Three days after a frustrating Australian Grand Prix, climbed back into a Formula 1 car for a public demonstration of donuts, pit-stops and burning rubber in Malaysia.
Driving around a car park in the centre of Kuala Lumpur was probably not what the seven-time world champion had in mind when he agreed to return to the sport after a three-year hiatus.
But then again, two races into the 2010 season, it has hardly been the comeback that Schumacher or his team would have wanted either.
The record-breaking German, winner of 91 grands prix, has collected just nine points out of a possible 50, with a sixth-place finish in Bahrain and a battling 10th in Australia.
"We know we still have to develop the car a bit more," Schumacher told the crowd at another PR appearance under the shadow of the city's - named for the national oil company that is also Mercedes' title sponsor.
It's not just the car that is off the pace, though.
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The revelation at the Australian Grand Prix that the was an embarrassing reminder of just how steep Formula 1's learning curve is.
The trio of new teams on the 2010 grid - , and - were conceived less than a year ago and are having to share their growing pains with the public.
³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ commentator Martin Brundle suggested they should have been spared their blushes and allowed to go off testing before joining in for the fifth race in Barcelona.
Instead, the new teams are working around the clock, battling the logistics of four long-haul. 'fly-away' races, throwing rookie drivers in at the deep end and learning on the job.
"We have just been fire-fighting," said Hispania's , who bewilderingly launched his F1 career in qualifying for Bahrain after his car was unfit for practice.
"It has been harder than I thought - at the minute we are 6,000km behind the game."
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but Formula 1's collective excitement at being back in Melbourne is undiminished.
From to the , Australians love their motorsport and the city shows it by embracing F1's arrival in a series of imaginative events on and off the track.
had the privilege of being the first driver to taste the green asphalt of the leafy circuit on Tuesday.
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The oldest living world champion, 83-year-old , will be in Bahrain on Sunday to watch his most recent successor, Jenson Button, begin his title defence.
The 1959, 1960 and 1966 world champion is part of a dazzling guest list of Formula 1 stars who have made their way to the desert.
All 20 living world champions - with the exception of Nelson Piquet and Kimi Raikkonen - are in the principality to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the drivers' championship.
"It's the greatest collection of world champions that there's ever been," said three-time world champion Sir Jackie Stewart.
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People often ask how I came to be the Formula 1 lady for the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ website. Well, after being dragged around vintage car rallies and auto jumbles by my Dad, motor racing got under my skin. I am now a fully paid-up member of F1's travelling circus after a year on the road as part of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ team. I look forward to bringing you more on- and off-track adventures here. You can also follow me on .
