For record, read Schumacher

There are some records in Formula One that Michael Schumacher will never match.

Italian Luigi Fagioli's shared 1951 French Grand Prix victory, which made him the oldest race winner at the age of 53, is a milestone that will surely stand forever.

Current Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer's 50 Grands Prix without so much as scoring a point is another record that Schumacher successfully ruled out on his second outing.

Even Italian Riccardo Patrese's remarkable tally of 256 starts is out of reach unless Schumacher continues until 2007, when he will be 38.

But most of the rest, if not already claimed by the four times world champion, are fair game for the outstanding driver of his era.

A couple more could fall into the German's clutches or be added to in France this weekend.

The most likely is a 16th points scoring race in succession, beating Argentine Carlos Reutemann's 15 with Williams in 1980-81.

If he wins, it will be victory number 61 -- 10 more than Frenchman Alain Prost, the next most successful driver in Formula One history.

It will also be his 108th podium appearance, another record he claimed at the last race at Silverstone, and extend his unprecedented points haul to 897 -- nearly 100 more than Prost managed in his 199 races.

OVERWHELMING DOMINANCE

Schumacher could secure his fifth title on Sunday, equalling Juan Manuel Fangio's record and also emulating the Argentine in becoming only the second driver to win three championships in succession.

Few would rule out a sixth title next season.

Other records held by the German include the most fastest laps -- 47 in 172 races - and the most successive podium appearances -- 12.

Schumacher currently shares the record for wins in a single season -- nine -- with Briton Nigel Mansell but that looks set to go soon with the German already on seven this year with seven races remaining.

However, Mansell's 1992 record of 14 poles in a season looks set to stand the test of time as does Brazilian Ayrton Senna's 65 career poles (Schumacher is next up with 46).

Schumacher's points tally last year of 123 was a record for a single season and the Ferrari ace has already scored 86 out of a possible 100 -- leaving one to suppose that this season's haul will be well into uncharted territory.

The German is the most successful Ferrari driver ever, his 41 wins for the team eclipsing the 15 scored by Austrian former champion Niki Lauda. He has started more races than any other driver the Italian team has employed and his partnership with Brazilian Rubens Barrichello is Ferrari's most triumphant as well as being the third best in grand prix history.

The two could present Ferrari with a third successive one-two at Magny-Cours, a feat not achieved since 1956, and the fifth of the season.

The maths adds up to such overwhelming dominance by Schumacher, who regularly professes himself disinterested in statistics, that at some point even he may get bored of accumulating records.

But the 33-year-old, whose retirement seems to be pondered more by his rivals than himself, says he has not got to that point yet.

"On the contrary, I still enjoy them a lot," he said after Silverstone of his records. "Especially after races like this which are really hard and difficult, there is a special sense of euphoria which I don't want to give up."

One can only speculate on how much more he may accumulate.