Michael Schumacher tested a Ferrari F2007 on GP2 series tyres at the Mugello circuit on Friday as the German begins to prepare himself for his cockpit return in Valencia this month.

Sir Frank Williams has indicated that he will oppose Ferrari's request to all the teams to allow Michael Schumacher a day of testing at the wheel of the F60 prior to making his dramatic F1 comeback on August 23. Ferrari made the request to all the teams and the FIA in a bid to allow the German seven-times F1 World Champion time at the wheel of a current grand prix car in the run up to him deputising for the injured Felipe Massa.

Michael Schumacher retired from grand prix racing at the end of the 2006 season and his appearance at the wheel of F1 cars has been only sporadic since. He tested a Ferrari F2007 at Mugello on Friday as he begins to prepare himself for his cockpit return; before that his last time in an F1 car was April last year. The F2007, which belonged to the Corse Clienti department, that was used on Friday was fitted with tyres used by the GP2 single-seater feeder series as the rules forbid testing with either a current F1 car or this year's tyre compounds. Ferrari had hoped to let the German test the latest F60, which he will be driving in Spain, as the regulations have changed significantly since last year.

"While we welcome Michael Schumacher back to Formula 1, the fact is that any form of in-season circuit testing is strictly prohibited; a regulation clearly laid out by the FIA and adhered to by all of the teams," team owner Sir Frank Williams said today. It was for this reason that Alguersuari, who drove an F1 car for the very first time in Hungary, did not have the opportunity to familiarise himself with the Toro Rosso before he made his race debut. Williams sees no distinction between Alguersuari's situation and Schumacher's and feels that any deviation from the rule would create a precedent for the future," Williams continued, adding that: "In a similar situation, Williams would unhesitatingly use its current test driver. For the sake of consistency and fairness, therefore, we oppose Ferrari's proposal to test ahead of the European Grand Prix." Without Williams' agreement the first time that Michael Schumacher steps into the Ferrari F60 will be during the first free practice session at Valencia on the Friday morning.