Fittipaldi - Schumi can win

Former World Champion expects Schumacher to be competitive

Last updated: 9th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Fittipaldi - Schumi can win

Fittipaldi: Age no barrier

Related links

Teams

Drivers

Also see

Former World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi says age will not be a barrier to success for Michael Schumacher as he embarks on his Formula One comeback.

The seven-times World Champion has returned to the sport after a three-year hiatus and, at the age of 41, Schumacher will be conceding plenty of years to the likes of Lewis Hamilton (25) and fellow German Sebastian Vettel (22).

However, Fittipaldi, who won the title in 1972 and 1974 and who raced competitively in the United States into his late 40s, believes Schumacher will challenge his younger rivals, even if it takes him a few races to re-adjust.

"If he is motivated to win, yes, I'm sure he can," said the 63-year-old Brazilian, speaking ahead of the Laureus Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi.

"He is physically fit. I know there are much younger drivers but as long as the motivation is there to compete he will be competitive.

"When I raced in America after Formula One my last win was when I was 49, and second was Jacques Villeneuve who was 21. I still had the desire to win and was very competitive.

"Michael has gone back to Mercedes, who used to be Brawn, and they were the world champions last year so they should be competitive. Michael will have great equipment this year.

"It's going to take two or three races for him to get used to driving in traffic again on a circuit, it's not like just testing on a circuit by yourself, it's a different rhythm.

"It will take two or three races and he will be at home."