Schuey shows his class but testing times for Rosberg
Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Sauber's Pedro de la Rosa may have clocked the two fastest times on the opening day of winter testing in Valencia, but Michael Schumacher stole all the headlines.
The 41-year-old German had already grabbed a large chunk of attention by making everyone get up early to witness him peel back the tarpaulin on the new Mercedes.
During this fleeting public appearance, he said not a single word, bestowing the crowd with a handful of flashing smiles but leaving them wanting more.
And it was a long wait. It wasn't until 1530, local time here in Spain, that the seven-time world champion returned to the track in an up-to-date Formula 1 car, three years after he had waved goodbye to it all with Ferrari.
And just to make sure there was no chance of missing him, he blitzed down the pit lane wearing a brilliant orange helmet.
Schumacher poses for the cameras
A rapid 40 laps followed, during which he recorded the third fastest time of the day, clocking one minute 12.947 seconds on his 33rd spin around the Ricardo Tormo circuit.
For the record, Massa topped the times at the end of both the morning and afternoon sessions, with a best lap in the dying minutes of the day of 1:12.574. De la Rosa's best was a 1:12.784.
Afterwards, Schumacher strolled around to give his own assessment of his return in a quick-fire media melee. He stood with his hands in his pockets, his face etched with red lines from where his helmet had been, but not a single bead of sweat on his brow.
"In a way, it's like 1991 when I came into Formula 1," he mused. "I was shocked during the first lap and I was extremely excited during the second. I feel very good. I worked out well and prepared myself extremely precisely."
Just before Schumacher spoke to the pressing throng, his new team-mate, Nico Rosberg, had snuck back into his motorhome. The 24-year-old had been for a training run after completing 39 laps in the morning and must have been wondering just what he has to do to keep up with his eminent and much older team-mate.
Rosberg's fastest time of the day in his first run for Mercedes was 1:13.543, fourth fastest overall and 0.596 seconds adrift of his countryman.
Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn was quick to defend the youngster, insisting Schumacher did not merit all the headlines. "Nico's performance was clouded," said Brawn. I don't think it was representative."
He revealed Rosberg had been struggling with his seat and that its height had affected his vision going into certain corners. It also emerged that Rosberg had been charged with running through Mercedes' reliability tests to establish a good baseline for the team's data and so had been given less opportunity to set fast laps.
On top of that, he had done the bulk of his running in the morning, when the track was still "green". Times subsequently showed that the circuit did improve as the day wore on.
Taking those factors into account, Mercedes were left with little to split their two drivers on day one.
However, there was one key difference between Schumacher and the rest of the field. Sector times showed that he had operated close to his full potential and could have extracted only 0.009 seconds of extra pace out of his car per lap. In comparison, Massa could have eked out a further 0.163 seconds, and Rosberg an extra 0.127.
It is this ability to squeeze the most out of his car that makes Schumacher special - and is an ability trait that only Fernando Alonso and, perhaps, Lewis Hamilton can match.
"Michael is very precise in describing what he wants and what is needed," said Brawn, who has helped guide Schumacher to each of his world titles.
"At the moment, he is happy with the car and hasn't pinpointed any areas he needs us to work on. Michael was very enthusiastic and it was confirmation of what we both thought - that he would be competitive.
"One thing that came through was his precision in his car and his clarity of reason. It was a bit like the old days."
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~36~RS~)
People often ask how I came to be the Formula 1 lady for the BBC website. Well, after being dragged around vintage car rallies and auto jumbles by my Dad, motor racing got under my skin. I am now a fully paid-up member of F1's travelling circus after a year on the road as part of the BBC team. I look forward to bringing you more on- and off-track adventures here. You can also follow me on 
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Loving the pre-season blogs!!
Interesting to see Hamilton in the car today, would love to know the fuel loads so we can judge performances! Any clues on fuel is Massa running light or is the Ferrari naturally a quick car? So many questions!!
Interesting comments from Rubens - not really advice for Nico rather than a warning I think.
Keep up the good work!
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' However, there was one key difference between Schumacher and the rest of the field. Sector times showed that he had operated close to his full potential and could have extracted only 0.009 seconds of extra pace out of his car per lap. In comparison, Massa could have eked out a further 0.163 seconds, and Rosberg an extra 0.127. '
This part intrigues me. Schumacher was 3rd quickest on the day, but was running at pretty much his full potential. Now Massa was quickest, but could still have gone even quicker.
I know that we don't know the fuel levels, and what constraints the teams have put on each drivers run, but this must mean that Ferrari have got an excellent package straight out of the box.
I enjoyed Rubens comments about Rosberg needing to 'get out of there'! Also worried about Mclarens need for the flourescent paint so early!
Really enjoying the comprehensive coverage. I will unfortunately be in New York for the first weekend, so will be searching for a bar to watch it in on my arrival day!
