• 2010 season

Schumacher 'back for the enjoyment'

Michael Schumacher says he is back for the enjoyment of the sport © Getty Images

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• Race:
• Australian Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Michael Schumacher

• Teams:
• Mercedes

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher says he is back primarily for the enjoyment of the sport and that the success on track will take care of itself in time.

The German was beaten by compatriot and Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg in the race and every session of the Bahrain Grand Prix, his first race back since 2006.

"I wasn't dreaming of coming here and kicking everybody's ass. Neither did I get kicked, so it's quite okay," said Schumacher on Thursday. "If these people expect, then fine. People have a lot of trust in me and I'm proud of that. But I'm not a magician either, I'm just human.

"I think it's fair enough to be judged on results. But I don't think I need to give guidelines or references. I knew the process. I've been long enough to know what it takes. How much attention to detail and how much fine-tuning you need. You can't expect me to be there straight away."

And, although Schumacher said that he is back primarily for the enjoyment of racing in F1 again, he admitted that the car felt slower than when he was last in the sport behind the wheel of a Ferrari.

"I don't know what is the real difference in lap time, because the first race was at a different track, but it feels quite a bit slower, maybe because I'm more fit. I don't know what it is, but it feels less of an effort.

"Mainly I'm here for the enjoyment, but I'm not here to be last. I want to win, that's natural. The joy is better if you are successful."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.