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Schumi leads Hungarian practice

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Budapest - World champion Michael Schumacher picked up where he left off on Friday, returning from Formula One's brief break to dominate opening free practice for Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.

The refreshed Ferrari driver, who clinched a record- equalling fifth title in France last month, limbered up for what promises to be a historic weekend at the Hungaroring with a quickest time of one minute 16.755 seconds.

That was 0.367 faster than Brazilian team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who followed the German home for a one-two in last year's race, and compared to his 2001 pole position time of 1:14.059.

Ferrari could clinch their 12th constructors' championship in Hungary and their cars were more than a second faster than the rest of the field in practice.

Sauber's Brazilian Felipe Massa and British American Racing's Canadian Jacques Villeneuve tied with the third fastest lap of 1:18.388 on a bright morning at the comparatively slow and twisty circuit.

Schumacher, with nine wins in 12 races to date this year, can make history on Sunday by becoming the first man to win 10 times in a single season.

If he takes pole position, the fastest lap and victory over the weekend in Hungary, he will also equal the record of 11 such hat-tricks achieved by Britain's late champion Jim Clark.

While the dominant German was gearing up for his 175th career start, Briton Anthony Davidson prepared for his first race with tail-enders Minardi.

The 23-year-old newcomer, one of five Britons in action, occupied last place on the timesheets but within a second of Australian team-mate Mark Webber.

Webber was 18th fastest of what will be 20 starters in the absence of the troubled Arrows team with a time of 1:21.027.

Davidson lapped in 1:21.948 before being sidelined at the end of the session with a suspected drive-shaft problem.

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