The seven time world drivers' champion return to F1 is not the fairy tale start that many of Michael's legions of fans would have hoped. After three races, he is in tenth place in the standings with nine points. That the retirement in Malaysia prevented an almost inevitable increase in his points will be cold comfort to this most competitive of drivers.

Some of those who are currently ahead of him, such as the hapless (and hopeless) Mark Webber would be content enough with running behind their teammate, but the performance of Nico Rosberg only serves as an indication that Michael is still off the pace, and must be a considerable source of frustration for the consummate champion. I do not subscribe to any notion that he is too old or has lost something. I believe that in his absence technology moved on a little and more importantly, some very talented drivers happen to have very fast cars this season. It is too soon to extrapolate the performance in three races forward to a prediction of the season end, but with the new point scoring system he will be 'punished' for not getting onto the podium. He is still a very potent force on the grid, but it is perhaps true that the fear that once filled other drivers in his near presence on the track has diminished.
 
Michael is not the first former world champion to return to the action after a period of retirement, and he may take solace from the example of a few but despair at others.

The great Niki Lauda (at the time double world champion) retired from F1 during the 1979 season. He said that he was sick of 'driving in circles'. Cynics might also link his retirement to the emergence of his very fast teammate Nelson Piquet (Senior). Lauda returned to F1 in 1982 driving for McLaren. 1982 was an unusual year; no driver dominated the season and any other driver, including the championship world champion Keke Rosberg, did not better Niki Lauda's two race wins. (Rosberg won only one race in 1982). The 1983 season was tough for McLaren/Lauda due to poor engine performance, but 1984 witnessed a classic McLaren car and the closest winning margin in F1 history of half a point. Niki Lauda just besting his teammate Alain Prost. Lauda's third championship victory certainly endorsing his decision to return. (Niki Lauda retired permanently at the end of the 1985 season).     
 
Alan Jones is an often forgotten F1 world champion (1980), unfortunately, his return to F1 after retirement was equally forgettable. In his full season back in 1986 driving for the Haas Lola team, he scored just two points. He retired again into obscurity.

Alain Prost did not compete in 1992, but his absence is better described as a sabbatical than a retirement. Alain Prost's return in 1993 was typically controversial; vetoing Senna as a team mate at Williams and upsetting the incumbent driver Nigel Mansell to such a degree that he left for the USA. Prost, was sublime in 1993 and easily won his fourth world drivers' championship.  
 
On balance Nigel Mansell's return to F1 was disappointing for the fans. (Great for Nigel as he negotiated a huge contract fee). Mansell won some races but his car was not great and he struggled to capture the glory of past years.

Jacques Villeneuve won the championship in 1997 and then went into a long period of driving into the wilderness. Few would have noticed that he was 'sacked' by BAR at the end of 2003, and did not drive again until the last three races of 2004 when he joined Renault. He continued to underperform and was replaced mid way through the next season.
 
Michael Schumacher is on a different driving planet to Villeneuve and Jones, and is much more likely to replicate the exploits of Niki Lauda. However, he will need a little more luck than he has had in the first three races and the car needs to give him a bit more straight line speed. He clearly is contributing hugely to the cars development and the team seem to be very relaxed about the situation. I would not expect Michael still to be in tenth spot after another three races, his first tasked to pin back the gap between himself and Rosberg and in so doing more will once again fear him.  

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