Feb.1 (GMM) Michael Schumacher was quickly back up to speed as his return to formula one got into a high gear at Valencia on Monday.

Getting into the brand new Mercedes W01 after Nico Rosberg's morning session on the opening test day of the pre-season, the 41-year-old wasted no time putting his three-year retirement into the past.

24-year-old Rosberg's best time, in the very same chassis, was 1.13.543 and good enough for third quickest behind the pace setting Ferrari and Sauber cars.

But after just 18 laps, Schumacher - dogged by a sizeable media contingent at the Spanish circuit - recorded a 1.13.498, marginally faster than Rosberg and 7 tenths off Pedro de la Rosa's very best.

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