Schumacher sets the pace

Michael Schumacher blasted out a warning to his rivals as he roared to the fastest time in first qualifying for the final Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg today.

The German spearheaded an awesome one-two for Ferrari as the true potential of the F2003-GA car which made a victorious debut at the last race began to emerge on the A1-Ring.

Australia’s Mark Webber maintained his momentum of his fine season by emerging as the closest challenger to the Ferrari duo but he was still 0.6 secs adrift for Jaguar with Schumacher’s main title rivals even further behind.

And the five-time champion’s advantage would have been even greater had he not almost slid off coming into home straight in a session that saw his brother Ralf and Britain’s Ralph Firman hit trouble.

Schumacher senior, who had drifted too wide at the same corner during practice earlier, saw the rear of the car slide and he had to furiously work the steering wheel to complete what was an otherwise stunning lap.

The pace answered those who had questioned whether the new car was quicker than last year’s all conquering model and showed Schumacher’s determination to atone for last season’s race when he was controversially gifted victory when Barrichello was ordered to move over for him.

Schumacher, who has won the last two races, is looking to complete his championship comeback by overturning his four point championship deficit to McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen in Sunday’s grand prix.

Barrichello was less than 0.3 seconds adrift of his team-mate followed by Webber and the BAR-Honda duo of Jacques Villeneuve and Jenson Button.

Colombia’s Juan Pablo Montoya was the only other driver to get within a second of the pacesetter though Williams-BMW team-mate Ralf Schumacher had an afternoon he would prefer to forget.

The Salzburg-based racer slid into the gravel on his qualifying lap after losing control at the exit of Gosser Kurve forcing the session to be stopped while he car was hoisted off the circuit.

Schumacher now has the disadvantage of starting first in tomorrow’s battle for grid positions – not the sort of outcome the team were looking for after holding crisis talks lasting over two hours at the Grove headquarters last Wednesday.

David Coulthard posted the seventh fastest time – just over a second slower than Schumacher – in his heavily-modified 2002 McLaren with team-mate Raikkonen one place further back.

Renault’s Fernando Alonso – who pushed Schumacher so close when claiming a career-best second at the last race – found the Ferrari too hot to handle this afternoon as he finished over 1.7 secs off the pace.

Firman also found the final corner one too far as he slid too wide and skidded along the grass before losing his front wing after hitting the guard-rail in the home straight.

Firman, who scored his maiden point in Barcelona, crossed the finishing line going backwards before coming to a halt having left a trail of dust and debris on the track forcing another halt to the session.

The Norwich-based racer was given a time that left him 19th with fellow rookie Justin Wilson one place further ahead for Minardi.

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