Ralf Schumacher Reports no Pain on F1 Return

Germany's Ralf Schumacher reported no pain on Tuesday as he stepped back into a Formula One car for the first time since a big accident in June.

"I have no back pain any more, everything's gone well," said the 29-year-old Williams driver after his first few laps on a showery morning at the Silverstone circuit.

"I want to be back for the race in Shanghai."

Schumacher, younger brother of Ferrari's seven-times world champion Michael, has missed the last six races after suffering two spinal fractures when he spun into a concrete wall at the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis on June 20.

The next race is the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on September 26.

Williams technical director Sam Michael said at last weekend's Italian Grand Prix that the team had missed Ralf and looked forward to having him back as they battle McLaren for fourth place in the championship.

Ralf, who is joining Toyota at the end of the season, was passed fit by doctors before the Monza race but prevented from driving because insurers insisted on him seeing out the full 12 weeks recovery time.