Schumacher prepares for title bid

Published Jan. 25, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Michael Schumacher is gearing up to try for a record eighth Formula One title with Mercedes, saying Monday "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 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 Feb. 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 lineup 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.

Schumacher competed in 249 F1 races from 1991-2006 with Jordan, Benetton and Ferrari. He won the F1 drivers' championship in 1994 and 1995 and five straight years from 2000-04. He set records with 91 race wins and several other milestones in the sport which still stand.