Continuing his impressive return to the Ferrari cockpit Michael Schumacher remained untouchable at the top of the timesheets for a second day as F1 testing continued at the Barcelona circuit.

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher maintained his stranglehold at the top of the timesheets on Wednesday, the second day of testing at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. Schumacher clocked a best time of 1m 21.489s in the Ferrari at the Spanish track - four-tenths of a second quicker than the McLaren of Pedro de la Rosa. The German, who was also fastest on the opening day of testing on Tuesday, completed a further 90 laps yesterday.

Despite the low temperatures and cloudy conditions, the German completed his programme in the F2007. He was joined by former team mate Felipe Massa, who finished the day in fourth (56 laps, 1m22.044). Massa and Schumacher both worked on the development of new components and electronics. The Brazilian will continue at the track for the final day of testing, today, alongside regular Ferrari tester Luca Badoer.

Second-placed De la Rosa was joined by fellow McLaren tester Gary Paffett who finished in fifth. The pair continued the team’s preparations for 2008, testing the MP4-22 without driver aids. They covered a total of 117 laps and will be back in action on Thursday.

There was more Ferrari V8 power on the Spanish track ysterday as Sebastian Vettel, just like day one, got the edge on new Toro Rosso team mate Sebastien Bourdais. Vettel finished in 10th, while Bourdais posted exactly the same time as Honda debutant Luca Filippi to tie for 16th. GP2 driver Filippi was joined by the Japanese team’s race driver Jenson Button, who got his first taste of the car with 2008 electronics and finished in 12th.

Ferrari Test Details: Circuit: Circuit de Catalunya - 4.655 km Driver: Felipe Massa and Michael; Schumacher Car: F2007; Weather: air temperature 9/20°C, track temperature 8/22°C. Slightly cloudy.

Unofficial Wednesday times from Barcelona:

1. Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 1:21.489
2. Pedro de la Rosa, McLaren, 1:21.857
3. Heikki Kovalainen, Renault, 1:21.894
4. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 1:22.044
5. Gary Paffett, McLaren, 1:22.293
6. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 1:22.333
7. David Coulthard, Red Bull, 1:22.555
8. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 1:22.946
9. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 1:23.031
10. Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso, 1:23.187
11. Karun Chandhok, Red Bull, 1:23.255
12. Jenson Button, Honda, 1:23.358
13. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 1:23.465
14. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 1:23.488
15. Anthony Davidson, Super Aguri, 1:23.547
16. Luca Filippi, Honda, 1:23.596
= Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 1:23.596
18. Franck Montagny, Toyota, 1:23.977
19. Christian Klien, Force India, 1:24.446
20. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 1:24.537
21. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India, 1:24.555