Schumacher says Mercedes will challenge for F1 titles

Michael Schumacher has warned his Formula 1 rivals that he is not returning to the sport just to make up the numbers and believes that the Mercedes team can challenge for both titles this season.

He made the comments as Mercedes F1 team launch in Stuttgart where the former Brawn GP team officially unveiled their new line-up and livery, but he did not react well to questions about whether he needed to prove himself against a new generation of drivers.

When asked about the manner of some of his victories during his at times controversial Formula 1 career Schumacher repsonded: "Ninety-one victories, seven titles, you win only in a bad way. Absolutely. Yeah, you're right, I need to prove [myself] now."

He also brushed off questions about his fitness after a comeback with Ferrari last year was abandoned because of a neck injury.

"There are no issues," he said. "I've nothing to prove to anybody about my age or anything. I just have to prove to myself that I'm still able [to do it]."  

Schumacher added that he expected the new team to do well and said they would be in a "very good position to fight for the championships this season and I will definitely give it a go."

The launch took place at the Mercedes museum in Stuttgart where the German driving line-up of Schumacher and Nico Rosberg was presented, and the team's 'Silver Arrow' livery, which harks back to the manufacturer's golden era, was unveiled.
 
The 2010 season will be the first for 55 years that Mercedes has had a works team in F1. The manufacturer has not raced its own cars since 1955, when it withdrew from all motorsport after a huge crash at Le Mans killed 80 spectators.

It began supplying engines for other teams in 1993, but despite powering Mika Hakkinen and Lewis Hamilton to three world titles Mercedes did not have its own team until it bought out Brawn Grand Prix at the end of the last year and rebranded it as the Mercedes works team. ·