In his new role of developing Ferrari’s Formula One machines, seven-times champion Michael Schumacher will take control of the 2008 car next week at the final group test prior to the new season starting in March. Schumacher has been lying low recently, following his tests in the F2007 late last year. At that time the German demonstrated some handy skill, setting decent lap times and showed the world he still had some pace. Schumacher will take to the Barcelona track with reigning champion Kimi Raikkonen in the sister car on Monday, the first time both drivers have been on the same circuit in the same car. Schumacher will hand over the reins to Felipe Massa for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Next week we have another three test days here at Barcelona. Also Schumacher will be here for one day - it’s important to be able to count on his help as a test driver. Aldo Costa.
The team completed a final day of testing at Montmelo today, Felipe Massa and Luca Badoer each simulating race distances. They were the only two drivers on track as everyone else packed up and went back to base yesterday. However, the mileage saved from not running in the wet earlier in the week allowed the Scuderia to stay on an extra day without much penalty.
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:25am
I expect they will run different programs with Kimi and Schumacher. I don’t think Ferrari would think it to be a good idea for these 2 to “race” each other at the test
February 24th, 2008 at 11:51am
Yes, F1Wolf, that is my idea too. The problem is this: put the case that Michael will evaluate something for qualify. He will be absolutely faster than Kimi and so some (bad) press would say that Kimi is a loser, as they said in November about Felipe after the test with Michael.