Ferrari's Michael Schumacher dominated opening free practice for the French Formula One Grand Prix today with the fastest lap yet recorded at the Magny-Cours circuit.
The triple world champion set a time of one minute 13.729 seconds on a warming track, beating the previous fastest lap of 1:13.864 set by BritonNigel Mansell in a Williams during qualifying in 1992.
Mansell still holds the race lap record of 1:17.070 but that appears destined to be broken on Sunday.
David Coulthard, 24 points behind Schumacher in the championship with eight races remaining, posted the second fastest time of 1:14.135in his McLaren.
Schumacher's younger brother Ralf, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Saturday, was third quickest in a Williams in 1:14.932 in an incident-freefirst session.
Coulthard was late starting the session and put in just six runs around the circuit while his McLaren team mate Mika Hakkinen did not manage atimed lap.