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Schumacher 'taking positives'

Michael Schumacher says there are reasons to be satisfied after Melbourne © Sutton Images

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Michael Schumacher is refusing to get disheartened with his Formula One comeback even though he was again comprehensively beaten by team-mate Nico Rosberg for the second race running in Australia.

The seven-time world champion qualified seventh but fell to the back at the start after his front wing was damaged in an opening lap collision with Fernando Alonso's Ferrari.

"I have taken a lot of positives from the race weekend in Melbourne," said Schumacher. "Whilst that might not be evident at first sight, when you look into the weekend more deeply, we did make some real improvements and have good reasons to be satisfied, just not from the actual result obviously.

"Analysing qualifying, both Nico and I could have been two or three places higher and with hindsight, my set-up was too conservative and too much focused on the race. Those better positions would have enabled us to fight closer to the front on Sunday. All of this means that we are not too far away and I am quite confident that there will be more to come."

Schumacher, who has won the Malaysian Grand Prix on three occasions, expects a further step forward in performance at the Sepang circuit.

"Going to Malaysia this weekend, we know that we have clearly improved our pace since Bahrain which is a good feeling. It was a lot of fun fighting it out on the track in Melbourne, even if it was just for one point, and I will enjoy fighting again in Sepang."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.