Formula One news

Schumacher sets early Imola pace

Michael Schumacher put down a very fast early marker in the first hour of practice on Friday at Imola. The Ferrari driver completed just four laps but went almost 0.4s faster than Williams tester Alex Wurz as the Italian team gears up for what it believes to be its best chance of a winning weekend so far this season.

The first practice session was dominated by third drivers goin about tyre testing but after an installation lap, Schumacher came out right at the end of the session and fired in a very quick first timed lap of 1m242.751s. Wurz was second fastest after 19 laps, BMW tester Robert Kubica was third over a second behind the ultimate pace after 24 laps and Honda's Anthony Davidson fourth after 27 laps.

Fernando Alonso completed three installation laps but did not set a timed lap. Mark Webber, Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button all waited the session out in the pits - allowing their third drivers to do the donkey work for them.

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