( CNN ) -- Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher is hoping to repay his Chinese fans with a win in Shanghai next weekend -- despite admitting he 's `` never had much luck '' at the Formula One circuit . The 43-year-old driver has had a disappointing start to the year despite his Mercedes team 's promising pace in qualifying and pre-race practice sessions . He was forced to pull out of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March after suffering a gearbox failure , then finished 10th in Malaysia . The German , who has struggled since coming back from retirement in 2010 , finished eighth in China last year . `` As for the race itself , I 've never had much luck in Shanghai , apart from my win in 2006 , '' he told reporters in Shanghai . `` In the first two races of 2012 we did n't manage to maintain our qualifying pace in race conditions . We 've been working intensively on this , so that we can offer our fans a strong performance in China . '' The former Ferrari star is now determined to secure a win in front of his huge following in Asia . `` When I think about the Chinese Grand Prix , the fans are the first thing that comes to mind . For many years now , I 've had a big and loyal fan base there , and it 's still very touching to see the lengths they go to in supporting me . '' Team principal Ross Brawn said Mercedes had learned its lessons from the start of the year . `` On track , we hope that the weekend will prove more successful than the first two races of the season where our race results did not match expectations after a positive start to both weekends , '' he said . `` A lot of hard work and analysis has taken place back at the factory since our return and I hope to see these efforts pay dividends next Sunday in Shanghai . ''
Michael Schumacher determined to reward Chinese fans with win on April 15 . Schumacher's team has been given a deadline of Friday by the FIA for him to deliver his first victory in Formula One since he was diagnosed with cancer last year. The seven-times world champion has had a disappointing start to the year .