Warm-up: Schu continues at the top

World Champion Michael Schumacher made his intentions clear during the warm-up for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix by picking up from where he left off in qualifying - at the top of the time sheets. (Click here for full results)

The Ferrari ace, who took a dominant pole position on Saturday, finished just under half a second ahead of McLaren's David Coulthard in an uneventful half hour-session as the drivers kept it neat and tidy to make the final preparations for the swan song race of the 2001 season.

While Coulthard will start the race from a disappointing seventh on the grid, the Scot showed that his McLaren-Mercedes was working well in race trim. The Scot was followed closely by Nick Heidfeld, who put in a late lap to move his Sauber up into third spot.

Next up were the Jordan-Hondas of Jarno Trulli and Jean Alesi respectively, with the latter attacking the Suzuka kerbs in typical Alesi style as the veteran Frenchman prepares to say sayonara to Formula 1 in his final Grand Prix.

Mika Hakkinen set the sixth fastest time in the second McLaren in what could also be his final warm-up session as the Finn heads for a sabbatical in 2002.

Meanwhile Rubens Barrichello's chances of taking second in the championship from Coulthard waned yet further as the he finished seventh fastest. The Brazilian will line up fourth on the grid for the race and needs to win with his McLaren rival finishing fifth or lower if he is to take second place in the standings.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen showed that his Prost-Acer was less of a handful in race set-up by finishing eighth, while Kimi Raikkonen was ninth and Pedro de la Rosa 10th as the highest Michelin runner. The Williams-BMWs of Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumcaher, who qualified second and third, finished 17th and 11th.

For warm-up results, click here.