Ferrari's Michael Schumacher can be Formula One saviour, says Niki Lauda

Lauda, 60, said: "Michael's return is great news. He will be the saviour of Formula One after what we've gone through this year with all the politics. Then we had BMW pulling out with Honda having gone.

"Schumacher coming back is the best thing to happen to F1. And he will still be quick and still be competitive even though he has not raced since 2006. He is just too good not to make an impact on his return.

"He would not return unless he felt he was fit and felt he could make an impact on the track."

Johnny Herbert, who won three grands prix in an 11-year F1 career and was Schumacher's team-mate for Benetton in 1995, predicts the physical challenge will be the German's greatest obstacle.

"I think he'll find it hard work," said Herbert. "The last time he drove an F1 car was in 2008. The difference is the power behind the car. For a human to jump back into something such as an F1 car is going to be immensely difficult for him.