Starting from the front row, the Ferrari drivers had opened up a gap over the field by the end of the first lap. But after Barrichello had crashed out on lap six, Schumacher could not find a way past Kimi Raikkonen's McLaren-Mercedes and after suffering barge board and undertray damage he finished over nine seconds down on eventual winner David Coulthard.

Testing at Fiorano resumes on Tuesday, 25th February, with Felipe Massa again at the wheel of an F2002. On the same day, Luca Badoer and Michael Schumacher will be running at Jerez in Spain with both an F2002 and an F2003-GA.

In sunny, but cool weather conditions, the Englishman ran for 32 laps, recording a best time of 1 min 01.08 secs.  A gearbox problem arose in the afternoon that curtailed the test, but Minardi engineering staff nonetheless pronounced themselves pleased with the information gathered on the performance of the new car during this initial outing.  The team plans a further test of the PS03 early next week, before the cars and freight are prepared for shipment to Australia for the first Formula One race of the new season.

An electrical problem stranded the car out on the track on its first lap, the teams new Dutch driver having to be towed back to the pits before resuming.

Minardi have announced that Dutch car care retailer Halfords will be joining the team as a sponsor this year, while a contract to run on Bridgestone tyres has been concluded with the Japanese tyre manufacturer.

Meanwhile the team have revealed that Matteo Bobbi has re-signed as an official test driver for the Faenza squad in 2003. It marks the third season the 24-year-old Milanese driver has fulfilled this role for Minardi. With Minardi electing to take up the Grand Prix Friday test option to run a third driver, Bobbi will run at a seleted number of Grands Prix this year. He will also continue to be part of the two seat F1 car project.

Bobbi commented, “I am both pleased and honoured that Minardi has once again asked me to assist with the test programme for its new chassis. I believe from speaking with the engineers that the PS03 has great potential, and I am looking forward to helping them achieve the maximum from the car.” 

Last Thursday, at the wheel of the F2003-GA, Michael Schumacher set a fastest time of 57.045 during a 78 lap shakedown run, 0.431 faster than the previous record established in the F2002 on the 12th July last year.However part of this pace can be put down to the recent resurfacing of the test track which has greatly improved the smoothness of the surface.

The F2003-GA builds on the F2002 in terms of optimising aerodynamic efficiency, lowering centre of gravity height, maximising the performance available from the Bridgestone tyres and the 052 engine. However many areas of the car had to be fundamentally reviewed in order to make a step forward in performance because these areas were close to the limit of development on the F2002. In addition, the areas that have not changed fundamentally have been further refined and optimised to maximise functionality and performance, so almost every part on this car is newly designed. 

23-year-old Massa had a short meteoric rise before joining the Swiss Sauber Formula 1 team last year. An up and down season saw him dropped by the team in favour of Heinz-Harald Frentzen for 2003, and unable to raise a budget to take up the vacant Jordan drive, he has been forced to take a step back.

After a year of testing duties, former Jaguar and Prost F1 driver Luciano Burti asked to be released from his Ferrari contact, concerned that another year on the sidelines might scupper his chances of a Grand Prix comeback. He is now expected to compete in this year's Dallara-Nissan World Series and is negociating with the team which last year catapulted Briton Justin Wilson into the frame for a Minardi drive.

Michael Schumacher finished the test with the fastest time of 1:15.016, set yesterday during a reliability run which covered 67 laps in warm and sunny conditions. Badoer and Barrichello meanwhile concentrated on tyre and electronics testing.

Earlier, Schumacher embarrassed himself on the session's second day, when, in an F1 car for the first time this year, he made a mistake on his first lap and put his Ferrari off the track. Jordan, Minardi and BAR also took part. Ferrari resume their test program on Tuesday at the Italian Valencia circuit.

The news was announced at the ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio by the Managing Director of the Gestione Sportiva, Jean Todt, during a press conference at
the International Press Ski Meeting. However, they are continuing development of the 2002 F1 World Championship winning F2002, as like last year, they will start on the grid in Melbourne with the older, proven package.

Meanwhile at a meeting in Heathrow, the F1 entrants have agreed sweeping changes which will see the outlawing of controversial electronic "driver aids". Included in this ban will be the pit-to-car radios which the FIA hope will prevent any repetition of last year's manipulation of results by the Ferrari team.

He brings substantial backing to the Cosworth-powered team, who are delighted to have captured such an experienced and quick driver. Team owner, Paul Stoddard, believes that this is the strongest driver line-up the team has ever assembled, an exciting blend of experience and raw new talent.

Michel Perridon, director of Trust Computer Products. "Speed, technological innovation and design exemplify both Trust Computer Products and Formula 1. We are both innovative and dynamic. And talking of dynamic, there is no better example of the word than Jos Verstappen. As a Formula 1 racing driver, he knows perfectly how to combine quality with dynamics.

"Our company originates in the Netherlands, just like Jos," explains Michel Perridon, director of Trust Computer Products. "We are proud of our sportsmen and
sportswomen and their results. The Netherlands has to be represented in Formula One. Furthermore, Trust cannot nor wants to disappoint the many Verstappen
fans. Trust will make sure that Jos Verstappen is back on the television on Sunday afternoons. The start of the Formula 1 races will be fun again! Jos has settled
down and is now at his best. We, therefore, expect positive results in next season's races, from both Jos and the Minardi team."