JACQUES VILLENEUVE pulled off a major surprise when the 1996 Formula One season finally started in Melbourne yesterday by setting the fastest lap.

The 24 year old French Canadian was nearly a second faster than his Williams Renault partner and title favourite Damon Hill.

Villeneuve who switched from IndyCar racing which he is, the reigning champion, scorched round the 5.3 kilo metre (3.8 mile) track in one minute 33.401 seconds. Hill clocked 1:34.392.

I was not expecting to be up there with an advantage, said the son of former racer Gilles killed during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix in 1982. If is a surprise, but it feels great.

I'm where any driver would want to be. That's why we work so hard during the winter. But it's only the first day and it's bound to change."

But if everything was going for Villeneuve, it was not such a happy day for Hill, who has finished runner up in the championship for the past two years.

The 35 year old spun while testing the spare car and went off the track in his race car.

Two time world champion Michael Schumacher, who switched to Ferrari at the end of last season in a 550 million two year deal, was fourth fastest, with his first run.

Surprisingly the German was behind his Irish teammate Eddie Irvine in the second run.

It's the first test in a race weekend I have done for Ferrari and it went well from that point of view. The circuit is call good, though there is one dangerous corner, said Irvine, who was seventh fastest.

But the car doesn't feel as good as I would like in some places. In some corners I'm getting oversteer and in others under steer added the Ulsterman.

The Jordan team who are looking for their first victory after four years in Formula One, were sixth and 14th fastest. Brazilian Rubens Barrichello clocked 1:35.115 and Britain's Martin Brundle 1.37.051.