Michael Schumacher believes he can win an unprecedented eighth Formula One world championship next season after confirming that he will come out of retirement to drive for Mercedes.

Schumacher, who will be 41 on January 3, has signed a one-year contract to partner Nico Rosberg at the former Brawn team. Brawn GP collected the drivers' championship, through Jenson Button, and the constructors' title last season and Schumacher is targeting identical success for the rebranded squad. "I have won it seven times and I'm with the team that won both titles last season, so what do you expect?" he said.

"You can't expect anything else other than to go for the world championship and that's what we are aiming for," The Guardian quoted him as saying.

Schumacher secured the last of his championships with Ferrari in 2004 and has not raced in Formula One since 2006.