Having come out of retirement, Michael Schumacher reckons he is coping "faster than thought" during testing.

Schumacher, who hasn't turned a wheel in anger since retiring from Ferrari back in 2006, made his Formula One return this week, taking part in Mercedes GP's three-day test at Valencia.

The seven-time World Champion, whose name is carved in Formula One's record books, put the new Mercedes W01 through its paces on Monday afternoon before returning to the cockpit for a full day's running on Wednesday.

On both days, Schumacher posted the third best time and impressive showing given his time away from the sport.

"Coming back to F1 in Valencia caused less trouble than expected for me - I picked up the rhythm faster than thought and everything went well," he told his official website.

"The car is reliable, that is the most important basis.

"I am now having a good feeling for the season that is spread ahead of us. Of course we will have to work a lot more but that is fun actually.

"We are a new team, you have to get used to each other and the way everybody works but with Ross I have the right person at the right spot. I am really happy about that first test."