BERLIN: Seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher said Wednesday the neck injury which hampered his return to Formula One last August is no longer a factor as he prepares for the 2010 season.Despite retiring from Formula One in 2006, Schumacher signed a three-year contract with Mercedes GP last December and has been testing with Mercedes in Jerez, Spain, but says last year’s neck injury has long since healed.
Schumacher insists any concerns over the injury he sustained in a motorbike accident nearly a year ago and forced him to abort a return to Ferrari last year are no longer an issue and it feels like he has never been away.
“The after-effects of that accident are long gone, that’s why I was sure that the neck would not cause any problems,” he said on his website.
“This was one year ago – that’s over.
“I have been practising since December physically very carefully and feel extremely fresh and fit.
“That was one of the reasons why I felt so good in the car in Jerez.
“But then, Formula One is another thing, the g-forces are higher, that’s not really comparable.
“That is why I look forward so much to testing in February.
“Only then the old feeling will be completely back. I can’t wait to be back there.”
And Schumacher says testing of Mercedes’ GP2 car has gone better than expected with his first drive in the Formula One car set to take place next month.
“The test was super, I can’t tell the difference,” said Schumacher.
“We have been handicapped a bit because of the wet weather in the first two days, but on the third day we could do a lot and even simulate a race on slicks.
“It went better than I had expected.
“I immediately felt well in the car, it was as if I never was gone.”
The 41-year-old said he has signed a three-year deal to race with Mercedes because he wants to win the world championship again having linked up with Ross Brawn who orchestrated the pits in each of his seven world championship wins.
“I signed because we want to achieve something together,” said the German.
“The set up we have here is pretty unique – with Ross and his world championship-winning team, with the KnowHow of Mercedes, with the best engine at the moment -, and we want to use that.
“We have a clear aim: we want to win the championships.
“That’s what we will fight for from the beginning.
“That is my personal standard too.” — AFP