Melbourne - Ferrari will be calling on the experience of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher for the start of the Formula One season.

For the first time since his retirement at the end of the 2006 season, Schumacher will be with his former team for the season's start in Melbourne on Sunday.

The 40-year-old German will also be acting as an adviser for the following week's Malaysian Grand Prix.

Schumacher's spokeswoman Sabine Kehm said Tuesday the former champion would be working "in the background" but will attend team meetings.

"His knowledge and experience will be of great use to the team there," she said.

Schumacher's manager Willi Weber told Germany's Bild newspaper: "For the last two years it wasn't so important for Michael to be in the pits. But now with all the rule changes he can help the engineers understand the car better."

Schumacher has been following testing closely but has not driven the new Ferrari.

On his homepage last week following tests in Barcelona he was upbeat on the chances of Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Kim Raikkonen.

"The last impressions were showing that we look pretty good and should be in the position to fight for the world championship titles," he said.

Schumacher also singled out the new Brawn GP team, run by Ross Brawn, the man who accompanied Schumacher to five titles with Ferrari and two with Benetton.

Renault, Toyota, BMW and Williams had also done well but "McLaren at the moment looks pretty bad," he said. (dpa)