Ferrari jousts on, off track with McLaren

   Copyright c 1998 Nando Media
   Copyright c 1998 Associated Press

SILVERSTONE, England (Jul 11, 1998 - 2:27 EDT) -- Michael Schumacher is
Ferrari's No. 1 driver.

No. 2 driver Eddie Irvine does most of the talking for the team.

After McLaren's David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen finished 1-2 in free
practice Friday -- suggesting another big points harvest for them in
Sunday's British Grand Prix -- Irvine took verbal aim.

"They (McLaren) should have been a lot further ahead than they
are," said Irvine, fifth in practice Friday. "They've made
strategy mistakes, reliability mistakes. Over the season, I'd put my money
on Michael."

Hakkinen leads the series standing with 50 points, followed by Schumacher
(44), Coulthard (30) and Irvine (25). But Coulthard has scored only one
point in the last three races, and Hakkinen's lead has dwindled from a high
of 22.

McLaren owner Ron Dennis, sitting alongside Irvine, took the hit and shot back.

"You would all be delighted if I allowed myself to get involved in a
game of verbal tennis with Eddie," he said.

"I have unusual respect for Grand Prix drivers. It is a pretty
difficult task. But he's wrong. Most opinions that drivers express are
wrong."

Irvine is trying to up the psychological stakes.

Though Coulthard's speed of 134.262 mph was the quickest in Friday's free
practice, today's qualifying was where it counted. This is the ninth GP of
the season, and McLaren won the first eight poles -- five for Hakkinen and
three for Coulthard.

Hakkinen was second Friday, followed by Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jacques
Villeneuve, both in Williams-Mecachromes, with Schumacher's Ferrari in
seventh.

If Coulthard fails to win Sunday and edge closer to the top two, McLaren
could focus its resources on Hakkinen in the last seven races.

"Mika and Michael are my main rivals, and my priority is to get in
front of them," Irvine said. "It was a good start today, but we
have to make sure we stay ahead."

The Silverstone track, one of the quickest in Formula One with a mix of
high-speed turns and long straights, is home to many of the British-based
teams, including McLaren.

"It's like France in the World Cup," Irvine said. "They're
playing at home; they've got the home advantage."

Irvine's teammate, Schumacher, is coming off consecutive victories as he
aims for his third series title and Ferrari's first in 19 years.

Schumacher admitted winning here will be trickier than Magny Cours, France,
two weeks ago.

"We should be able to improve tomorrow (Saturday) on seventh, but I
expect we will have a slightly more difficult job than we did in Magny
Cours," he said.

Last year's series champion, Jacques Villeneuve, rumored to be moving to
British American Racing when it debuts next season, has won the last two
British GPs. But despite Williams' best free practice this season, he is a
longshot to repeat.

Villeneuve has only 11 points so far and has yet to finish in the top
three. Frentzen, rumored to be on his way out, has only eight for Williams,
which has won five of the last six constructors' titles but has slipped
behind McLaren and Ferrari.

"It feels better than it did two weeks ago," Villeneuve said.
"There are not many slow-speed corners where you need good traction,
so we don't forfeit as much to Ferrari."

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