Felipe Massa says he is fully fit for the new Formula 1 season after setting the fastest time on the first day of official testing in Valencia.

Pictures from Valencia as the 2010 F1 cars go testing for the first time

Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher both returned to F1 action today, neither driver showing any after-effects having been out of the sport for different reasons.

Sébastien Buemi endured a frustrating start to testing in Valencia on Monday as his brand-new Toro Rosso-Ferrari STR5 was grounded for several hours in the Valencia pit lane due to a gearbox issue. The Swiss driver did manage to return to the track in the closing minutes, however, to post the seventh fastest time of the day.

Robert Kubica believes that this year's narrower front tyres are likely to produce understeer for all cars in high-speed corners. The Pole enjoyed a comfortable first day with Renault as the team made its first appearance with the prominent new yellow and black livery on Monday.

Nico Rosberg was full of praise for Mercedes' MGP W01 in Valencia on Monday although the German hopes to improve settings inside the car for his only full day of driving this week on Tuesday.

Michael Schumacher was highly pleased with the performance of Mercedes' new car as the MGP W01 made its first on-track appearance in Valencia on Monday. With Nico Rosberg having been in the cockpit during the morning, the 7-time World Champion took over for the afternoon session.

Gary Paffett was satisfied with his only day of running this week after being the first driver to test McLaren's new MP4-25. The Bromley driver will hand the car over to 2008 Champion Lewis Hamilton for Tuesday before current title holder Jenson Button steps into the cockpit 24 hours later.

Organisers of the Le Mans Series have announced that Giancarlo Fisichella will be joining the championship as a full-time driver this season. The Italian therefore leaves Formula 1 as a racer, having been involved every season since making his debut for Minardi in 1996.

Felipe Massa has finished at the top of the timesheets as pre-season testing begins in Valencia. The Brazilian driver led the way for Ferrari as local favourite Pedro de la Rosa and 7-time World Champion Michael Schumacher completed the top three for Sauber and Mercedes respectively.

Today's times from Valencia

Gravity Sport Management - which is part of the investment portfolio of Genii Capital which last year bought a large stake in the Renault F1 team - has announced details of its driver programme for 2010.

Sébastien Buemi has noted that a difference can be felt in this year's cars after just a short number of laps. The Swiss driver is in the cockpit of the brand-new Toro Rosso on Monday and Tuesday this week before handing over to team-mate Jaime Alguersuari for the final day of the 3-day Valencia test.

Following the announcement of the creation of the Renault F1 Driver Programme yesterday in Valencia, DAMS has announced that it has been chosen as a partner in the new venture.

Michael Schumacher has made his official return to Formula 1 after taking over from Nico Rosberg at the wheel of the Mercedes on Monday afternoon. With the younger of the two Germans having kicked off testing proceedings in Valencia, the 7-time World Champion will remain in the MGP W01 for the rest of the day.

Michael Schumacher has made his official return to Formula 1 after taking over from Nico Rosberg at the wheel of the Mercedes on Monday afternoon. With the younger of the two Germans having kicked off testing proceedings in Valencia, the 7-time World Champion will remain in the MGP W01 for the rest of the day.

Nico Rosberg stresses that Monday's final classification at Valencia will mean little with regards to the raw pace of this year's cars. With seven of the thirteen teams on-track at the Spanish venue for three days this week, the German handed over the Mercedes MGP W01 to compatriot Michael Schumacher after the lunch break.

With a brand-new colour scheme for the Renault Formula 1 team this year, the bright yellow and black livery will also be seen in feeder series GP2 over the course of the season as test drivers Jérôme D'Ambrosio and Ho-Pin Tung pilot the DAMS cars.

Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi confident of improvement, plus Virgin Racing hit the track and Russia's grand prix hopes, and other gossip and rumours

Formula 1 teams are in Valencia with their new cars at the first day of pre-season testing.

On his first outing 'in anger' following his horrific accident in Hungary, Felipe Massa has clearly lost none of his pace as he dominates the first morning of testing at Valencia.

The Renault team has confirmed to GPUpdate.net that newcomer Vitaly Petrov will be making his Formula 1 test debut on Wednesday in Valencia. The 25-year-old rewrites the history books this year by becoming the first Russian driver to compete in the sport.

Toro Rosso's STR5 of 2010 is an important milestone for the Faenza team as it constructs its own car for the first time. Previously, the Italian squad's contenders were prepared completely by Red Bull Technology, the same subsidiary company behind Red Bull Racing's cars.

Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost, technical director Giorgio Ascanelli and chief designer Ben Butler talk about the Faenza outfit's first 'home grown' car.

Ironically, although he may have already driven eight Formula 1 races, Valencia's test session this week will be the first for Jaime Alguersuari. The Spaniard became the youngest ever man to start an F1 race in Hungary last at the age of 19 and will be celebrating his next birthday on 23 March.

Sarah Holt blogs from Valencia as Michael Schumacher enters with a bang

While Sebastien Buemi strapped himself into the cockpit to start his first test session of the year, Toro Rosso team-mate Jaime Alguersuari was meeting the world's media.

The Williams team has confirmed a new partnership with logistics experts GAC, who will oversee all transport for the Grove squad over the course of the season as it strives to keep costs to a minimum.

Toro Rosso has unveiled its 2010 contender in Valencia this morning, the first car designed and built by the Italian team.

On the first day of testing at Valencia, Mercedes has taken the wraps off its 2010 contender the MGP W01

Scuderia Toro Rosso has launched its fifth Formula 1 car in Valencia ahead of testing on Monday morning. Sébastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari lined up for photographs in the pit lane ahead of the Ferrari-powered car's track debut in the hands of the Swiss driver.

Mercedes GP take the wraps off their new car at the first Formula 1 testing session of 2010 in Valencia.

Mercedes has revealed its brand-new MGP W01 for the first time as pre-season testing kicks off in Valencia on Monday morning. The Stuttgart team's roll-out follows its livery launch last Monday as Nico Rosberg prepares to be the first driver in the car at Valencia.