Hamilton excited ahead of Schumacher return

Lewis Hamilton finally broke his duck at the Hungarian Grand Prix by picking up his first race victory as World Champion. With Felipe Massa injured after his qualifying crash at the Hungaroring, Hamilton will now have the chance to race alongside 'legend' Michael Schumacher for the first time in Valencia.

With Massa recovering from what could have been life-threatening injuries, the seemingly impossible will become reality in Spain as Michael Schumacher, as team-mate to Kimi Räikkönen, goes head-to-head with Lewis Hamilton in what could be a race with four World Champions competing.

"Coming in at this part of the season, Michael is at a disadvantage because he hasn't had the same experiences as everyone else," Hamilton told The Mail. "It would be unfair to say that I'll be excited if I finish ahead of him in Valencia because it's his first race of the season.

"I am excited by the possibility of Michael's return to Formula One; he is one of the sport's greatest competitors - a legend - and it will be an honour and a privilege to race against him." With Hamilton having expressed his disappointment when learning of Schumacher's retirement at the end of 2006, the F1 careers of the Englishman and German will now intersect after all. "The whole world will be watching his return to the cockpit," Lewis continued. "I haven't spoken to Michael but I look forward to seeing him on the track.

"'Knowing the legend that he is, I think he will have no problems being at the front."