Schumacher's F1 return further frustrated

Just when it looked like Michael Schumacher's Formula One return was finally picking up, things have gone awry for the Mercedes driver.

Schumacher followed up a fourth-place finish in Montreal with a 17th-place at Sunday's European Grand Prix as the seven-time world champion again failed to reach the podium in his 27th race since coming out of retirement.

Renault driver Vitaly Petrov clipped Schumacher's car early on in the race to force the 42-year-old German to the pits for a new front wing. That dropped Schumacher into 22nd at the street circuit where it is notoriously difficult to overtake .

Schumacher has finished fourth on four occasions since his return. He trails F1 leader Sebastian Vettel, who won Sunday's race, by 160 points.