Exactly one month after Kimi Raikkonen was on a race track for the last time the Finn was back in action today at the Jerez track in Spain testing a Ferrari F2008 that had been modified to simulate the lower downforce foreseen in 2009.

Exactly one month after Kimi Raikkonen was on a race track for the last time, he was back in action today. The last time the Finn sat behind the wheel of a Formula 1 single-seater was on 9th November, when he joined Felipe for several laps at the Ferrari World Finals at Mugello. Today Raikkonen started the second test session after the Formula One season, held at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Southern Spain, where five teams are participating: Toro Rosso, McLaren, BMW, Renault and Williams.

The Finnish driver, behind the wheel of a F2008 with less downforce, to simulate the situation foreseen by the technical rules for the 2009 season, went out on the track just after 9am. He didn't drive too many laps, because the weather was not really good and, after 3pm, the track was wet, but also because the mileage at the end of the season is limited. The team mainly worked on the best possible set up with the slicks and on the engine, which has to run further in the upcoming season. Raikkonen drove 48 laps, the fastest in a time of 1.20.261.

"I'm glad to be back on the track," Raikkonen said at the end of the day. "Shame that there was so much rain in the afternoon, because it would have been useful to test some situations we had problems with during the last season. It shouldn't rain tomorrow and we'll drive a bit more." Testing continues at this circuit tomorrow, when Felipe Massa will join Kimi Raikkonen.

Tomorrow afternoon an important meeting with representatives from FOTA and FIA will be held in Monte Carlo. On the agenda: analysing the proposals from the teams, which were voted for unanimously at the last FOTA meeting in London on 4th December. These proposals are several measures to significantly cut costs as of the 2009 season, a very delicate year for Formula One, considering what's happening around the world, while these proposals outline very precisely how to further cut costs in the years 2010 and 2011.

Ferrari is satisfied with the harmonious relationship between the teams, which is fundamental for reaching an agreement as far as issues of this nature are concerned, whilst keeping intact the distinctiveness of a sport such as Formula 1, which has to remain a technological and sporty competition between its participants. Therefore the concerns, expressed by the Company's administrative board during its meeting last week, are reduced.

F1 Test details: 09/12/2008, Circuit: Jerez Circuit - 4.428 km; Driver Kimi Raikkonen; Car: Ferrari F2008; Weather: air temperature 12/14 °C, track temperature 11/16 °C. Overcast in the morning, then cloudy, rain halfway through the afternoon.