Schumacher hits top gear in new Ferrari

WORLD champion Michael Schumacher gave Ferrari's new F2003-GA a dream start here yesterday as he emerged quickest from the opening qualifying session.

The German ace finished practice in 15th but underlined the pace of the new F2003-GA car on its debut by setting the pace at the Catalunya circuit.

He finished 0.019 seconds ahead of Renault driver Jarno Trulli, with Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello third to complete a positive start for the Italian team.

Schumacher, whose mother died just before he gave his old F2002 car a victorious send-off in the San Marino Grand Prix 12 days ago, was delighted with the performance of the latest model.

"The new car has performed well and I am pleased with the way the qualifying session went," said Schumacher, who thanked the team for helping through a difficult period.

Trulli failed narrowly in attempting to lower Schumacher's best, while Barrichello ended 0.088 behind his team-mate.

Brazilian rookie Cristiano Da Matta produced his best qualifying performance in only his fifth race when he surprisingly drove his Toyota to the fourth best time of the session.

BAR-Honda driver Jenson Button took fifth after a flawless drive, as Toyota's Olivier Panis and Mark Webber of Jaguar claimed sixth and seventh respectively.

McLaren pair Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard could only set the eighth and ninth quickest times, with Spaniard Fernando Alonso completing the top ten in his home race.

Williams' Ralf Schumacher, quickest in the earlier practice session, made a mistake early in his run costing him vital time as he ended 1.279 seconds down on his brother Michael.

His Williams team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya could only finish 1.477 seconds off the best time but Trulli upset the Ferrari dominance with a late lap to claim second place.

Jacques Villeneuve went eighth quickest ahead of Montoya but his BAR-Honda team-mate Button produced an impressive performance to go fourth.

Meantime, Eddie Jordan has rubbished reports that British rookie Ralph Firman's Formula One future is under threat.

Jordan has promised to give Firman all the support he needs in stark contrast to the approach being taken at rivals Jaguar Racing over their newcomer Antonio Pizzonia.