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Enjoying the updates on F1 Testing. Have you heard that the mysterious team, Stefan GP have sent their equipment in Bahrain
Latest Timings:
Massa: 1:11 722
Kobayashi: 1:12 056
Hamilton: 1:12 508
Rosberg: 1:12 899
Barrichello: 1:13 377
Kubica: 1:13 659
Buemi:1:14 862
Any Predictions For What The Starting Grid would be for Bahrain Race
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Far too early to predict Bahrain grid - still waiting on some teams to launch cars!
As for Stefan GP - I think its more in hope them sending there equipment rather than any actual foundations of a slot being available. I think they will test through this year and be in contention for 2011.
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My predictions for Bahrain grid
1 Felipe Massa
2 Mark Webber
3 Michael Schumacher
4 Nico Rosberg
5 Lewis Hamilton
6 Sebastien Vettel
7 Fernando Alonso
8 Jenson Button
9 Rubens Barrichello
10 Pedro De La Rosa
11 Kobayashi
12 Nico Hulkenburg
13 Adrian Sutil
14 Robert Kubica
15 Petrov
16 Vitantonio Liuzzi
17 Jarno Trulli
18 Sebastien Buemi
19 Timo Glock
20 Heikki Kovalainen
21 Jose Maria Lopez
22 Lucas Di Grassi
23 Jamie Alguersuri
24 The Second US F1 Driver
25. Bruno Senna
26. Carroll
What about yours people. It would be fun to predict the grid even if all cars have not launched. What your Predictions For Bahrain Grid?
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Why on earth are you predicting the grid - you have no information on the cars that have been launched let alone the fact that theres still 4 or 5 that haven't.
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Hey any chance we can get some video feeds from the testing on iplayer or on the beeb website?
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I know its good to have Schumacher back in any car, but am I the only person that feels Brawn blocked negotiations with Button deliberately to make way for Schumacher? Before anybody makes the accusation, Paranoia in some instances can be a good survival instinct.
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Kobayashi will most defi be the one to raise eyebrows when the season starts. He was at home within a few races at the end of last year, not sure how he will go once the season progresses. Sauber in previous years have been on the ball when releasing a new car, but seem to be eaten alive in the development race.
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"am I the only person that feels Brawn blocked negotiations with Button deliberately",
Martin,
It would not surprise me if shenanigans were going on behind the scenes, not uncommon for F1.
It would not surprise me if Button knew who was coming and didn't want to face up to what Rosberg is going to go through.
He might have jumped from the frying pan into the fire, but his style will suit the new system better than Hamilton's.
An interesting year to be sure.
brendan
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Sarah, what's the story behind McLaren's (fluorescent) paint job today?
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#11 It was the flo vis-paint and was used as part of the 'shakedown tests' apparently and nothing to do with the poor aero. If anyone suggests that they are wrong!
Lets hope so anyway....
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In answer to #2 (simonoram)
"This part intrigues me. Schumacher was 3rd quickest on the day, but was running at pretty much his full potential. Now Massa was quickest, but could still have gone even quicker."
We don't know starting fuel weights, however over a long run we can fuel adjust the laps they do to make a comparison from their starting times.
All they are stating is that Schumacher's best lap was only 0.009 seconds off what it could have been if you took the best sector times of all is fuel adjusted laps. However taking Massa's best sectors, he could have gone 0.163 seconds quicker.
This means you can't compare cars or drivers because you don't know the difference in fuel weights, but you can see how well they are driving in comparison to their lap times on the same run.
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Nice picture, he looks almost half his age!
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Hopefully today will answer a lot of questions we all have about driver and car form
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@8&10 - I dunno it seems like to much of a long shot, mixed with hints of ignoring the time line. Of course Brawn pushed out the reigning world champion, so that he could gamble on bringing back someone who had been out of the sport for 3 years and had just a few months earlier called off a return because of health problems. Nevermind the fact that Brawn were trying to tie up a deal with Mercedes.
I dunno, my best guess is that Jenson's contract wasn't discussed much over the season, because he had others things to worry about (winning the world championship), and then post his win Jenson wanted a return to his previous salary (or higher). Brawn didn't really want to pay that much and then McLaren came along and stuck their own oar in the mix, having failed to lure Kimi to replace Kovi with most of the other top talent tied up they made a bid for the reigning world champion who wasn't under contract.
As for the idea of Jenson fleeing Brawn because he didn't want to partner Schumi... err... if Jenson had staid he would have been partnering Rosberg, the driver they had just got under contract.
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Ref 16: The time line could work, Brawn were talking to Merc in October and EJ saw them (Brawn, Mercedes and Schumacher) having a get together in Abu Dhabi. So Brawn stalled Button because they wanted Schumacher. Its lucky Kimi didn't go to McLaren or Button may not of had a decent drive this season, Remember what happened to Hill. While we are at it do you think the Americans ever landed on the moon?
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"However, there was one key difference between Schumacher and the rest of the field. Sector times showed that he had operated close to his full potential and could have extracted only 0.009 seconds of extra pace out of his car per lap. In comparison, Massa could have eked out a further 0.163 seconds, and Rosberg an extra 0.127."
How exactly is that worked out?
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That was a good race!!. come on Schuey!!
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