Fernando Alonso made his long-awaited 2013 track debut on Tuesday, refreshed and feeling fit as a fiddle after some vigorous training during the off season.
Alonso sat out the first winter test in Jerez at the start of February but he finally made his debut in the F138 on the first day of testing in Barcelona.
While team-mate Felipe Massa and test driver Pedro de la Rosa were testing in Jerez, Alonso was not only gathering data behind the scenes, but he was also putting in the hard yards in terms of fitness.
"Fernando has maximised the time available and tackled the task with great dedication, performing a focused physical preparation worthy of the best Olympic athlete by alternating between gym sessions, running and biking," the official Ferrari website reported.
"Now Fernando is ready to slip into the cockpit of the F138 and benefit from all the work of Felipe and Pedro in Andalusia.
"This week it will be the Brazilian to sit out for the first three days, with the handover from his team-mate scheduled on Friday."
The F138 appeared to be in good shape during the first pre-season test, but the Maranello vowed not to rest on their laurels during the second test.
"After driving in Jerez, Massa was optimistic but cautious," the report added. "The fact Felipe set the quickest time of the four days was seized on by observers as a sign the Prancing Horse will gallop away with the title.
"However, in Maranello, the culture of not paying attention to speculation, focusing on one's own tasks and working hard means that preparing for another week of testing has been occupying everyone's time to the full, without any distractions.
"A positive start in Jerez is just that, a positive start and nothing more."
