Retired F1 legend Michael Schumacher ushered in the 2008 Formula 1 season as he stepped back into the cockpit of a Ferrari in testing at Barcelona on Tuesday.
The seven-time champion, who has emphasised the test is merely to help the team develop its throttle systems now that traction control has been banned, was joined on the track by a number of unfamiliar names, cars and colour schemes as all the teams returned to action just over three weeks after the 2007 season finale in Brazil. ITV.com
BMW-Sauber’s race drivers Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica will be on track, although McLaren superstar Lewis Hamilton is not present - the Mercedes-powered team have Pedro de la Rosa and Gary Paffett behind the wheel.
Force India are in action for the first time since the team changed its name from Spyker F1, with five drivers ready to drive over the course of the three-day test.
Red Bull Racing have GP2 star Karun Chandhok, making his debut, in action on Tuesday and Wednesday. David Maher, Setanta Sports
UPDATE: November 13, 2007 11:00 am
Michael Schumacher proved he had lost none of the speed that made him a seven-times world champion as he topped the times on the first day of testing at Barcelona.
The Ferrari legend, back in to help the team as it adapts to the ban on traction control, was the only man to set a time in the 1m21s range as F1 kicked off its winter testing season. ITV.com
All 11 of the sport’s teams were on track, but most of the attention was being focused on Schumacher, who retired from racing at the end of the 2006 season. The seven-time world champion was two-tenths of a second quicker than the next fastest driver – his Ferrari team-mate Luca Badoer.
Pedro de la Rosa was third fastest in his McLaren, with Heikki Kovalainen fourth quickest for Renault. The fifth best time of the day was set by BMW’s Robert Kubica, just quicker than that of McLaren’s British test driver Gary Paffett. David Maher, Setanta Sports
This was Schumacher’s first test since he retired at the end of the 2006 season, and he has stressed that he is not thinking of coming out of retirement.
The test features all the teams using their 2007 cars adapted to the 2008 regulations, which ban driver aids. Times of Malta
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