Magny-Cours, July 05: Changing conditions made a mockery of first qualifying for the French Grand Prix with Minardi's Jos Verstappen lapping fastest in the slowest car in Formula One. The Dutchman was more than seven seconds quicker than Ferrari's championship leader Michael Schumacher at Magny-Cours on Friday (July 4). With the title front runners starting first on full wet tyres in the rain, conditions improved progressively to enable the tail-enders to lap on dry tyres and set the fastest times by a massive margin. Briton Justin Wilson, Verstappen's partner at the cash-starved Minardi, was initially listed as second quickest, but was stripped of his time after the car was found to be 2.5 kg underweight. That left Minardi in the strange situation of one driver leading the field and the other bringing up the rear.


To add to the unreal atmosphere, British rookie Ralph Firman was second fastest in a Jordan -- after Wilson's time was taken away -- despite running wide into the gravel and almost taking off as he rode a kerb.


Sauber's Nick Heidfeld was third and in a boost for French fans, the country's sole grand prix driver, Olivier Panis, was fourth quickest for Toyota. Fifth was Jaguar's Antonio Pizzonia.

Briton Jenson Button, in a BAR, was slowest but he had another excuse having kicked his heels during morning practice as the team fought to have cars impounded by a court order released in time for qualifying.


In an extraordinary turnaround for the team, Canadian Jacques Villeneuve set the sixth best time. BAR are being sued by a Monaco production company who say the constructor owes them a three million US dollar commission for negotiating sponsoring rights.


Verstappen's time of one minute 20.817 seconds compared to five times world champion Schumacher's effort of 1:27.929 -- which left the German in 11th place for Saturday's decisive second session. He was in a collision in the pit lane with Jaguar's Mark Webber.


Finland's Kimi Raikkonen, second-placed in the overall championship standings, was 16th for McLaren ahead of Williams's Ralf Schumacher, winner of the European Grand Prix last weekend.


Minardi's Australian owner, Paul Stoddart, was ecstatic on a day that revived memories of compatriot Mark Webber's fighting fifth place for the team on his debut in Melbourne last year.


Times in Friday's first qualifying for Sunday's French Formula One Grand Prix: 1. Jos Verstappen (Netherlands) Minardi one minute 20.817 seconds 2. Ralph Firman (Britain) Jordan 1:23.496 3. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 1:24.042 4. Olivier Panis (France) Toyota 1:24.175 5. Antonio Pizzonia (Brazil) Jaguar 1:24.642 6. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1:24.651 7. Mark Webber (Australia) Jaguar 1:25.178 8. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Sauber 1:26.151 9. Cristiano da Matta (Brazil) Toyota 1:26.975 10. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 1:27.095 11. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:27.929 12. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 1:28.502 13. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 1:28.937 14. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 1:28.988 15. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1:29.024 16. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:29.120 17. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 1:29.327 18. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 1:29.455 19. Jenson Button (Britain) BAR 1:30.731 20. Justin Wilson (Britain) Minardi no time


Bureau Report