Sunday Warm-Up - Japanese GP
World championship leader Michael Schumacher was fastest for Ferrari in Sunday morning's warm-up for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix. The 31-year-old German, who needs to win or score two more points than rival and defending champion Mika Hakkinen of Finland to clinch his third world title and Ferrari's first drivers' crown for 21 years, took control from the start.
World championship leader Michael Schumacher was fastest for Ferrari in Sunday morning's warm-up for the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix. The 31-year-old German, who needs to win or score two more points than rival and defending champion Mika Hakkinen of Finland to clinch his third world title and Ferrari's first drivers' crown for 21 years, took control from the start.
On an overcast and cool morning, with rain threatening, the drivers were requested to run with their rear lights on as Schumacher began his domination of the half-hour session.
Schumacher clocked a best time of one minute and 38.005 seconds to outpace Hakkinen, who must win or finish ahead of Schumacher to keep his hopes of a third successive world title alive, by 0.5 seconds.
Hakkinen, in his McLaren, was second-fastest in 1:38.526 with Brazilian Rubens Barrichello third for Ferrari ahead of Briton David Coulthard in the second McLaren.
Briton Jenson Button was fifth fastest in a Williams with Italian Jarno Trulli sixth for Jordan.
Schumacher's performance, and the weather conditions which many observers have predicted will lead to rain, boosted expectations of the 1994 and 1995 world champion taking his third title.
The German starts on pole position and if he wins he will be the first driver to take the drivers' title for Ferrari since South African Jody Scheckter in 1979.
Pos Driver Team Times 1. M.Schumacher Ferrari 1:38.005 215.401 km/h 2. Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes 1:38.526 + 0.521 3. Barrichello Ferrari 1:38.758 + 0.753 4. Coulthard McLaren Mercedes 1:38.820 + 0.815 5. Button Williams BMW 1:39.620 + 1.615 6. Trulli Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:39.626 + 1.621 7. R.Schumacher Williams BMW 1:39.844 + 1.839 8. Villeneuve BAR Honda 1:39.957 + 1.952 9. Salo Sauber Petronas 1:40.053 + 2.048 10. Diniz Sauber Petronas 1:40.089 + 2.084 11. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth 1:40.171 + 2.166 12. Fisichella Benetton Playlife 1:40.201 + 2.196 13. Verstappen Arrows Supertec 1:40.264 + 2.259 14. Herbert Jaguar Cosworth 1:40.330 + 2.325 15. Alesi Prost Peugeot 1:40.332 + 2.327 16. Zonta BAR Honda 1:40.341 + 2.336 17. Wurz Benetton Playlife 1:40.646 + 2.641 18. de la Rosa Arrows Supertec 1:40.651 + 2.646 19. Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:40.835 + 2.830 20. Heidfeld Prost Peugeot 1:41.231 + 3.226 21. Gene Minardi Fondmetal 1:41.272 + 3.267 22. Mazzacane Minardi Fondmetal 1:42.110 + 4.105
All timing unofficial
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