Michael Schumacher must have wished Suzuka was the last race of the season. He put in a solid performance that quietened many of his critics and the talk of him retiring this winter disappeared.

However, the first-ever Korean Grand Prix is the biggest test of his skills so far.

This weekend could bring about the most intense criticism he has faced if the wheels fall off, figuratively speaking.

Why this one? Well, this is the first weekend where he goes in with the same recent experience as everyone else – absolutely nothing.

So far, even at tracks he’s known well and been successful at, most of his rivals have more recent experience at the tracks. He has been racking his brain remembering the braking points from four years ago while others only had to go back 12 months.

At Korea, there are no excuses. He will be in exactly the same situation as Nico Rosberg.

Both will be driving the circuit for the first time, having to learn the limits as they go. Schumacher used to excel in such situations in the past. This weekend will tell us exactly how much his powers have waned.

Should he push Rosberg to the limit, or even finish ahead of him, the bosses at the Brackley factory can rub their hands with glee knowing they have two championship contenders next year.

So expect to see a 41-year-old throwing his car around the Yeongam track in the practice sessions, and occasionally off it too, as he finds the limits.

The only time to start worrying is if the younger drivers around him, such as Petrov, Hulkenberg and Kobayashi, are out-pacing him in qualifying and the actual grand prix. Then you are free to criticise as much as you like.

As for the rest of the team, it is another race of gathering data for next year. The last few races have gone well, Rosberg’s unfortunate retirement in Japan aside.

They’ll be aiming for a double-points finish and will view it as a tremendous achievement should it happen.

Like most of the grid, they can relax to a certain extent and enjoy what will hopefully be a superb addition to the Formula One calendar.

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