Scuderia Ferrari gave the new F2007, the race car with which it will compete in this year's Formula 1 World Championship, its track debut on Monday morning at their private Fiorano test circuit.

In the morning gloom and foggy conditions Felipe Massa took to the track with the brand new F2007 chassis, the fifty-third single seater race car to be built by Ferrari specifically to complete in Grands Prix. Over the course of the day, the Brazilian driver completed 39 laps, all on the 2.976 kilometre long version of the circuit, the quickest lap being in a time of 58.360.

The new F2007 had been previewed to the media on Sunday afternoon, and was making its track debut less than a day later. The project, known internally as the 658, represents the Scuderia's interpretation of the technical regulations that apply for 2007, with the main changes principally concerning safety, through the introduction of more stringent front and rear crash tests and the addition of a composite material structure to provide lateral protection to the sides of the driver. These modifications have led to a significant increase in the weight of the car, in the region of just under ten kilogrammes.

The F2007 chassis has also been significantly modified when compared to the 248 F1. The design was revised to accommodate a new front suspension that represents a major conceptual innovation, mainly in terms of aerodynamics. The shape of the side-pods and their openings are also revised, based on modifications to the cooling system, which also implies exits for the radiators on the upper part of the bodywork.
 

The engine air intake is also substantially different. and the car has a longer wheelbase than its predecessor while the rear end is also much narrower. Significant internal changes have also been made to the engine.

Joining Massa at the very foggy Fiorano circuit yesterday, where the air temperatures ranged between 4 and 6°C and the track temperatures were in the span of 6 to 9 °C, was his new 2007 team mate Kimi Raikkonen, as well as the newly retired Michael Schumacher. Also attending the F2007's shakedown was Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo who said: "I am glad to be able to share with you one of the first laps of this new car. I am extremely satisfied with this kind of presentation, because for us it was important to have a working day immediately, to be able to collect some precious data on this completely new car. I am glad that we were able to keep the timeframe that we had set for ourselves. For me this, as every year, is a day of big emotions; it is the beginning of a new adventure."

Ferrari will be back on track on the 23rd January at the Mugello Circuit in Italy, when both its 2007 season race drivers, Massa and Raikkonen, will be in action. For the Finn, who has just arrived at Maranello from the McLaren-Mercedes team, this is set to be his first time behind the wheel of a Ferrari.