2001 Formula 1 testing ready for blast-off

Both Benetton and Williams will test at Jerez in southern Spain, where the former will welcome back Giancarlo Fisichella. The diminutive Italian has been out of action since undergoing knee surgery on December 18, which caused him to miss the Estoril test just before Christmas.

Fisichella has been in Lanzarote this week, where he has been joined in fitness training by team-mate Jenson Button and test driver Mark Webber. So far, he has suffered no reaction to the operation, and was even in the gym on Christmas Day.

"It's getting better," said Fisichella of his troublesome knee. "It's not too bad now and I'm already working in the gym again, so by March and the first race of the season I will be 100% fit."

Also at Jerez on Monday and Tuesday, Williams will field Juan-Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher in FW22B chassis fitted with 2000-spec BMW engines, while test driver Marc Gene will continue to use the new smaller and lighter 2001 motor.

Big guns McLaren and Ferrari won't hit the track until the middle of the month. McLaren is scheduled to run at Valencia from January 15, when Mika Hakkinen is scheduled to drive an F1 car for the first time since the season finale at Malaysia. A second MP4/15-'K' chassis - last year's car fitted with the new Mercedes FO110K V10 engine and 2001-spec rear end - will be ready in time for the test, where Hakkinen will be joined by David Coulthard and test driver Alexander Wurz.

Ferrari's first run of 2001 will happen at Jerez on January 15 with test driver Luca Badoer at the wheel. World Champion Michael Schumacher is scheduled to drive for the first time since his leg operation to remove the pin from his erstwhile broken leg on January 22 at Barcelona. Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello and Badoer will all attend Ferrari's annual press weekend at Madonna di Campiglio in the Italian Dolomites from January 9-13.