Following a successful return to the cockpit at Barcelona last week - when he topped the timesheets on both days he ran - Michael Schumacher will be back in action next month when testing resumes at Jerez.

"We haven't arranged the programme yet but he will do a couple of days," a Ferrari spokesman told Reuters.

When announcing his return to action for the Barcelona test it was stressed that Schumacher was getting back into an F1 car; "half for pleasure, half for technical reasons." The technical reasons related to the new rules for 2008, which see driver aids, including Traction Control, banned.

However, when he topped the timesheets it became clear that the seven-time champion had lost none of his drive, causing some to wonder whether the German was contemplating a return to the F1 grid. Only a few days earlier, Williams' Patrick Head had suggested that Schumacher could form part of McLarens plans for 2008.

The Jerez test takes place over four days beginning 4 December, and with Kimi Raikkonen on holiday until the new year, the German will find himself partnered by Felipe Massa, who has already admitted that he is unhappy with the new rules.

Speaking after his dramatic return to action at Barcelona, Schumacher admitted that he had surprised himself.

"Obviously being out for so long raised some question marks for me," he told reporters. "It took me a bit of time, maybe two laps, and then I was back into the groove. And I have to say I surprised myself that I was so quickly on it again."