Schumacher enjoys trouble-free day of testing with Ferrari

Phillip van Osten 28/01/2021 at 19:5328/01/2021 at 21:48

Mick Schumacher was in action on Thursday in Fiorano, the Haas driver warming up for his maiden F1 season as scheduled onboard Ferrari's SF71H.

Schumacher took over the Scuderia's 2018-spec car from Carlos Sainz, having last driven the SF71H back in September at a Ferrari Driver Academy test at Fiorano.

The young German, who saddled a Ferrari F1 car for the fifth time in his career, put over 50 laps under his belt, undertaking a program devised by the Italian outfit that unfolded without a hitch.

©Ferrari

"Finally sitting in a race car again is a feeling I was missing a lot," Schumacher commented. "I think today has definitely been a positive day at the track.

"We managed to get through the entire programme that we had scheduled without any problems and it was clearly very useful to be able to get through so much mileage at the wheel of a car in view of the coming season that will be starting in about a month and a half with the pre-season testing.

"The SF71H is a car from 2018 but its behaviour on the track and the feelings that it gives to the driver are very similar, both in terms of how it behaves on the track and physical stress.

Read also: Sainz understands 'responsibility' of driving for Ferrari

"That makes it an excellent base when it comes to preparation for the new season. Driving at Fiorano is always great anyway because the track is technical and demanding.

"It’s been a pleasure to meet up once again with the engineers and mechanics I worked with last September and I can’t wait to get back into the car tomorrow."

Schumacher will complete his test program on Friday morning before handing over his mount to Callum Ilott who will conclude Ferrari's week of testing.