Michael Schumacher Targets Eighth Formula 1 Title
Michael Schumacher — Back in action
Michael Schumacher says he intends to crown his Formula 1 comeback by challenging for the 2010 title.
The seven-time champion announced his return for 2010 on Wednesday with Mercedes, the renamed Brawn GP team.
Despite three years out of the sport, he insists he can threaten the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button – the 2008 and 2009 world champions.
“I have won the title seven times and the team won both titles last year, so what do you expect,” said the German.
Schumacher, 41 on 3 January, added: “Now Mercedes are team owners you cannot expect anything else other than the world title. That is what we aim for but we have to deliver and that is our job.
“Honestly, I can’t wait until 1 February, when we will officially run the car.”
Schumacher retired in 2006 after competing in 250 grands prix, 180 of them for Ferrari. He won 91 races, 71 for Ferrari, on his way to his multiple world titles.
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has welcomed Schumacher’s return and believes he can even win the title at the age of 41.
“Forget about winning races – I have him on my bill for winning the championship,” Ecclestone told F1’s official website.
“It’s fantastic for Formula 1 that he turned into a ‘comeback kid’ but at the same time it’s good for Michael.
“Now he has all his strength together and has 100% motivation that will give us many exciting races in 2010.”
Schumacher almost returned to F1 last summer. He was going to act as a stand-in for injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa but pulled out because of a neck injury sustained in a motorcycle accident last February.
Recent medical checks have been positive, though, and he is confident he is back to full fitness.
Schumacher will reportedly earn £6.2m after reuniting with Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn, who masterminded all seven of his titles, the first two with Benetton in 1994-5 and the subsequent five with Ferrari from 2000-4.
Lucas di Grassi, who will make his debut with Virgin Racing next season, believes Schumacher still possesses the will to win after losing to him in a recent karting event in Brazil.
“He’s the most competitive guy that I know,” Di Grassi said recently. “Everybody I know goes there [to the karting event] to have a good time and enjoy it and have fun. Michael goes there and spends two hours making a seat one millimetre higher.”
Williams driver Rubens Barrichello, who drove with Schumacher at Ferrari, suggested the German driver’s track record was the key to Mercedes’ decision to lure him out of retirement.
