Four-time World Champion Alain Prost believes that returning to his previous form is an ‘impossible’ task for Michael Schumacher, who made a Formula 1 comeback last season but failed to achieve a podium result in the underperforming Mercedes GP car.

Although history dictates that F1 comebacks are chiefly unsuccessful, Prost rewrote the rule in 1993 by returning from a year’s sabbatical to convincingly wrap up his fourth and final drivers’ crown with Williams. However, the Frenchman does not forecast such ease for the German.

“It's a personal decision and I respect his choice,” he told Switzerland’s Le Matin of the seven-time title-winner. “But nowadays and at his age I think it’s impossible to return to where you were before, although I hope he proves me wrong.”

Fernando Alonso settles into the new FerrariFormula 1 technical chiefs are to keep a close check on whether drivers are struggling with being asked to operate too many buttons on their steering wheels this year - with Ferrari suggesting the situation could have reached an 'unacceptable' level.

A number of drivers have already voiced concerns that safety could be compromised in 2011 because of the number of controls they are now being required to operate in the cockpit – which can be a distraction while they are trying to race their cars at the limit.

As well as the normal car items like radio, differential and brake balance controls that drivers will regularly operate on a lap, for 2011 drivers are going to have to flick switches to power up and activate KERS, as well as make use of the moveable rear wing.

The film 'Senna' about the life of the F1 hero has won the World Cinema Audience Award in the Documentary category at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. The film was released in Japan and Brazil last year and will be screened worldwide throughout 2011.

Director Asif Kapadia accepted the award on stage saying: "This is amazing, thank you so much. This festival has restored my faith in festivals. It has just been amazing and this award tops it off."