Schumacher will be strong, says Alonso

"I don't think there's going to be a big problem for him, because we are all very competitive drivers," said Alonso during Ferrari's Wrooom media event.

"When you go back to a car after many years the times are the same that you did years ago.

"If you have experience and you have won in the past... Michael has been one of the best in Formula 1, so I don't think much is going to change if you are 38 or 41.

"You are always the same and your competitive instinct is always the same."

The Spaniard admitted he is happy that the German is back in Formula 1.

"I think he's the only one who can give us an answer as to why he decided to came back," he added. "For a driver who has raced at the highest level for 20 years, in the end to stay home is not easy. For a competitor like him it's not easy to stay home.

"And since he had this opportunity he decided to return because he feels ready, and I'm happy that he's returning, I'm happy for the sport. It's extremely positive for Formula 1.

"I think 2010 is going to be interesting for the fans. The return of Michael is only good for the sport."

And Alonso reckons both him and Schumacher will have an extra motivation to beat each other following their title battle in 2006.

"Well, sure, we were rivals in the last two years of his career. We were intense rivals in 2006 with fights until the last lap in Brazil, so for sure for him it's going to be a motivation to try to win the eighth title that he was about to win in 2006.

"And now that I'm at Ferrari, where he has won and raced, of course it's a motivation for me to win here and to have the sensations that he had for many years. It's a motivation for me.

"And clearly since Michael left the tracks there was the lack of this motivation from my part."