Schumacher faster than ever in Austria

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher limbered up for Austrian Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday by slicing more than a second off his 2001 pole position time in final practice.

The four times Formula One world champion, who has never won in Austria, lapped the scenic A1-Ring in one minute 08.433 seconds, 0.713 faster than Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello.

Last year's pole time was 1:09.562 and the German, who bounced across the gravel at one point in the second session, can be expected to go even faster in qualifying later in the afternoon.

Williams reasserted themselves on a sunny morning in the Styrian Alps, filling third and fourth places on the timesheets with Michael's younger brother Ralf and Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya respectively.

Germany's Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who has raised the Arrows profile dramatically in the last month with a sixth place in Spain two weeks ago, was the only other driver within a second of Schumacher.

The two Ferrari-powered Saubers of Brazilian Felipe Massa and German Nick Heidfeld were sixth and seventh.

McLaren's David Coulthard, winner in Austria last season and overall runner-up in 2001, languished in 13th place with a time of 1:10.044.

The two Jaguars of Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa and Briton Eddie Irvine also struggled in 19th and 20th places.

Schumacher has won four of the five races so far this season and leads Montoya by 21 points in the championship. His F2002 car has yet to be beaten since it was introduced in Brazil in late March.

Austria is the only race on this year's grand prix calendar that Schumacher has yet to win.