Michael Schumacher insists he is not far away from returning to the top, saying Mercedes GP need to take only "another small step" forward.
The German, who celebrated his 43rd birthday on Tuesday, has struggled since coming out of retirement a couple of season ago. The seven-time World Champion is yet to get onto the podium and finished ninth and eighth in the Drivers' Championship in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
Schumacher, though, will point out that Brackley-based team haven't produced a car that is capable of challenging at the front, but he is confident they are not far off.
"I know the team better and I am more involved... at first I was a little rusty. Things are better now and I am convinced Mercedes and I will succeed," he is quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.
"We need another small step and then we can make it to the top."
