So, Michael Schumacher is back and to celebrate the return of the titanic Teuton I have two Schumi stories for you. First, many years ago, I was leaving Silverstone in my old Volkswagen Passat when I came across the great man leaving the circuit in his Ferrari sports car. Sensing a once in a lifetime moment I slammed my foot down on the gas and overtook him, giving him a triumphant look as our eyes momentarily locked. I'd like to think his expression was one of admiration at my manoeuvre but I fear it was more a weary, "oh no, there goes another idot who's going to tell everyone he overtook Michael Schumacher" glare. A year or two later I found myself sitting alongside him in a Maserati Spyder at the Valencia circuit. Foolishly, Irevealed how I had outsmarted him at Silverstone. "In which case, you won't mind the speed we're about to travel in, then," he replied, as he took off at 175 mph. It wasn't the growing feeling of nausea that concerned me, although vomiting over Schumi would not have been too clever. It was more the fact that as we careered around a corner he was holding the wheel with one hand whilst trying to find Kiss FM on the car radio. "Would you minddriving with both hands?" I askedthe best driver in F1 history, which was akin to telling Denzel Washington to put more effort into his acting. Schumi's response was to smile and drive the remaining ten laps at breakneck speed using - you've guessed it - one hand. Welcome back Schumi. It's just made the 2010 F1 season a hell of a lot more interesting.
