Schumacher is the best, says Alonso

By Alan Baldwin

MANAMA (Reuters) - Michael Schumacher was mobbed by the media and welcomed back by fellow champions on his return to the Formula One paddock on Thursday in search of an unprecedented eighth title.

"If you see the world championships that Michael has, its something I think is maybe impossible to repeat and is part of the history of our sport," said double world champion Fernando Alonso ahead of Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix season-opener.

"Looking at the numbers of grand prix wins, pole positions and championships, I think we all agree Michael is the best ever," the Spaniard told a news conference.

"I am happy he is here ... winning a championship or a grand prix with Michael on the track has more value," added Alonso who has joined the Ferrari team that Schumacher once considered a second family.

The German, returning at the age of 41 and after three seasons in retirement, sat next to him like an honored patriarch -- an effect slightly undermined by his glowing fitness and the chewing gum in his mouth.

Behind him sat two more champions, 2008 winner Lewis Hamilton and incumbent and new McLaren team mate Jenson Button, who joked between themselves like a pair of errant schoolboys.

"It's great to have Michael back as it makes me feel young again," joked Button, 30, before leaning forward to tweak the German's shoulders.

The four champions had earlier posed for a group photograph, with Hamilton draping an arm around Schumacher's silver overalls.

OLD MAN ACT

Schumacher, who started out in Formula One in 1991, played up the old man act -- apologizing for missing a question with a smile and the explanation that "at my age you keep forgetting things."

His rivals will pay no attention to that. The German, surrounded by a scrum of reporters and photographers at an earlier Mercedes media appearance, gave every indication he was just as focused and single-minded as ever about racing and winning.

The field, with four world champions and at least eight drivers seemingly in with a chance of the title, will be more competitive than ever.

"It's absolutely fantastic for the sport. He's a real edgy character," Red Bull's Mark Webber told reporters in the Sakhir sunshine when asked about the German's return.

"He's done amazing things in his first career, he's coming back for his second career because he's a competitive individual and I take my hat off to him.

"As a competitor you have to admire that. But we won't have the 60 or 70 second victories ... like we did in the past, that's not going to happen. Don't worry," added the Australian.

"He'll win some races and maybe he gets a title in the three years or whatever but it's not going to be as straightforward as maybe it was in the past."

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)