Neck injury is no issue: Schumi
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Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher said on Wednesday the neck injury which hampered his return to Formula One last August is no longer a factor as he prepares for the 2010 season.
Despite retiring from F1 in 2006, Schumacher signed a three-year contract with Mercedes GP last December and has been testing with Mercedes in Jerez, Spain, but says last year's neck injury has long since healed.
Schumacher insists any concerns over the injury he sustained in a motorbike accident nearly a year ago and forced him to abort a return to Ferrari last year are no longer an issue and it feels like he has never been away.
"The after-effects of that accident are long gone, that's why I was sure that the neck would not cause any problems," he said on his website.
"This was one year ago - that's over.
"I have been practising since December very carefully and feel extremely fresh and fit.
"That was one of the reasons I felt so good in the car in Jerez.
"But then, F1 is another thing, the g-forces are higher, that's not really comparable.
"That is why I look forward so much to testing in February.
"Only then the old feeling will be completely back. I can't wait to be back there."
Schumacher says testing of Mercedes' GP2 car went better than expected with his first drive in the F1 car set to take place next month.
"The test was super, I can't tell the difference," said Schumacher.
"We have been handicapped a bit because of the wet weather in the first two days but on the third day we could do a lot and even simulate a race on slicks.
"It went better than I had expected.
"I immediately felt well in the car, it was as if I never was gone."
The 41-year-old said he has signed a three-year deal to race with Mercedes because he wants to win the world championship again having linked up with Ross Brawn, who orchestrated the pits in each of his seven world championship wins.
"I signed because we want to achieve something together," said the German.
"The set up we have here is pretty unique - with Ross and his world championship-winning team, with the know how of Mercedes, with the best engine at the moment, we want to use that.
"We have a clear aim: we want to win the championships.
"That's what we will fight for from the beginning.
"That is my personal standard too."
Despite repeatedly saying he would never return to Formula One during the years of his retirement, Schumacher explained his decision to return to the track.
"I couldn't imagine my return before last year," he said.
"After my retirement at the end of 2006, I was very happy, I felt relieved: like I had been freed.
"I enjoyed that feeling because especially in the last two years of racing, F1 had demanded a great deal from me.
"It was not just the racing, I loved during that time but all those things which relate to living under constant observation."
