Mercedes GP looking strong with rule changes and Schumi

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Rule Changes served Petronas Mercedes GP well

Ross Brawn commented that KERS and Adjustable Rear wings is too hard for drivers to use. But his team is comfortable with them.

"Because it's hard to do both!" but "Our drivers have no problems with it", commented Ross Brawn.

"Probably the operation of the buttons is complicated if the drivers have to press all of them at once," he said.

In the Mercedes footwell there is an extra pedal. The pedal, to the left of the brake pedal, reportedly operates the adjustable rear wing.

The clever layout means that whenever Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg are braking, their foot cannot be deploying the rear wing flap.

And when they are on the power, it is easy for their left foot to rest on the wing flap pedal during practice and, crucially, qualifying sessions.

Indeed, the most prominent complaints are emerging from the Red Bull garage, with McLaren and Ferrari also insisting that the drivers increased workload is manageable.

Asked about Sebastian Vettel's complaints, Gerhard Berger hypothesised: "Sebastian is a cunning lad. He complains probably because in this area Red Bull has a disadvantage."

Michael Schumacher is all geared up for racing as he eye's 8th Championship Title

It has been a tough 12 months for the most successful driver of all time.

Having been lured back into Formula One after three years on the sidelines by the prospect of driving for the new Mercedes works team under the stewardship of his former Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn, the hype last year was huge.

An eighth world title was a distinct possibility, we were told. In the event the car bombed and even the battle for intra-team honours was an embarrassment as Schumacher was routinely pummelled by his young compatriot Nico Rosberg.

The German is adamant it will be different this time around.

“It’s clear to me why 2010 didn’t work out,” Schumacher told Telegraph Sport. “And it is clear to me why 2011 can work out. At least to be back on the podium consistently. Though the target remains the same: to win the world championship.”

As the most successful driver - with 91 wins, an armful of records and a legion of fans - he had little to prove to anyone other than himself - and that remains the case.