Michael Schumacher has said that he is most certainly targeting a comeback title after signing up with Mercedes GP for his return to Formula One in 2010, saying that he is looking for the "unique achievement" of winning a title at 41.
Schumacher signed a new three-year deal with the German team earlier this week, and will return to the sport for the first time since the end of the 2006 season when he retired from racing with Ferrari.
And with Schumacher already the dominant force in the F1 record books, with seven titles and 91 wins to his name, the German has said that he is back in the sport to add to his already slightly too impressive record, and will be aiming for the title in 2010.
"I don't recall there being many drivers over 40 in F1," Schumacher was quoted in The Sun newspaper, ignoring the litany of drivers over 40 that have raced in F1, "It makes me unique. It would be a unique experience and unique achievement if I was to win the world championship again – but that is what I'll be fighting for."
The record for the oldest drivers champion seems to be some way off for Schumacher, with Juan Manuel Fangio winning his final title in 1957 at the age of 46 years and 41 days. But if Schumacher won the 2010 title, he would go third on the oldest champion list behind Fangio and Nino Farina, who won the first F1 title in 1950 aged 43.
Schumacher also revealed that his family were the ones who finally convinced him to return to the sport, saying that: "I had to sort out my personal situation first. Corinna has always wanted to see me happy, and when seeing my eyes, and the sparkle there, she didn't argue. She said 'go and have fun'."
The German also reiterated that the neck injury that kept him away from the cockpit of a Ferrari over the summer was completely healed, and he said that as soon as he climbed back into a kart after his motorbike crash in February, he felt like he was back to his best.
"Before giving the final okay, I had to make sure my neck was fine," Schumacher explained for around the 51st time since announcing his return, "I had to understand that myself. It wasn't okay in the summer, but it's had time to heal.
"When I got into a kart for the first time after my motorbike crash, I was straightaway on the pace. I have no doubt it will be the same in an F1 car – although that still has to be proved."
He added that he struggled with the decision to leave the Ferrari team, which he had raced for since 1996, and he reiterated that he would not have come back for any team other than Mercedes.
"It has not been an easy step to leave Ferrari, as I have been there for 14 years," Schumacher said, holding back the tears, "I wasn't thinking about returning to racing – but it was a special combination that has brought me back. If it was not for Mercedes, I would not have returned."
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