Schumacher proves fitness with long test

Reuters - Thu, 11 Feb 17:17:00 2010

Michael Schumacher said he was shocked that fellow drivers were being so nice to him after proving his fitness at the second pre-season testing session in Jerez on Thursday.

Michael Schumacher Mercedes - 0

The seven-times Formula One world champion, who has come out of retirement for Mercedes, managed over 100 laps in Spain and his quickest time was just over a second slower than Sauber's pacesetter Kamui Kobayashi.

"I'm surprised about their reactions, everyone is very pleased for me to be back but I know things will change on the race track," the 41-year-old German, who has recovered from last year's neck injury, told reporters in Spain.

"I feel fresh out of the box. So far it's all about as many laps and kilometres as possible. It's not so much about finetuning yet."

Times in testing give little indication of race pace given cars have different fuel loads. Refuelling during races is banned this season so teams will have to start grands prix with full fuel tanks.

Newcomers Virgin had to halt their second day of testing because the front wing of Timo Glock's car came off and the team did not have enough spare parts to fix the problem.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and world champion Jenson Button in the McLaren again put steady laps on the clock amid expectations the two teams have recovered from last year's problems and will challenge at the season opener in Bahrain on March 14.

Saturday's tests will be performed by the other main drivers on the team rosters including Felipe Massa in the Ferrari and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

Reuters

Comment 16 - 35 of 35

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  1. Schumacher, Alonso, Hamilton, Button going to be a­ great year for f1

    From timluke888, on Tue 16 Feb 5:32

  2. MS will be competitive but not competitive enough to­ win the title.

    From j_ball_4life, on Sun 14 Feb 9:14
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hes no worse than the Cheats in F1 at present,,­ mention­ no names

    From Baby Potter, on Sun 14 Feb 7:50

  4. the biggest sporting mistake in recent sports history.­ When you retire at the top you dont make a come back.

    From Tom, on Sun 14 Feb 6:21

  5. michael schumacher is very good news for f1. the­ spectators will return in droves at all the venues i am­ pretty sure. i am booking my ticket for malaysian grand­ prix now.

    From rashid hasan, on Sun 14 Feb 5:57
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Para D;
    All of that made it through tech inspection by­ what miracle, magic? Envy is an ugly trait man.

    From admiralr, on Sun 14 Feb 5:34

  7. has anyone thought that ms has returned to driving­ because he was so c*^p as a tea boy in the plodding­ donkey team?

    From rod, on Sun 14 Feb 3:43

  8. Yes Jamie E, he always had the best car and yes that­ includes the Benneton. A vastly superior car in terms­ of technology, much of it illegal; for example traction­ control, launch control etc. Any other driver would­ have walked it in that largely illegal car.

    But of­ course MS never used any of the illegal technology in­ the car, well that's what he says anyway.

    From Para D, on Sun 14 Feb 3:39
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Michael knows very well that he will be Champion again,­ so why should other drivers be nasty to him, he is a­ legend in his own time.

    From jane, on Sat 13 Feb 19:53
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hes no worse than the Cheats in F1 at present,, mention­ no names

    From Baby Potter, on Sat 13 Feb 14:52

  11. ... shutting down no.
    But without doubt sales will be­ up. After all, we all love a good villain.

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sat 13 Feb 14:13

  12. Of course they're happy he's back- without­ him, F1 was on the verge of shutting down- Schumacher­ alone will double their endorsement incomes....

    From J, on Sat 13 Feb 13:23
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ~~ CHEATER IN CHIEF POOFTER CHEAT --MS --- ­ HAS THE MONEY ---- so he wants MORE +MORE

    lets­ see WHICH DRIVER HE BLOCKS & IMPEDES ON­ QUALIFICATION DAY ..!§§§§§§§§§

    From Alex, on Sat 13 Feb 11:25
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    OUR CHEATING FAIRY POOFTER ---MS ----- HAS THE MONEY­ ,, SO HE WANTS MORE

    ALWAYS IT'S THE RICH THAT WANT­ MORE ~~~~ SATISFIED CITIZENS ARE HAPPY WITH
    ­ JUST ENOUGH MONEY TO ENJOY LIFE

    From Alex, on Sat 13 Feb 11:23
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ^^^ NO SPORTING TITLE FOR CHEAT --MS

    JUST­ AVARICIOUS CHEATING

    From Alex, on Sat 13 Feb 9:02
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    HORRAY shumy is back. this season is going to be the­ best season yet. MS TO WIN!!!!!!

    From abs.hamster, on Sat 13 Feb 9:01
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    TOP STAR EXPERIENCED CHEAT -- MS -- SHOULD­ NOT EVEN BE THERE

    SERIOUS CALOUS CHEATING OF HIS­ TYPE SHOULD EARN LIFETIME BAN + HEFTY FINE

    CHEAT ­ --MS -- SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED ON THE CIRCUIT­ EVER AGAIN FOR HIS CHEATING

    From Alex, on Sat 13 Feb 9:00

  18. A great driver, but he's no sportsman

    From MARK, on Sat 13 Feb 7:16

  19. I wouldn't say he's doing it for the money.­ He's hardly skint!
    He's doing it for FUN!­ He's probably been bored... after being a racer,­ most other things must seem dull.
    I expect him to be­ well prepared and with the skill he has, competitive.­
    What he lacks is "hunger" for success, and I­ hope both he and the authorities will behave­ themselves.

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sat 13 Feb 4:57

  20. Post 23/24. Tiger Woods has won 12(of his 14) Majors­ this decade, 12!! and these are tournaments where he­ has beaten up to 150 world class golfers, im not taking­ anything away from schumacher but he always had the­ best car and we saw last year with brawn and redbull­ that the best car is hard to beat whoever is driving.­ and lance armstrong always had the best team around­ him, last year was lances most outstanding tour as he­ had to support and build leads for contador so to do­ that and still finish 3rd was amazing(sorry if he­ finished 2nd, i cant remember!!). and as for that­ rascist bull***t you slur on about, shut up. Tiger Won­ because of prize money and indidvidual quality, he was­ the best, by a long way.
    From a WHITE englishman.

    From Jack, on Sat 13 Feb 0:37
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