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Formula 1 Features & Interviews
F1 Feature - Michael Schumacher Returns
07/11/2007
In the end, Michael Schumacher couldn't keep away. The seven-time World Champion told reporters earlier this year that he had no desire to drive an F1 car. Until now.
Curiosity has got the better of him and he will test this year's title-winning Ferrari F2007 on Tuesday and Wednesday next week at Barcelona, the scene of six of his 91 grand prix wins.
Regular drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa will be on holiday, so 38-year-old Schumi will kick-start the Scuderia's winter test programme.
However, the test will be more than a publicity stunt because it's been only a year since Michael retired from F1.
He will no doubt get up to speed quickly, having blown away the cobwebs at Fiorano last month, when he did some demonstration laps in this year's championship-winning F2007 for some Fiat board members.
There are several areas in which his feedback will be valuable. First, he has raced exclusively on Bridgestone tyres since 1999, so he will be able to give the Bridgestone track engineers important feedback about the performance of the 2007-spec tyres.
Second, he raced for many years without driver aids, such as traction control (TC). That's particularly relevant in 2008, when TC will be banned.
"The test is half for pleasure and half for technical reasons," says a Ferrari spokesperson. "Michael has a big experience in driving cars with no traction control and no electronic aids, so it makes sense for him to give his input."
However, don't get carried away: the test - which comes just a week after Michael tested Casey Stoner's Bridgestone-shod Ducati MotoGP bike - is not a precursor to him coming back to F1 next year.
"The test is probably a one-off," says Schumacher's spokeswoman. "He does not intend at all to go back to F1. He's testing just as part of his contract, which is to help Ferrari in whichever area he can."
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