Rejuvenated 'Schumi' impresses for Mercedes

• Source: Global Times
• [23:24 February 02 2010]
• Comments

Brawn is now responsible for making sure Mercedes' Silver Arrow car is in perfect condition when the season starts.

"The guys have done a superb job being out there just making a few control checks today and run the car reliable. We have done 18 laps, if I'm correct. For the first day, I think that is a superb job," said Schumacher.

Having retired in 2006, Schumacher, 41, broke a three-year hiatus to sign a three-year contract to race for Mercedes.

And he has made no secret of his desire to win an eighth world drivers' championship title with Brawn as team principal at Mercedes and Nico Rosberg as his teammate.

"I feel very good. I have worked out very well. I have prepared myself extremely precisely. For the best result," said Schumacher, whose last year's return to F1 was hampered by a neck injury.

And his decision to wear a red helmet has nothing to do with his former Ferrari team, he insisted.

"Because it's me, that's my sign. At a time, there was a completely different reason why I chose this color. Nothing to do with Ferrari. That's me. That's what I am."

The first race of the season is the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 15.

Agencies