Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher skidded into the crash barriers on Tuesday on his first lap in his Ferrari since October.

"He came out grinning and said 'Oops, that's a good start to the season'," said his spokeswoman Sabine Kehm after the German came off on his first lap at the Circuit de Catalunya.

The incident was minor with the car skidding off the road on a very cold morning in Barcelona, bumping the tyre barrier and damaging the rear wing.

Schumacher won 11 of 17 races last year and will be chasing a record sixth title this season. He was due back on track later in the day.

Schumacher had not driven his car since a Ferrari day at Misano in Italy the weekend after the season-ending Japanese Grand Prix. He had been on holiday in Norway over the New Year.