Winning is the only taste I like: Schumacher

Seven--time Formula One World champion Michael Schumacher concedes it hasn't quite gone to the plan in his second coming, but the legendary German remains determined to make his way back to the top as winning is the only taste he likes.

Schumacher, who won five consecutive titles from 2000 to 2004, had rejoined F1 with the Mercedes team in last year but his young compatriot Sebastian Vettel is dominating the scene with two consecutive Drivers' Championship titles.

The 42-year-old, who won an incredible 91 races from 261 starts, is yet to get on the podium in his second innings. Three fourth-place finishes in 2010 and another fourth-place finish at this season's Canadian Grand Prix have been his best results.

Asked if his aura is diminishing due to the not-so-impressive comeback, Schumacher said the results will come with time.

"It's not exactly how we have expected when I rejoined. We all had different expectations. To be on podium and win races. That was the target. But we have to understand that it was not possible due to the reasons explained in the past. We have to be patient," Schumacher said, after arriving in New Delhi for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix on Sunday.

"We are trying to improve and we are going in the right direction. There is a procedure of building ourselves in order to get back to top. That's the ambition. You know that taste (of being at top) and that's the only taste I like," he said.

Gearing up for the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, Schumacher said he hasn't got a feel of the newly-made Buddh International Circuit as yet.

"I have no idea how it looks in reality but I am looking forward to see it physically but we have to enjoy to entertain fans," he said.

Schumacher hoped that Formula One will thrive in India.

"Future of F1 in India, there is no reason to doubt that. What I have seen and heard of fans, I am very much looking forward to it. India is a growing market for tech products. There is a huge potential. There are a lot of smart people," he said.

There have been instances when a team has instructed one of its own driver to let the other pass if it helps one driver's cause of winning the title has fetched F1 some adverse fan reaction.

Team orders were banned, but the clause was removed this year in the new regulations. Asked about his take on Team orders, Schumacher said it is natural to look at the overall picture.

"In principle, it has never been possible to stop team orders. Each time has two drivers and only one can win. At the end of the day the team should have to win to celebrate. It's natural and should be there. (But) it may be less nice to the public", he said.

Schumacher was himself involved in such incidents in 2002. When Schumacher was with Ferrari in 2002, during the Austrian Grand Prix, his team-mate Rubens Barrichello slowed his car under orders from the team to let the German pass and win the race.

Later in the season during the US GP, Schumacher let Barrichello win by 0.011 seconds, the second closest margin in F1 history.

The recent tragic deaths of Dan Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli at separate racing events shocked the Motorsport fraternity. Asked about safety in the risky sport, Schumacher said the drivers know the danger involved and still do it for the love of the sport.

"There is nothing totally safe and if it is your fate that something like this is going to happen, it will. When we drive our cars, we drive to our limit."