The radical F-2002 car, which Ferrari did not use in the first two races because of reliability fears, was expected to be significantly faster than last year’s model and Schumacher’s pace today ominously proved that.

Schumacher, who leads the championship by two points, did have an early spin when he first tested the new car on the Interlagos track.

The reigning champion managed to keep the engine running and after a trip back to the garage, the 33-year-old emerged to knock the Williams-BMW of his brother Ralf winner of the last race in Malaysia from top spot.

But team-mate Rubens Barrichello had a far less happy time in the old car as he finished bottom of the time-sheets after sliding out of control and to a stop on the track to the disappointment of his home fans.

Jordan’s Giancarlo Fisichella posted the third best time behind the Schumacher brothers with Nick Heidfeld fourth quickest just ahead of team-mate Felipe Massa who was making his F1 bow in his home race.

Another Brazilian, Enrique Bernoldi, was sixth fastest followed by the Renault of Britain’s Jenson Button.

But it was another disappointing session for fellow Brit David Coulthard and his McLaren Mercedes team.

Coulthard, still looking for his first point of the season, finished 11th quickest having slid into the flower beds by the side of the track though, like Schumacher, he managed to keep the car going.

The 31-year-old went off the track just seconds before the session was halted to allow marshals to retrieve the other McLaren after Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen spun to a stop.

Allan McNish was 14th fastest for Toyota while Eddie Irvine was 18th for Jaguar Racing.