Michael Schumacher kicked off his on-track preparations for his sensational formula one return on Friday, lapping the Mugello circuit near Florence (Italy) in a two-year old Ferrari F2007.
Because of the in-season testing ban, the test had to be handled by Ferrari's separate 'F1 Clienti' department, with the 40-year-old German at the wheel of a privately-owned single seater, albeit equipped with slick tyres.
Behind the scenes however the Maranello based team was circulating a letter to its F1 rivals, asking for a special exemption from the test ban so that Schumacher may try the F60 prior to his Valencia return.
"If they wanted to be fair he should be able to test with the (2009) car at a Ferrari track," triple world champion Niki Lauda told the Die Welt newspaper.
Indeed, it is believed the FOTA teams, comprising every competitor on the 2009 grid except Williams and Force India, accepted Ferrari's request.
