Schumacher delighted with Bahrain form

The seven-time champion, in his first Formula 1 race since he retired from the sport in 2006, had a low-key return, qualifying in seventh position and finishing a distant sixth behind Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.

But despite the expectations placed on Schumacher following his ultra-successful career, the German insisted he never expected to be his competitive self right from the start.

And he declared himself very happy with his performance.

"Still today, a day after my comeback race, I feel extremely well," Schumacher wrote on his website. "With regards to the fitness, this race was not at all difficult for me and I was not exhausted at all. This is partly due to the fact that those tyres, in that heat, do not allow for more speed.

"But all in all I have to say: I am very, very happy and proud about how it went, considering I was completely out for three years and did not have a lot of driving for preparation. It would be strange to assume that I would come in, sit in the car and drive circles around the others - I, for my part, did not assume that in any case.

"What was nice was that I was very calm and relaxed prior to the race; as I was in former years. The only thing I did not manage to do this time was to sleep shortly before the start - the photos and the drivers parade simply took too much time.

"I only came back to the garage very late and we had to start the preparations to the race immediately."