GP2 test not big advantage for Schu

UPDATE The 41-year-old German, returning with Mercedes after retiring as a Ferrari driver in 2006, completed 52 laps before heavy rain and gusty conditions halted the session in the afternoon.

"Today was good especially because after a long time I could drive again in a car that came almost close to a current Formula One," he said in a statement.

"Despite the weather not being what we all would have liked all my senses were nevertheless on full alert – this alone was worth it.

"I felt comfortable out on the track from the very beginning."

1/12/10 (GMM) After describing Michael Schumacher's test in a GP2 car this week as a F1 "warm-up", Norbert Haug has played down the seriousness of the German's development duties at Jerez.

After news broke that 41-year-old Schumacher was circumnavigating the F1 testing ban with the three-day GP2 session, the feeder series reacted officially by saying the seven time world champion is conducting development work for the 2011 car.

But Haug, who is Mercedes' competition chief, told the German news agency SID: "The GP2 organization was smart enough to use the situation in their favor.

"Because of the test, a great number of pictures of GP2 cars will be on the television, in newspapers, magazines and websites," he said.

While directly linking the test to Schumacher's forthcoming duties in the 2010 Mercedes GP car, however, Haug denied that it is an unfair advantage over his teammate Nico Rosberg and other F1 competitors.

"I don't see it that way. And whoever does, can rent a GP2 car for themselves," he insisted.