Sunday, January 31, 2010

Mercedes unveil car at first test

By Sarah Holt
BBC Sport in Valencia

Michael Schumacher poses with the new Mercedes
Schumacher poses with the new Mercedes in Valencia

Michael Schumacher helped Mercedes lift the lid on their 2010 car at a low-key launch in Valencia on Monday.

The seven-time champion and team-mate Nico Rosberg posed with the silver and turquoise car at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo where testing begins at 1000 GMT.

Rosberg will be first to run the MGP W01 in the morning session before Schumacher takes over later on Monday.

The three-day session is the first of four in February before the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on March 14.

German car maker Mercedes bought out the Brawn GP team last year following its victories in both the drivers' and constructors' championships.

Schumacher, who turned 41 in January, has returned to the sport after a three-year retirement.

He originally quit F1 in 2006, leaving Ferrari after winning five of his seven world titles with the Italian marque between 2001 and 2004.

Of the front-runners, only Red Bull is missing in Spain, with Renault and Sauber having unveiled their new cars on Sunday and Toro Rosso doing so later on Monday.

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