Schumacher speeds to 40th career pole

Alan Baldwin

Michael Schumacher relegated title rival David Coulthard to the second row of the British Grand Prix starting grid on Saturday with the 40th pole of his career.

McLaren's Mika Hakkinen and Coulthard had looked like sweeping the front row until, with six minutes remaining, Ferrari's Formula One world champion hit the spot with a flying lap of one minute 20.447 seconds.

Hakkinen, who has not won a race or been on pole since August last year and has just nine points to his credit in 2001, joined Schumacher at the front after failing to beat the German by a mere 0.082 seconds.

"Mika has had a tough year so it's nice for him to be back," commented Schumacher.

Schumacher has now been on pole eight times after 11 qualifying sessions this season and he did it with a time well inside his own race lap record of 1:24.475 after a session he termed "difficult and interesting".

It was Hakkinen's third front row of the year and his position leaves him liable to team orders should he stay ahead of Coulthard during the race.

The Scot, who has won his home race for the past two years, is 31 points behind Schumacher in the overall standings and Silverstone could prove a crucial test.

He was third fastest ahead of Italian Jarno Trulli in a Jordan and made it clear afterwards that he expected Hakkinen to assist him where necessary, although the Finn told a news conference he would like to win the race.

"I believe in Mika's integrity so if he's given an instruction than I believe he will do it," said Coulthard.

DRYING TRACK

Coulthard said he had clearly wanted to start on the front row but he was happy under the circumstances.

"Pole is not always an advantage as we have seen this year," he said.

Hakkinen said he was a little disappointed. "But not too much. It's a long time since I've been this close to pole," said the two times champion.

"I was very pleased with the car's performance as it was very good and enjoyable to drive."

Schumacher's Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello was only sixth fastest, behind German Heinz Harald Frentzen in the second Jordan, on a drying track after morning rain had seen several drivers skid out in free practice.

Michael's brother Ralf, winner of two races for Williams this season, was only 10th on the grid after sharing the front row with his older sibling for the past three grands prix.

He was also criticised by Sauber's German driver Nick Heidfeld, who qualified ninth fastest and said his compatriot had ruined his flying lap.

"I had to go up the inside kerb and on the grass, sideways, to avoid Ralf and that ruined my chance of improving," said Heidfeld.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya was eighth quickest as Williams, using Michelin tyres rather than the Bridgestones of Ferrari and McLaren, struggled in the conditions.

Coulthard was the best of the British by a long way, although Jenson Button had a boost by outqualifying his more experienced Italian team mate Giancarlo Fisichella to take 18th place for Benetton.

Jaguar's Eddie Irvine was 15th on the grid.

Minardi's Brazilian Tarso Marques had a nightmare and failed to register a time inside the official limits, leaving the team with just Spaniard Fernando Alonso at the back of the grid for Sunday's race.