Schumacher: "It was as if I never was gone."

Bad news for all the other drivers on the Formula One grid – Michael Schumacher says he's driving as if he's never been away.

The seven-time world champion has written on his blog that it felt "as if I was never gone" as he prepares to drive for new team Mercedes, and has dismissed critics who claim he won't be as hungry for success as he was earlier in his career.

"My energy is back completely," Schumacher said on testing a GP2 car at Jerez in Spain in preparation for his return to Grand Prix racing with Mercedes at the age of 41.