Former Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso has said that he is delighted to get another chance to lock horns with seven-times champion Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher, who had retired from F1 in 2006, has signed a three-year contract to drive for the new Mercedes GP team and will make his comeback at Sunday's season opener in Bahrain.

"I think Michael will be just as fast and just as controversial as ever. Racing with Michael was very intense in 2005 and 2006 with some very nice fights," The Sun quoted Alonso, as saying.After he left it was not the same when you won a race - when you beat a legend in F1 it is very special, very motivating. Now he is back I think, not only for me but for the other drivers, to beat Michael is something special," he added.

Alonso, who signed a three-year deal with Ferrari, is further confident that youngsters, including Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, will give tough competition to Schumacher.

"I would be disappointed if it took me as long to win a world championship at Ferrari as Michael. But we know it's never easy. The cars are so close now. It will be a great fight as Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari are all top-level teams," Alonso said.

"There are two world champions at McLaren with Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, then Red Bull," he added. (ANI)