Schumacher says things are looking up

LONDON - Michael Schumacher has a good feeling about Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix despite struggling to score a point in Australia in the second race of his Formula One comeback season.

Mercedes Formula One driver Michael  Schumacher of Germany arrives at Albert  Park race track for the Australian F1  Grand Prix in Melbourne, March 27, 2010.  [Photo/Agencies]

"I take a lot of good aspects from the race weekend in Melbourne," the seven-times Formula One world champion, back in the sport with Mercedes at the age of 41, wrote on his website (www.michael-schumacher.de).

"Of course that does not show at first sight but looking into our weekend more deeply, I find we did improve quite well and have a good reason to be quite satisfied -- just not from the pure result obviously."

The German, who finished 10th at Albert Park after having to fight back from last place when he had to pit at the end of the first lap to replace a broken front wing, said his race had been compromised by problems in qualifying.

"I think both Nico (Rosberg) and me could have been ranked two to three positions better," he said.

"I had a too conservative set up in the end which was too much concentrated towards the race, plus I had a tear-off strip stuck in my front wing which too cost me some time. And going into the race from those better positions would have meant fighting for the podium.

"All that means that we are not too far away and I am quite confident there will be more to come," added Schumacher, who retired in 2006 after winning a record 91 races with Benetton and Ferrari.

The German, whose team mate Rosberg finished fifth and ahead of him for the second time in two races, was optimistic for Sepang.

"Going to Malaysia we know that clearly we improved our pace since Bahrain, which is a good feeling," he said.

"It was a lot of fun fighting in Melbourne, even if it was just for one point, and I will enjoy fighting again in Sepang. We would like to show another good race."