Schumacher ready to return to work

It's not unusual for some race drivers to take an extended break after the season and some of them don't return to the cockpit for winter testing until after New Year. Michael Schumacher is often one of them but the Ferrari man will be behind the wheel at Jerez this week as he didn't feel that he needed a holiday after the Scuderia's disappointing year.

Michael Schumacher.

Photo by xpb.cc.

Schumacher only scored one victory in 2005, at the controversial US Grand Prix, and Ferrari finished third in the constructors' standings --quite a change in circumstances after the recent years of success. Now Schumacher would rather be at work than taking a break.

"I had no need of a vacation, I had no desire to rest," the German said at Ferrari's recent Christmas party. "Quite the opposite; I began my training to prepare for next season. I want to keep working, to be with the team, to check the situation where we are, and finally be in the car."

Ferrari has had its test drivers Luca Badoer and Marc Gen? on track and also Schumacher's new teammate Felipe Massa, working on development of the new V8 engine and tyres. Michael is impatient to join them to see how things are going.

"Through the winter I have been in regular contact with Maranello and stayed in touch during the tests," he said. "I just want to be in the car and drive it myself and see what's happening. I feel very fresh and very motivated. I feel it would be too late to wait until some time in January until I will be in the car."

Schumacher is scheduled to be at Jerez on Thursday and Friday of this week, while Massa and Gen? will also be on duty, Massa from December 13th.