On Monday morning Felipe Massa finally got back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 single-seater at the Fiorano race track. It wasn’t a proper test, but a way for him to regain confidence with his natural habitat: the race track. That’s why the Ferrari F1 Clienti department supplied him with a private F2007, fitted with tyres usually used exclusively in the GP2 series.

Due to rain in the morning Felipe drove around a dozen laps, and everyone was satisfied with the first impressions of the test. The thunderstorm over Maranello around 10 am didn’t ruin Massa’s day at all. In the afternoon, when the track was dry and the sun came out, he went out again and drove a total of around 100 kilometres.

“The moment I got into the car it was exactly like before the accident, as if nothing had happened,” Massa told the numerous journalists, who came to Fiorano for his comeback on the track. ”It was important to demonstrate to the people who work with me, that nothing has changed, that I can be competitive and that I can contribute to what will be the new car and to next year’s fight for the title.” After three days testing in a kart today’s test helped Felipe to gain more confidence as far as his capacities are concerned.

Furthermore there was an encouraging answer to his recovery: “I knew that everything was alright 95 percent, but after today I can even cancel the last 5 percent of doubt, I still might have had.” Asked about his participation in the Brazilian GP as a “fan” Felipe said: “It would have been great coming back to race in Interlagos, because it’s a track where I’ve always brought out the best, with two wins and three pole positions and just missing the victory in a World Championship, but I will be as happy just being there supporting my team.”

ItaliaspeedTV : Felipe Massa tests a Ferrari F2007 at Fiorano