With the Brackley team’s programme constantly adapting to suit the conditions, Schumacher began the day on Wet tyres before switching to Intermediates as a dry line began to emerge by late morning.

The 7-time World Champion successfully completed a planned long run on dry, Stick tyres in the early afternoon before a further downpour soaked the Spanish track. Despite the interruptions, Michael completed 111 laps today, covering 492 kilometres (306 miles).

“The weather was really changing all the time today, which made it difficult to follow our planned programme and to have a clear picture of everyone’s performance,” Schumacher reported.

“From the laps that we achieved, we have again confirmed the reliability of the car and, from the impressions and data gathered, we can say that the pace and performance look very good. We have a strong basis to keep up the development this week here in Jerez and next week at the final test in Barcelona.”

“We completed everything that we wanted and were able to increase our understanding of the car a step further, so overall it’s been positive.

“It’s very tough to understand the order of the teams just yet, as everyone can play so much with the fuel loads, so there’s a lot of speculation going on but it’s very interesting!”

Testing resumes in Jerez on Wednesday.

With no technical worries reported, Schumacher evaluated different Bridgestone Potenza tyre compounds in the morning as well as setup work, before progressing with a full race simulation in the afternoon.

“A new car, a new team and new conditions – therefore our first goal has to be to make the car reliable; days like today help massively in that respect, especially as the weather forecast for the next few days isn’t looking quite so rosy. I felt very comfortable driving the car and it was good fun today.”

The seven-time champion, who is making a Formula 1 comeback this year with Mercedes GP, managed to complete 52 laps on the first day of the scheduled three-day run before poor weather forced him to bring running to a premature halt.

Despite the weather, Schumacher was pleased to have got at least a little experience under his belt in the test aimed at acclimatising him back to F1 speeds – and also providing GP2 with some feedback on its car.

“The day today was good especially because after a long time I could drive again in a car that came almost close to a current Formula 1. Despite the weather not being what we all would have liked all my senses were nevertheless on full alert – this alone was worth it,” he said.

“I felt comfortable out on the track from the very beginning, and naturally I’d like to thank our Team and the GP2 series very much for the opportunity to drive.”

GP2 Series Technical director Didier Perrin, who is overseeing the test as part of the development programme for 2011, added: “It is unfortunate that the weather conditions were far from optimal today.

“Still, Michael could get a good first taste of our car and has already managed to analyse the performance and behaviour of current car. Tomorrow, we hope for better weather and a dryer track which should allow us to move along with our programme and start working together on set up solutions for 2011.”

Photo: © Autosport.com

The German took to the Jerez track early in the morning and completed the first few laps at the wheel of the development car used by the GP2 Series ahead of the 2010 season.

During the test, the Mercedes GP driver will focus on evaluating a number of suspension configurations in order to define new set-up solutions for the race weekends this year.

The test will also be used to evaluate updated components, including a new clutch, to be introduced later this year.

It is the first time Schumacher drives a single-seater since he tried to make a comeback to F1 last year to replace the injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari.

At the time, Schumacher was unable to race because of problems with his neck following a bike crash earlier in the year.

Photo: © Autosport.com

It is important for me to be informed about everything and it was very interesting to get to understand the engineers and their structures and the way they work. I was there already around the time of the signature of the contract and learned a lot, now I have seen much more about the team.

I also was in the Mercedes-factory in Brixworth and I have to say that I am very impressed about the high level you see there. In Brixworth the people seem to be highly motivated as well and I find that encouraging, as it perfectly fits my personal mood. What I also liked was that you hear a lot of people speaking german there. That is nice for once, I am not so much used to that at my work, and I find it quite convenient.”

Foto: © Sutton Images. No reproduction without permission

Schumacher has openly admitted that he is targeting an eighth crown this season although Rosberg has no worries over being team-mate to his compatriot.

“We have the same status in the team,” Nico, son of 1982 Champion Keke, told Germany’s Auto Bild Motorsport magazine. “That’s always been like that for Mercedes, that’s their philosophy.”

Rosberg does admit, however, that he will not settle for second place. “Your team-mate is always the first person with whom you have to measure yourself,” he continued. “He is the only one who has the same car. Therefore, it is my goal to be frequently in front of him.

“He’s had three years now to recharge his energy and he’s totally enthusiastic – that’s more important than anything else.”

Schumacher turned 41 last Sunday, and will be the oldest driver to race in Formula 1 since Nigel Mansell’s abortive season with McLaren in 1995.

But despite his age, Brawn believes that the seven-time champion’s competitive edge will remain as sharp as ever, citing his performances in recent karting events, in which he has beaten the likes of Vitantonio Liuzzi, Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa.

“I have got no doubts that the talent and the ability are still there,” Brawn told AUTOSPORT. “You see little flashes of it when he takes part in competitions like the Race of Champions and karting races.

“They are not an absolute measure, but always the same guys win in them that win in F1. The guys that Schumacher beat in those events says a lot.”

Brawn added that he does not doubt Schumacher’s determination or enthusiasm for his return to F1 after three years in retirement.

When he was in discussions with Schumacher about a possible return last year, he received assurances from the German that he was fully committed to racing again.

“We saw last year when he had the opportunity to drive for Ferrari that it re-lit the passion,” said Brawn. “I asked him whether he really wanted to do it [come back] and he said that he did.”

Schumacher will have his first run for Mercedes at Valencia in the first week of February, when pre-season testing kicks off after the winter ban. It will be his first outing in a contemporary F1 car since he tested a Ferrari F2008 at Barcelona in April 2008 – his more recent Ferrari test having taken place in a two-year-old machine.

Schumacher, who will be 41 at the season opener in Bahrain, has been signed on a three year deal.

He is known as the most successful F1 driver ever, with 7 titles and some 91 wins to his name and painted Formula One red with a highly successful period in the early 2000’s with Ferrari.

Ferrari as a team, and its fans will be bitterly disappointed on the announcement of Schumacher’s return with a rival team, and not with the Scuderia who make their 2010 title assault with Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.

“The motivation I think is pretty straightforward,” Schumacher said. “The call I got from Ross at the end of November concerning the chance to go racing, Mercedes being involved, I felt great.

“I never left the race track. I was tired of F1 by the end of 2006, but in three years of absence I got back all the energy that I am feeling right now. I played around with motorbikes and I feel ready for some serious stuff now.”

“It [Mercedes GP] is a team that has won both championships this year,” he said. “With Mercedes Benz as a strong partner, our aim can only be to fight for the championship.

“There will be strong competition, as we have seen, but I am thrilled to be back in this one.”

“I played around with motorbikes, and I feel ready for some serious stuff now.”

Schumacher returns to team up with Ross Brawn a man who helped mastermind many of his titles through the years with Benetton and Ferrari.

The unstoppable duo will be back, with German backing and Nico Rosberg too.  Ross was understandably delighted that Schumacher is back.

“I asked Michael that question and he is the best judge of what he can do,” Brawn said. “I trust him explicitly and he told me he can do it.

“He has always been his own best critic, the man himself knows what he is capable of. I am very comfortable and confident and put my trust in Michael, and it won’t be misplaced.”