Schumacher fastest in final British GP practice

SILVERSTONE, England, June 10 (Reuters) Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, fresh from clear-the-air talks with Formula One rivals, lapped fastest in final British Grand Prix free practice today.

The seven times world champion, dogged by a Monaco qualifying controversy from two weeks ago, showed his rivals he remained very much a contender with the fastest lap of the weekend so far.

The German's lap of one minute 20.919 seconds was 0.442 quicker than compatriot Nick Heidfeld in a BMW Sauber on a bright but gusty morning at Silverstone.

Renault's world champion Fernando Alonso, who leads Schumacher by 21 points after seven races, was sixth quickest on the timesheets.

Winner twice this season, Schumacher needs a victory to edge closer to the 24-year-old Spaniard, who is looking for his 14th successive podium and third win in a row after a commanding start to the year.

The uproar at Monaco, where the 37-year-old German was stripped of pole position and sent to the back of the grid for a 'mistake' at the end of qualifying, remained a background murmur despite driver talks to clear the air yesterday.

''Schumi, my Granny parks better than you,'' declared one banner, alluding to Schumacher parking up his car on the penultimate corner in Monaco, displayed on the main pit straight grandstand.

MORE DETERMINED Despite a mauling by the media and former champions, the controversy has not been able to unsettle the most successful driver in Formula One history.

''What went on affects people in different ways but for him, it seemed to make him even more determined,'' Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn said yesterday.

''That's where he seeks solace within the team and in his own performance.

''If it's possible for someone like Michael Schumacher to be even more determined, because he's already extremely determined, then I think he is even more determined to try to do well in the near future.'' McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya, last year's winner at Silverstone, posted only the 15th best time in the final session with Finnish team mate Kimi Raikkonen fourth.

Raikkonen skidded off at the end of hour, parking up on the grass runoff.

Britain's only hopes were well down the timesheets, with Honda's Jenson Button 11th and Red Bull's David Coulthard 12th.

Japan's Takuma Sato skidded off and crashed his Super Aguri into a tyre wall half an hour into the session.

REUTERS PDS PM1629