World Champion admitted that he cannot wait for the season to get underway.
“The decision to make my comeback feels like a long time ago now and I can hardly wait for the season to get underway in Bahrain. It’s funny to think that I will be competing in Formula One again when just a few months ago, I would have declined the opportunity categorically. But sometimes things change and the right circumstances come together.”
Schumacher almost made a return in 2009, when he was called in to fill for the injured Felipe Massa, however the comeback didn’t come to fruition as the German’s physical condition wasn’t quite there, after a motorcycle accident damaged his neck.
That’s now all in the past, and the 41 year-old now feels better prepared than ever.
“I feel fresher than I have for many years. I am perfectly prepared physically and most importantly, my energy is back completely.” Schumacher told the Mercedes website. “When I retired from racing in 2006, my batteries were simply empty. Now they are totally recharged and I am ready for the challenge.”
Schumacher believes he, and the car should be competitive in Bahrain after a strong showing in Barcelona.
“It is always difficult to predict the form in pre-season testing, this year more than ever, but the final test in Barcelona proved to us that we should be competitive.
“We know that we will have more new parts in Bahrain which should bring extra performance to the car. It’s important to be in the leading group from the start of the season and I am confident that we will be there.”
