Schumacher expects Ferrari to challenge

Michael Schumacher has tipped Ferrari to bounce back this year and challenge once more for the world championship.

Formula One’s most successful driver looked a spent force last season as Ferrari’s grip on both titles slipped after five years of unbroken success.

But, after an unusually active winter testing schedule for the seven-times world champion, Schumacher is optimistic ahead of next week’s first race in Bahrain.

He told Autosport: “I think we’ll see a very close fight this year between three or four teams.

“I’m pretty optimistic we can be one of them along with Renault and Honda, I think. Whether we will win it, we’ll see, but we’ll be in it I think.”