Schumacher confident he can compete at Australian Grand Prix

Michael Schumacher may be a 25/1 outsider to win the Formula One Drivers’ Championship this season but that doesn’t mean he should be completely discounted in the Australian Grand Prix.

No driver in history has won the race more times than Schumacher who has four titles to his name, the last coming in 2004.

He may have disappointed since his return to Formula One but he has shown glimpses of his best – especially when finishing fifth from last on the grid in Belgium last term – and feels this could be the season he reasserts himself.

Speaking to Italian newspaper Gazzetto dello Sport, the German said: “I was out for three years, I’m now 43 and I don’t know if I can compare myself to when I was 30.

“But I know I’m still one of the best in the world, that I’m motivated, that I enjoy myself and that most people are happy to have me still in F1.”

While people may be happy he is back in Formula One, there can be no doubt that Schumacher would prefer to be feared than revered and, with his Mercedes recording consistently good times in testing over the past few months, this could be the season when Schumacher becomes a genuine threat once again.

Mercedes boss Ross Brawn said: “We are well-prepared, both at the factory and on track, as a result of our structured development and testing plan, and I am confident we are in a good position.

The title may be beyond Schumacher who has been consistently outperformed by teammate Nico Rosberg but, backing him each-way at 16/1 for the Australian Grand Prix may be worth consideration – especially as many of the other teams are still experiencing issues with their cars.