Coulthard fears for drivers' lives

And his fears were echoed by the top three qualifiers and fellow countryman Damon Hill.

Several of the drivers were sent spinning into the sand in the treacherous conditions - including Michael Schumacher, Hill and Eddie Irvine.

'You cannot race in those conditions. They were dangerous - you were aquaplaning on the straight, visibility was zero,' said the Scot who qualified fourth, top of the championship contenders.

'If anyone took a decision to let us race in those conditions then they would be risking the lives of all the drivers and I know, without talking to them that Michael [Schumacher] or Alex [Wurz], my fellow directors in the GPDA they will share my opinion.

'For the sake of entertainment we don't want to go out in risky conditions like this where it is purely down to luck as to whether you hit a puddle or another car.

'It would need to be drier conditions and then we would all be happy to race in the wet because it is enjoyable for us.

'The conditions are as bad as I have ever known it in Magny Cours and racing is worse because in qualifying you can back off and find space in race you don't have that choice.

'You go into that sea of spray and it is a journey into the unknown of which you are not in control."

Veteran Hill, who has raced 106 Grands Prix in seven years, had a troubled session with two exhaust fires but voiced his fears about safety.

'If they race in wet conditions like that they would be asking for trouble,' he said.

'But I put my faith in the good sense of Charlie Whiting and the race directors to run at least a portion of the race under the safety car because visibility is nil and you are still doing 200mph on the back straight and aquaplaning.'

Poleholder Rubens Barrichello, Jean Alesi and Olivier Panis all said the race should start under the pace car if it is as wet.