Title-hunting Schumacher records fastest practice lap

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER fired up his home crowd at the German Grand Prix yesterday for what could become a Ferrari title celebration tomorrow.

After being pipped by BAR’s British test driver Anthony Davidson in the morning, the six-times world champion blasted back on a sweltering afternoon at Hockenheim with a lap of one minute 15.001 seconds.

The German, beaten just once this year, can equal his own record of 11 wins in a single season tomorrow while also helping Ferrari secure their sixth successive Formula One constructors’ crown.

“We had a good baseline in terms of car setup, I am quite happy with the overall situation,” said Schumacher.

Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen, last year’s championship runner-up, was second quickest on the track to confirm McLaren’s progress after their nightmare start to the season.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, last year’s runaway winner from pole position in Germany, was third on the timesheets ahead of BAR’s Jenson Button and Williams’ Brazilian stand-in Antonio Pizzonia.

Pizzonia was making a comeback as a replacement for injured German Ralf Schumacher after being dropped by Jaguar a year ago.

Davidson, who had followed up BAR’s morning announcement of a long-term deal with engine partner Honda with the quickest lap of 1:15.756 in the first session, was sixth.

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, who will need to finish high in the points on Sunday if Ferrari are to score 13 more than Renault and clinch the title, was a distant ninth.