Lauda: Michael's a Schu-in

Racing legend Nikki Lauda is tipping Michael Schumacher to win his wheel-to-wheel Formula One title showdown with Jacques Villeneuve.

Championship leader Schumacher is just three races away from giving Ferrari the perfect 50th anniversary present - their first world crown in 18 years.

But Villeneuve, who trails by just one point, yesterday scored a huge psychological advantage.

He will start today's Luxembourg Grand Prix on the front row alongside McLaren Mercedes driver Mika Hakkinen, who celebrated his first pole in 94 qualifying attempts on the eve of his 29th birthday.

Schumacher, who could only qualify in fifth position, knows there is no room to overtake on Germany's famous Nurburgring track.

But triple world champion Lauda, a consultant to the Ferrari team, insisted: "Michael should win the championship because he is simply the best.

"He is the quickest driver, he is the ultimate professional and knows what it takes to win." Yet Villeneuve knows his grid advantage in his Williams Renault is vital. The Canadian said: "The car is very strong but the most important thing is that Michael is behind me for the start. I'm feeling very confident." Hakkinen, the nearly man of Formula One, was robbed of his first pole by Villeneuve in Austria.

But this time the popular Finn put in a blistering 1min 16.6sec lap to pip Villeneuve by eight hundredths of a second.

Said Hakkinen: "It's good to be at the front at last, but I was nervous waiting to see if anyone would take pole away from me."

Schumacher said: "I am unhappy that both Williams are ahead of me. I would have preferred to be closer to Villeneuve."

McLaren's David Coulthard was top British performer in sixth place with Damon Hill's Arrows (13th) outqualifying Eddie Irvine's Ferrari (14th) and Johnny Herbert's Sauber (16th).

Championship points:

1: M Schumacher (Ferrari)...68

2: J Villeneuve (Williams)....67

3: H Frentzen (Williams)......31

4: D Coulthard (McLaren)....30

5: J Alesi (Benetton)..............28

6: G Berger (Benetton)..........21

7: G Fisichella (Jordan).........20

8: E Irvine (Ferrari)...............18

9: O Panis (Prost)...................15

10: M Hakkinen (McLaren)..14

J Herbert (Sauber)............14

12: R Schumacher (Jordan)...13

13: D Hill (Arrows)..................7

14: R Barrichello (Stewart)....6

15: A Wurz (Benetton).............4

16: J Trulli (Prost)...................3

17: M Salo (Tyrrell).................2

S Nakano (Prost)................2

19: N Larini (Tyrrell)..............1

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