The most successful driver Formula One has ever seen came back from a three-year retirement to drive the successor of last year’s world championship car—and had his worst-ever season amid, arguably, F1's most exciting season. What went wrong?

Photography and in-car footage may be dramatic, but nothing shows the gripping intensity of this year’s epic F1 season like a chart showing points haul plotted against time. Especially when compared to previous years.

Ever since his retirement, Formula One’s most successful driver has been itching to return. Back for 2010, driving Ross Brawn’s world champion Mercedes, only one question remains: can a 41-year-old man kick ass in modern F1?