First Ferrari Drive For Kimi

In overcast and sometimes wet conditions, today was the first day of testing this week for Ferrari, working at Vallelunga’s 'Piero Taruffi' circuit.

Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa took to the track and for the Finn this marked his debut at the wheel of a Ferrari Formula 1 car, as he drove the 248 F1, while his Brazilian team-mate was entrusted with the new F2007.

The day’s technical programme comprised of Raikkonen getting to know the car, while Massa concentrated on development of the new car.

Massa put 74 laps on the new Ferrari with a best lap of 1:14.

Massa and Raikkonen continue testing at Vallelunga tomorrow.

Door open for Schumi

Seven time world champion Michael Schumacher enjoyed a day of shopping in Milan before attending the launch of Ferrari's new formula one car for 2007.

Media reports in Germany revealed that, a day before the launch of the F2007, the 38-year-old shopped with his wife Corinna at the high-end fashion house 'Dolce & Gabbana'.

Retired Schumacher then kept a low-profile at Maranello, hiding out alongside the F2007 in a factory workshop rather than joining the launch festivities in a building adjacent to Ferrari's Fiorano test track.

The new Ferrari 'assistant' also spent time with Jean Todt on Saturday, where after the team boss admitted: "I asked Michael if he was finding (retirement) difficult. His reply was very clear - 'Absolutely not'."

Todt added that if Schumacher tires of his go-kart and wants to take a Ferrari for a spin, "we'll find a racing suit for him with pleasure."

Before Monday morning's first test drive of the F2007, Luca di Montezemolo said the following -

"Michael has already adopted a new mentality; I'd say even a new dimension. This morning he was at the box and listening to the comments of the drivers. I really enjoyed seeing him enthusiastic like that. He could have done something else, but he decided to stay, to contribute to the team. This shows not only his personality but also what kind of relationship he has with Ferrari; it is very personal and reaches very deep."

On the sidelines of the famous Italian marque's private test circuit, meanwhile, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo told Italian television that he can imagine the sight of retired champion Michael Schumacher in the car's cockpit in the near future.

"I know him well," Montezemolo said, "and I believe that he will test the new Ferrari soon."

First Test Drive of the F2007

Ferrari's new car for the 2007 Formula One season was taken for its first spin by Felipe Massa at the Italian team's Fiorano test track on Monday.

The 'shakedown' began at 9am.

The unofficial time of Massa's fastest lap was clocked at 58.360 seconds. The fastest lap set by the 2006 car on its track debut last year when the now retired Michael Schumacher was behind the wheel was 59.6 seconds.

Fog greeted the Italian team in the morning following the unveiling of the F2007 on Sunday at Ferrari's Maranello headquarters.

Ferrari will be back on track on the 23rd January at the Mugello Circuit, with both its race drivers, Massa and Kimi Raikkonen in action.

Kimi's New Look

F2007 Is Alive !

Ferrari launched their 2007 challenger today. Here are some pics which were released to the press.

Chassis chief Aldo Costa explained the design process so far. "The aerodynamics have been completely remodelled; above all the front suspension, the air inlets on the main body and the rear axle are tighter and more tapered, to benefit also from the new architecture of the gear box. We worked a lot on the chassis considering the new crash tests, which are much more severe."

"Today's car is the one that will debut [in testing] and has the same wings as the one in 2006," he confirmed. "The car, which will go to start at the first GP, will have optimized wings, while this is just a provisional version. The F2007 is however definitive in its structure."

Madonna di Campiglio with Kimi and Felipe

The Future

Kimi Raikkonen joined Ferrari at their annual Wroom event in the Dolomites for the first time. The Finn said that working at Ferrari has been going nice and smoothly in the first two weeks.

Speaking with the press Raikkonen said: "So far it has been easy working with the team. Things are much easier here and its so far the easiest team I have worked with in Formula 1."

"Some people expected it to be difficult to work at Ferrari but I think its completely the opposite. I expect a strong relationship in the upcoming season and enjoy my time at Ferrari."

New Ferrari to look different for '07 start

Ferrari's new single seater for 2007, to be launched on Sunday, will undergo a major visual bodywork overhaul before it makes its race debut in Australia, we can reveal.

It is understood that substantial elements of the car's aerodynamic profile are still in the design phase, which could explain speculation that the so-far unnamed car may not be 'ready' for the official unveiling in Italy.

Team CEO and Team Principal Jean told the newspaper Corriere della Sera that Ferrari aims to give Felipe Massa - who will debut the car at Fiorano on Monday - and Kimi Raikkonen a 'great car'.

He said: "Schumacher wouldn't have won 72 Grand Prix with Ferrari if he didn't have a great team made of excellent professionals and if he didn't race with a very strong car.

"We'll do the utmost to put Raikkonen and Massa in those same conditions."

2007 Ferrari Challenger to be launched next Sunday

The Ferrari Formula One team will hold their launch in their home town Maranello next Sunday, but according to speculations Ferrari's 2007 contender might not be present at the launch itself.

On Sunday, January 14th, Ferrari scheduled its launch at their factory. The Ferrari team will be present with its drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, but the car might not be a Ferrari spokesperson told Autosport.com "We will have a preview for the media, bt we don't know yet if the car will be ready." A day after the launch Felipe Massa will get behind the wheel to continue the team's preparations for the Australian Grand Prix which will be held March 18th.

Happy Birthday Schumi!

Schumi is 38 years old today, enjoy your day big boy!!

Retired seven time world champion Michael Schumacher treated himself to an extravagant present ahead of his thirty eighth birthday on Wednesday.

The Cologne based Express newspaper claims that the former Ferrari driver has splashed out on a Shelby Cobra Daytona Super Coupe - one of the world's rarest supercars.

Only six of the original cars - valued today at several million dollars - were ever built in the mid Sixties, ironically in a bid to wrestle the GT title from dominant Ferrari.