Schumacher targets return to form

Michael Schumacher is confident of putting his latest disappointment behind him and again lighting up the streets of Monte Carlo next weekend.

Schumacher was handed a five-place grid penalty for the Monaco Grand Prix for causing a collision with Bruno Senna in the race in Spain on Sunday, despite labelling the Williams driver "an idiot" in the immediate aftermath.

Despite boasting seven wins in Monaco, Mercedes driver Schumacher knows he faces an uphill struggle to clinch a strong points finish in nine days' time.

It has already been a season of toil for the 43-year-old, who has collected just two points, despite Mercedes providing the 43-year-old with a relatively strong car.

Schumacher said: "Every time you go there (to Monaco) you just look forward to finally getting out and driving the track.

"Of course, knowing I will lose five positions on the grid does not add to this feeling, but this just means I will have to try even harder.

"I'm actually quite confident we should look reasonably good in Monaco due to the hard work everybody in the team is putting into the development of our car.

"So let's make the best out of the weekend."

The seven-time champion appreciates that in this day and age, if a race in Monaco was suggested now, the idea would unlikely ever get off the ground due to the safety concerns.

But as the oldest and most historic race on the Formula One calendar, its place is assured for years to come.

Schumacher added: "Monaco is just a circuit of its own very unique character.

"In a way, you could look at it with a big portion of irony with regards to the contradiction that, for so many years we have successfully campaigned for more track safety, and then we deliberately race in Monaco.

"But in my view this is justifiable once a year, especially as the circuit is really so much fun to drive."