Summary

Michael Schumacher took the pole of the French Grand Prix in a very breathtaking qualifying. It seems Ferrari is on top with their qualifying engine and Schumacher at the wheel.

Damon Hill, who is now second on the grid, came very close to pole but was held up by Johnny Herbert only a few meters from clocking his fastest time of the day.

Alesi, third fastest, was pushing very hard towards the end of the session but his Benetton-Renault broke down on his final lap.

Notes:

• Hill has removed the little wings from his helmet which he had yesterday.
• Spins were there by: Irvine, Badoer.
• The session saw a red flag because Jacques Villeneuve went wide at the Estoril bend and hit the tyre wall hard. Villeneuve had to continue the session in the T-car because his race car was totally wrecked.

Top Six

1. Schumacher 1:15.989
2. Hill 1:16.058
3. Alesi 1:16.310
4. Berger 1:16.310
5. Hakkinen 1:16.634
6. Villeneuve 1:16.905

Eddie Irvine has to start the French Grand Prix from the last row on the grid. The stewards denied Irvine his tenth grid position because his front turning vanes were 15mm higher than allowed.

Irvine stated: "I am very disappointed and not only because my times were disallowed and I must start from the back. All in all, tenth or last does not make much difference. I had a lot of understeer and so the car would not go round the corners. But the car is always more competitive in race set-up than in qualifying trim so I am still hopeful."