Former team-mate Eddie Irvine has branded Michael Schumacher's return to Formula One 'a disaster'.

The Northern Irishman was Schumacher's Ferrari team-mate during his dominance of the late 1990s.

The German came out of retirement to race for Mercedes this season, but Irvine has questioned his decision to return to the grid after a three-year absence.

"On paper, his return wasn't a bad idea," Irvine told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"But he had already lost something in 2006, when Felipe Massa was often in front of him. Three years later he has lost even more.

"The result. It's a disaster,"

Schumacher has failed to match the performances of Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg this year with his 46 points leaving him well behind his compatriot's haul of 122 in the drivers' standings.

Criticising the excuses which have come from the team to explain Schumacher's performances, Irvine added: "It's 'this is a new team, with new people'.

"But in his first year at Ferrari, the car was rubbish but he won three races."

Related posts: