Abu Dhabi: Emerson Fittipaldi says motivation is the key for Michael Schumacher when he makes his much-anticipated Formula One comeback at this week's Bahrain Grand Prix.
Seven-time world champion Schumacher, who retired in 2006, is back in the saddle after signing a three-year contract with Germany's Mercedes GP Team. And Fittipaldi also said it will take Schumacher, 41, at least two-to-three races to get his mojo back.
The Brazilian, who won two drivers' titles in 1972 and 74, made an example of himself when he stated how he, at the age of 49, pipped a young Jacques Villeneuve to win in American stock car racing.
Fit enough
Fittipaldi said Schumacher is fit enough to compete with today's youngsters, but winning, he added, depends entirely on the German.
"If he's motivated to win, yes he will win and I'm sure he's coming back that way," said Fittipaldi, 64.
"He's physically fit, like a lot of the younger drivers, but as long as he's motivated to win he will win.
"When I raced in America after my F1 career, I won as a 49-year-old; Villeneuve was only 21. I won because I was still motivated to win.
"Mercedes are the Brawn team that won last year's team championship so they are going to be extremely competitive, but it involves a lot of technical circumstances.
"Schumacher will have great equipment to work with, but it will take him two or three races to get used to the circuits because when you take a break it does take some time to come back."
Fittipaldi revealed he was on the same plane as Felipe Massa, who is lining up alongside Fernando Alonso at Ferrari, this season. And he wished his compatriot, who "has recovered completely and is ready for life in the fast lane", all the very best.
"I think the Massa-Alonso pairing will work well for Ferrari. They're both very technically sound drivers and this year I see a driver with good technical ability winning the title."
