Schumacher: “I didn't come back to be an extra”

Michael Schumacher admitted he expected to come back and win straight away with Mercedes two years ago. The seven-time world champion retired from F1 at the end of 2006 and has now admitted that he expected to be back on the top step of the podium straight away in his first year at Mercedes.

Two difficult years then followed for the German with an uncompetitive car.

“I can only say that I didn't come back to be an extra and just film,” the 43-year-old told Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

“I wanted to follow my passion and be successful. The foundations were good at the time; the team had just won the world championship (like Brawn), so adding the name of Mercedes and mine everything seemed positive ”he explained. “We thought, putting two and two together, we would be in front. In the end, it wasn't possible, as you know."

Before the retirement announced in Suzuka, many journalists had called for Schumacher to have an eye check-up: “You learn to live with certain things. Some just try to write big headlines about me. When you understand this, it is best to ignore them. At Suzuka I was actually thinking of showing up with a white cane, after all the questions about my night vision and so on. Seriously, I laughed about it. My eyes are fine."