Jeers turn to cheers for Schumacher

Michael Schumacher saw the jeers turn to cheers today as he took to the track in Monaco for the first time since his controversial victory in Austria.

The four-time champion was all smiles and blew kisses to the crowd in stark contrast to the boos of the podium ceremony at the A1-Ring after he was gifted the win when Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello moved over in the final metres.

Schumacher responded by clocking the fastest time in opening practice for Sunday’s race on the famous streets of Monte Carlo.

The German, who leads the championship by a massive 27 points heading into the seventh round of the 17-race season, finished almost 0.3 seconds quicker than Britain’s David Coulthard.

Monaco resident Coulthard scored his last pole position in last year’s race and was on top of the time-sheets for much of this morning’s session until displaced by Schumacher.

The 31-year-old Scot is effectively out of title contention given his 44-point deficit to the title pacesetter but will take heart from his display today after a frustrating start to the campaign.

But McLaren team-mate Kimi Raikkonen found Monaco’s barriers again in unforgiving mood as he drifted too close to the metal on the inside of the circuit at Rascasse and was sent sliding backwards into the perimeter barrier on the other side of the track.

The Finn, watched by countryman Mika Hakkinen who was attending his first race since taking a sabbatical, ended up ninth fastest.

Renault’s Jarno Trulli was third quickest from Barrichello with Germany’s Heinz-Harald Frentzen fifth fastest just ahead of the BAR duo of Jacques Villeneuve and Olivier Panis whose only career win came in Monaco six years ago.

Jenson Button was eighth quickest in his Renault while Eddie Irvine was 11th though Jaguar Racing team-mate Pedro de la Rosa damaged his front wing after hitting the barrier.

Allan McNish posted the 12th best time in his first outing in Monaco for Toyota.