Schumacher hits back after reports say comeback underwhelming

Michael Schumacher bristled in Malaysia when asked whether failing to record higher than a sixth place finish on his return to F1 so far has been "disappointing".

"Why?" the seven time world champion told reporters in Kuala Lumpur, where in rainy conditions on Wednesday he demonstrated last year's Brawn car in Mercedes colours in the shadow of the famous Petronas Twin Towers.

"That is what people like to see at the moment, but it's not what I see," the 41-year-old German added.

Schumacher was outqualified by Nico Rosberg, whose points tally is more than double that of his famous teammate, in both Bahrain and Australia.

In response to reports that his comeback has been underwhelming so far, the German said: "I'm sorry that my opinion is different to what some media feel I should be happy with or not happy with. But it's a free opinion from everybody.

"I am quite happy. I have made the maximum out of my possibilities and from what we can do," he added.

His Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn backed Schumacher by insisting a two or three-race readjustment to F1 following three years of retirement is "normal".

And Norbert Haug, the German marque's racing director, agreed that during that readjustment period, Schumacher is not being disgraced by Rosberg, whose four-year F1 career has included the three seasons in which Schumacher was absent.

"I think (Nico) is one of the highest-rated guys of the current generation," Haug is quoted as saying by the Sun.

"Michael is missing three years of these four (Rosberg) years but he is here to be competitive. We have one of the strongest driver pairings in the field," added the German.

F1's youngest driver Jaime Alguersuari spent much of the Melbourne race last Sunday fighting with Schumacher, but the 20-year-old Spaniard is not expecting to be on the same section of track as the winner of 91 races later in 2010.

"I think he will end the season in the top group," the Toro Rosso driver told AS newspaper.