<p>Returning to centre stage three years after he retired, the former Ferrari driver looked trim and relaxed as he appeared alongside fellow-German Nico Rosberg at a presentation of the Mercedes GP team. <br /><br />"It's a great emotion and a great feeling I am getting," said Schumacher, the sport's most successful driver, in his first public appearance for his new team since announcing his comeback last month. <br /><br />"Finally the 2010 Formula One season is firing up. I have to say that I am totally committed to this new challenge. This season feels like a re-start for me and I am so motivated." <br />The car presented to the media at a livery launch was the 2009 Brawn GP that took Britain's Jenson Button to the title, repainted in the evocative 'Silver Arrows' colours of the team's new owners. <br /><br />The Mercedes museum was a fitting backdrop for a Mercedes-powered car, albeit largely designed by Honda, that carved its place in Formula One history by winning Brawn the constructors' crown at the first attempt. <br /><br />The new Mercedes MGP W01, the first "Silver Arrow" since Mercedes last competed as a works team in 1955, will make its debut when testing starts at Spain's Valencia circuit on Feb 1. <br /><br />"I cannot wait to get into the car for the first time in Valencia," said Schumacher, who was shown in a video before the launch stepping out of a red Mercedes SLR sportscar in a cheeky nod to his Ferrari past, in a team statement. <br /><br />"I am convinced that Mercedes GP will be in a very good position to fight for the championships this season and I will definitely give it a go," he added.</p>
<p>Returning to centre stage three years after he retired, the former Ferrari driver looked trim and relaxed as he appeared alongside fellow-German Nico Rosberg at a presentation of the Mercedes GP team. <br /><br />"It's a great emotion and a great feeling I am getting," said Schumacher, the sport's most successful driver, in his first public appearance for his new team since announcing his comeback last month. <br /><br />"Finally the 2010 Formula One season is firing up. I have to say that I am totally committed to this new challenge. This season feels like a re-start for me and I am so motivated." <br />The car presented to the media at a livery launch was the 2009 Brawn GP that took Britain's Jenson Button to the title, repainted in the evocative 'Silver Arrows' colours of the team's new owners. <br /><br />The Mercedes museum was a fitting backdrop for a Mercedes-powered car, albeit largely designed by Honda, that carved its place in Formula One history by winning Brawn the constructors' crown at the first attempt. <br /><br />The new Mercedes MGP W01, the first "Silver Arrow" since Mercedes last competed as a works team in 1955, will make its debut when testing starts at Spain's Valencia circuit on Feb 1. <br /><br />"I cannot wait to get into the car for the first time in Valencia," said Schumacher, who was shown in a video before the launch stepping out of a red Mercedes SLR sportscar in a cheeky nod to his Ferrari past, in a team statement. <br /><br />"I am convinced that Mercedes GP will be in a very good position to fight for the championships this season and I will definitely give it a go," he added.</p>
