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After his
work in the
simulator
on Thursday
afternoon at
Maranello
Michael
Schumacher
move up
another step
with the work
of physically
preparing
himself for
the European
Grand Prix on 23
August. The
seven-time F1
World
Champion
went on the
track at
Mugello
yesterday for
a private
test in the
F2007
managed by
the Formula
1 Clienti
department
at Ferrari. Michael
drove 67
laps of the
circuit
which is
owned by
Ferrari,
with the
fastest of
these being in
1.23.736.
"It's a
great thing
getting back
on the track
with an
F1 even if
this was a
car from
2007 from
the F1 Clienti
department
with slicks
usually used
in GP2 and
obviously
there is no
real point
of
reference,"
Schumacher
commented
after the
test runs. "After a
couple of
laps I was
able to
drive
constant lap
times and
I'm happy
with the
performance.
Now we've
got to see
how my body
and the
muscles
respond in
the next
days," the
German
driver
added.
The
programme
will be
defined in
the next
few days. Ferrari
has also asked the
other F1 teams
to have the
possibility
from
Schumacher to test the
F60 before
the race at
Valencia and
is now waiting
for a reply.
Meanwhile
Felipe
Massa's
health
condition is
improving
day by day
so that a
return back
home could
be imminent,
the latest
update from
Ferrari,
issued
yesterday,
reports.
If
everything
proceeds the
best
possible
way, Felipe
could leave
Budapest on
Monday to be
brought to
Sao Paulo do Brasil,
where he
will start
rehabilitation,
the
statement
adds.
The other F1 drivers have
responded to the return of
Schumacher. "Michael is a world class
driver, he'll be back and he'll
win a race, I think he'll win a
race this year," Australian
title contender Mark Webber told the
BBC yesterday. "He's a ferocious competitor, he'll be a force, no question
about it. It's a great challenge
for him again. He's had a few years out but
he's been occupying himself
fantastically with other sports,
one being motorbikes and he's
been riding those pretty quick. So he's going to be in
pretty good shape."
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