SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium, Aug 31: Michael Schumacher will start his favourite Belgian Grand Prix on pole position for the first time after a qualifying masterclass by Ferrari’s Formula One champion.

Schumacher, his record-equalling fifth title secured more than a month ago, dominated a circuit famed for separating the great from the good with a lap nearly half a second faster than the best of the rest on Saturday.

The German has won a record five times before in Belgium, without once starting on pole, and aims to continue his reign as the king of Spa on Sunday by becoming the first driver to win 10 grands prix in a single season.

He has now been on pole 48 times in his career.

Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen, in a McLaren, lined up beside Schumacher for the first front row start of his career with a time 0.424 slower than Schumacher.

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, the current runner-up in the championship in the second Ferrari, was third quickest and starts alongside the Williams of Michael’s younger brother Ralf.

Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, Ralf’s team mate and the pole-setter last year, filled the third row with McLaren’s David Coulthard.

Renault’s Jarno Trulli and Jaguar’s Eddie Irvine followed ahead of Toyota’s Mika Salo and Renault’s Jenson Button.

Spa was the only circuit on the current calendar that Schumacher had yet to conquer in qualifying. The German, who took his first grand prix win at Spa in 1992, has already won at all 17 tracks in a decade at the top.

Grid position

First row

1. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 1min 43.726sec, 2. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 1:44.150

Second row

3. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Ferrari 1:44.335, 4. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Williams-BMW 1:44.348

Third row

5. Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) Williams-BMW 1:44.634, 6. David Coulthard (Gbr) McLaren-Mercedes 1:44.759

Fourth row

7. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Renault 1:45.386, 8. Eddie Irvine (Gbr) Jaguar-Cosworth 1:45.865

Fifth row

9. Mika Salo (Fin) Toyota 1:45.880, 10. Jenson Button (Gbr) Renault 1:45.972

Sixth row

11. Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) Jaguar-Cosworth 1:46.056, 12. Jacques Villeneuve (Can) BAR-Honda 1:46.403

Seventh row

13. Allan McNish (Gbr) Toyota 1:46.485, 14. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Jordan-Honda 1:46.508

Eighth row

15. Olivier Panis (Fra) BAR-Honda 1:46.553, 16. Takuma Sato (Jpn) Jordan-Honda 1:46.875

Ninth row

17. Felipe Massa (Bra) Sauber-Petronas 1:46.896, 18. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Sauber-Petronas 1:47.272

Tenth row

19. Mark Webber (Aus) Minardi-Asiatech 1:47.562, 20. Anthony Davidson (Gbr) Minardi-Asiatech 1:48.170.—AFP