Pictures: Schumacher getting back on the racing line with a GP2 car

Here are the first pictures of Mr Michael Schumacher back behind the wheel of a open-wheel racing car.  It may not be the new Mercedes GP car, we'll have to wait until the winter testing for that - in the mean time, here is the man, the legend, the seven-time world champion Schumacher enjoying himself.

© GP2

© GP2

© GP2

The far more exciting images of proper F1 testing should be with us around February 1st when the teams descend upon a purpose-built facility in Valencia.  They will be there until the 3rd and then at Jerez on the 10th Feb until the 13th and back there again on the 17th until the 20th.  Not all the teams will be at every test, Red Bull confirmed this morning that they will not attend the first test, playing down any concerns saying "we did the same last year" and USF1 are testing in the US.

You have to admit, he is looking pretty good for 41

Martin Brundle with Michael back in 1992... that's like 18yrs ago - and Michael now