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Schumacher will 'rise like a phoenix'

Willi Webber expects Schumacher to return to his best form © Press Association

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Willi Weber says Michael Schumacher still has the passion to prove his critics wrong this season.

Although the seven-time world champion has endured a difficult start to his eagerly anticipated return to Formula One, Schumacher's manager is confident the veteran will be back to his best within a few races.

Schumacher's best result is a fourth place in Spain. He was also stripped of his sixth-place finish in Monaco for overtaking shortly after the safety car returned although his competitive edge was apparent for all to see.

"The media love to write rubbish about Michael; about how he has lost it and that he should have never returned but he was never going to jump in the car after all that time away and win races," Weber told the News of the World. "It's the same all the time, the media like to build people up and knock them down. He will come back. You will see a change in a few races and without a doubt next season will be a new era for him.

"He still has the passion and when he gets a competitive car he will rise like a phoenix from the ashes and prove his critics wrong."

Weber also dismissed suggestions that he did not have the same machinery as team-mate Nico Rosberg.

"They have the same car the only difference is the set-up. This car does not have the same advantages over the rest of the pack as Brawn had last year - where they started developing the car early. It is going to take a little time. But he will be there and I don't believe for one minute he would have come back if he didn't think he could take another title. Time will tell."

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