Winter testing for the 2010 Formula One season is officially underway and the greatest sight of all is that of Michael Schumacher back behind the wheel of an F1 car regardless of the fact that it seems strange not seeing him in a Red Ferrari. Actually, I wonder how many people look at the Ferrari garage waiting for him to emerge only to catch themselves on?

The session at Circuit Ricardo Tormo also marked the comeback of Felippe Massa who returns from a serious head injury that at one point was not just career threatening, but life threatening and he proved there is no rust by setting the fast time of the day at 1 minute 12.574 secs.

Schumacher was on the pace from the get go, getting used to the latest brand of Formula One car and finished the day with the third fastest time of 1 minute 12.947 secs after 40 laps completed.

“In a way it’s like 91 again,” said Schumacher, “I felt like I had a toy in my hands. For the first day, the team have done a superb job.”

Still, you cannot read too much into the times set by drivers on the first days of testing. Many drivers are running many different set-ups and fuel loads and so the timings can be off for various reasons. An example of this is the fact that Pedro de la Rosa in his Sauber (great to see that name back) set the second fastest time and he has been out of the F1 racing game since 2006 (and he ain’t no Schumacher).

Often smaller teams use these tests as a chance to lighten up the car and put in a few quick times to potentially pull in sponsors while other more stable teams will immediately get ready for race type situations which this year will include no re-fueling and therefore very different handling cars compared to previous years. Don’t however expect it to take long for the runners and riders to get used to the new styles of the cars, these guys adapt very quickly as has been seen in previous years when rule changes have changed the dynamics of the cars.

Seven of the expected 13 teams took part, none of the four newcomers put in an appearance.

Read more about: F1 Winter Testing, Felippe Massa, Michael Schumacher | ALL SUBJECTS |

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