Webber, who set the fastest time in the wet hour-long session, was cruising down the lane when Ferrari's signal man gave Schumacher the all-clear to go.

The German pulled out and Webber was unable to brake in time to avoid him.

Race stewards said in a statement that, after hearing from the team manager and reviewing video evidence, Ferrari had released Schumacher before it was safe to do so.

The German, chasing an unprecedented seventh win in France, was sixth fastest in practice with a time 1.766 seconds slower than Webber's one minute 26.915 seconds.

Ralf Schumacher, winner for Williams in the last race at the Nuerburgring, was second fastest ahead of Renault's young Spaniard Fernando Alonso.

BAR drivers Jenson Button and Jacques Villeneuve, with their cars impounded by court order due to a legal dispute that was not resolved until halfway through practice, had to sit out the session.

Both will drive in first qualifying later.