Schumacher Fastest in First Qualifying

World Champion Michael Schumacher set the quickest time in pre-qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix as he went more than a second faster than Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

Schumacher, who can wrap up a seventh drivers' world title at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, was 1.158 seconds ahead of Barrichello as he demonstrated his talent in the wet.

McLaren-Mercedes' Kimi Raikkonen, quickest in Friday's free practice, was the third fastest driver having enjoyed a slightly drier line as the final man on the track.

Sauber drivers Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella ended fourth and fifth fastest respectively to underline tyre supplier Bridgestone's advantage in wet conditions.

Juan Pablo Montoya was sixth quickest for Williams-BMW ahead of McLaren's David Coulthard, with Renault pair Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli and BAR-Honda's Jenson Button completing the top-ten.

Toyota's Ricardo Zonta was caught out by the conditions on his run when he put a wheel on the kerb and went spinning off into the gravel at high-speed.

The drivers had had just 15 minutes of practice time in the morning sessions after wet weather and low cloud prevented the medical helicopter from taking off.

Pos Driver Team T1 T2 Time 1. (1) M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) 31.240 81.518 1:53.755 2. (2) Barrichello Ferrari (B) 31.427 82.758 1:54.913 + 1.158 3. (20) Raikkonen McLaren-Mercedes (M) - - 1:55.371 + 1.616 4. (19) Massa Sauber-Petronas (B) 31.654 83.069 1:56.057 + 2.302 5. (8) Fisichella Sauber-Petronas (B) 31.547 83.255 1:56.068 + 2.313 6. (4) Montoya Williams-BMW (M) 31.441 84.333 1:56.842 + 3.087 7. (9) Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes (M) 31.369 84.633 1:56.994 + 3.239 8. (3) Alonso Renault (M) 32.007 85.409 1:58.242 + 4.487 9. (17) Trulli Renault (M) 31.650 85.812 1:58.606 + 4.851 10. (5) Button BAR-Honda (M) 31.594 85.522 1:58.837 + 5.082 11. (6) Sato BAR-Honda (M) 31.781 85.899 1:58.929 + 5.174 12. (7) Pizzonia Williams-BMW (M) 31.868 85.977 1:59.100 + 5.345 13. (10) Webber Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 31.893 85.957 1:59.437 + 5.682 14. (16) Pantano Jordan-Ford (B) 31.675 85.967 1:59.442 + 5.687 15. (13) Klien Jaguar-Cosworth (M) 32.195 86.458 1:59.997 + 6.242 16. (12) Heidfeld Jordan-Ford (B) 32.106 86.713 2:00.166 + 6.411 17. (15) Baumgartner Minardi-Cosworth (B) 32.590 87.849 2:01.195 + 7.440 18. (11) Panis Toyota (M) 32.396 87.670 2:01.472 + 7.717 19. (14) Bruni Minardi-Cosworth (B) 33.040 88.899 2:03.226 + 9.471 20. (18) Zonta Toyota (M) 31.906 No Time All timing unofficial