Michael Schumacher can seemingly hardly contain his excitement at returning to Formula One with the new Mercedes GP team for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir on March 14, DPA reported.
"Finally the season will start! I feel like a child looking forward to Christmas. The decision to make my comeback feels like a long time ago now and I can hardly wait for the season to get underway in Bahrain," the 41-year-old told his team's website Friday.
Schumacher returns after three years of retirement although he almost made a comeback last summer with Ferrari as a replacement for the injured Felipe Massa but a neck injury sustained in a motorcycle accident put paid to those plans.
"Its funny to think that I will be competing in Formula One again when just a few months ago, I would have declined the opportunity categorically. But sometimes things change and the right circumstances come together," said Schumacher.
"I feel fresher than I have for many years. I am perfectly prepared physically and most importantly, my energy is back completely. When I retired from racing in 2006, my batteries were simply empty. Now they are totally recharged and I am ready for the challenge."