Barrichello: Schumi has plenty to lose

Formula One veteran Rubens Barrichello fears fellow old head Michael Schumacher has “more to lose than gain” if his decision to return to racing was motivated by anything other than his love of the sport.

Following a three-year hiatus the 41-year-old was back on the grid with Mercedes at the season-opening race in Bahrain earlier this month and finished in a creditable sixth place.

Schumacher had declared at the start of the year that he believes he can challenge for an eighth world title and though Barrichello believes the German can be competitive, the Williams driver warned he should not expect to pick up immediately from where he left off.

“I think he can do well this year but when he left he was winning all the time so for me he has more to lose than gain,” said the Brazilian. “If he doesn’t care about that and he is doing it for pure pleasure then that is fine.

“That is how I took 2007 and 2008 because I had a terrible car.

“I had to look at myself and be happy with what I was doing. Hopefully he is doing it for his own pleasure and if so that is fine.”

Last season was one of the most competitive in Formula One history and the likes of Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari are expected to be battling at the front once again.

Since Schumacher left the sport a new generation of drivers has come through such as former world champion Lewis Hamilton of McLaren and Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, while new rules are sure to make this season a different challenge.

But Barrichello believes Schumacher can adapt to the changes, although conceded it may take a couple of races for him to get fully up to speed.

“Good drivers adapt to anything. We could in a way say ’oh yes it is not helping my style’ but you get used to it,” he added.