Michael Schumacher is gearing up to fight for a record eighth Formula One title with Mercedes, saying “we have a world champion team” as the car’s new livery was presented.
A relaxed-looking Schumacher joined teammate Nico Rosberg at the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart for the presentation of the team’s new silver-and-green livery, which was applied to last year’s car.
The 41-year-old German said he felt “great emotion” at making his comeback. The former Ferrari driver has returned to drive for Mercedes after three years in retirement.
“I cannot wait for the competition to get underway,” Schumacher said.
The new Mercedes car is to make its track debut in Valencia, Spain, at the first Formula One test on February 1. The season’s first grand prix is in Bahrain on March 14.
“We have a world champion team in every sense of the word and I cannot wait to get into the car for the first time in Valencia,” Schumacher said. “I am convinced that (Mercedes) will be in a very good position to fight for the championships this season and I will definitely give it a go.”
Schumacher and Rosberg make up this season’s all-German line-up for the former Brawn GP team, which won both drivers’ and constructors’ titles last season.
The two drivers “together complete the German Formula One national team,” said Dieter Zetsche, the chief executive of Mercedes parent Daimler AG.
