Ahead of today's pre-qualifying session, the ambient temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature stands at 44 degrees.

As ever, in this first session the cars will go out in the same order in which they finished in the last race, which invariably means that Michael Schumacher is first out, followed by Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button. Ralf, Montoya, da Matta and Panis will be last out before Pantano, who of course didn't race in Canada.

At midday, Michael Schumacher drives out of the Ferrari garage. Having completed his out lap, the German begins his flying lap. At the first split it's 21.3, followed by 29.1 at the second. At the line the World Champion posts 1:10.129, to set the benchmark.

Rubens Barrichello begins his lap, the Brazilian has been looking very confident this weekend. At the first split it's 21.3, he's up on his teammate. He's quicker again at the second split, going on to cross the line at 1:09.454, taking provisional pole by 0.675s.

Third out is Jenson Button, the Englishman was quickest in the final free practice session. At the first split it's 21.6, he's already around 0.3s down on Barrichello. He loses more time in the second sector, finally crossing the line at 1:10.115, it's good enough to put him ahead of Schumacher, but he'll be disappointed with that.

Fourth out is Fisichella, the Italian seems to be on a roll at present. At the first split the Sauber driver posts 21.9, already over half-a-second off the pace. He's slightly quicker in the second sector, finally crossing the line at 1:10.997, which puts him fourth.

Kimi Raikkonen is next out. At the first split the Finn posts 22s, that's one of the slowest so far. At the second split it's 29.5, he's made up a little ground. At the line, the 2003 runner-up posts 1:11.415, which puts him fifth, 1.9s off the pace.

Teammate David Coulthard is next out. At the first split the Scot posts 22s, virtually the same as his teammate. At the second split the McLaren driver posts 29.1, he's losing even more time. At the line it's 1:11.068, he leapfrogs Raikkonen.

Nick Heidfeld is next out, he's the seventh to run but he only finished eighth in Canada. At the first split the German posts 22.4, followed by a 29.8s at the second. He crosses the line at 1:12.329, almost 3s off Barrichello's pace.

Christian Klien is next out, what can he do? His first sector isn't too bad he posts 22.1. At the second split it's 29.6, followed by a 1:11.777 at the line, he goes seventh or eight.

Zsolt Baumgartner is next, he's been looking good this weekend. At the first split it's 23.1, followed by a 30.7 at the second. At the line it's 1:14.396, a disappointing time from the Hungarian.

Now it's the turn of Felipe Massa, who crashed out of last week's race following a suspension failure. At the first split the Brazilian posts 22.1. He makes up ground in the second and posts 29.4, going on to complete the lap in 1:11.315, which puts him sixth ahead of Raikkonen. A good effort.