Schumacher shatters Mansell's lap record

Alan Baldwin

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher ripped up Nigel Mansell's lap record on Saturday and again showed brother Ralf who is the boss in free practice for the French Grand Prix.

The triple world champion set a time of one minute 13.729 seconds on a warming track in the day's first session, beating the previous fastest lap of 1:13.864 set by Briton Mansell in a Williams during qualifying in 1992.

The German, who has been on pole seven times in the last nine races and is chasing his 50th career win here, then completed a mere handful of laps in the second session for a total of 16 ahead of official qualifying in the afternoon.

Mansell still holds the race lap record of 1:17.070 but that appears destined to be broken on Sunday as the battle hots up between Ferrari, Williams and McLaren.

Last year's pole time, also set by Schumacher, was 1:15.632.

Schumacher's younger brother Ralf, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Saturday, was second quickest in a Williams in 1:13.953 to set up another battle of the brothers in an hour-long qualifying session on a bright and warm afternoon.

The two have shared the front row in the last two races and Ralf's Williams is expected to go well at the central French circuit after an impressive recent test session. The track is also home territory for tyre supplier Michelin.

Briton David Coulthard, 24 points behind Schumacher in the championship with eight races remaining, posted the third fastest time of 1:13.972 in his McLaren.

Coulthard, who won the race last year, was late starting the first session and put in just six runs around the circuit while his McLaren team mate Mika Hakkinen did not manage a timed lap.

But the Scot managed 17 more in the second while Hakkinen got going with 15 and ended up fourth fastest in 1:14.295.

The Benettons of Italians Giancarlo Fisichella and Briton Jenson Button continued to languish down the timesheets in 18th and 19th places. But they hope to be more competitive in qualifying later when they are due to run new Renault engine improvements.