A fired-up Michael Schumacher is ready to put Formula One's young guns in their place as he chases an eighth world title next year.

There was a sparkle in Schumacher's eye as he announced he was stepping out of retirement yesterday after three years away, ready, as he put it, "for some serious stuff".

Schumacher knows he is putting his reputation on the line, that of a man who won seven world titles, 91 grands prix, claimed 68 poles and 76 fastest laps – all records – from his 249 races over 16 seasons from 1991 to 2006.

Now Schumacher, 41 in January, feels like a man reborn. And in signing a three-year deal with Mercedes GP, he is intent on proving he is back for the long haul.

Schumacher said: "I was tired of F1 by the end of 2006. I lacked motivation and didn't have any energy. But after three years I have got back all the energy I am feeling right now.

"I'm very motivated, thrilled and excited, and that's what counts. I have won the title seven times. I'm with a team that won both titles last year, you have Mercedes as a team owner, so you can't expect anything else other than going for the world championship. That's what we're aiming for."