25/05/2006
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's first free practice session, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 29 degrees. The sky is blue and the sun is shining.
In previous rounds we've grown used to just a handful of cars coming out in this first session, and we don't expect it to be any different today.
The lights go green, and first out is Robert Kubica, followed by Wurz, Doornbos, Sato, Davidson and Monteiro.
Davidson is the first to post a time, the Englishman crossing the line at 1:23.219. Moments later, Wurz posts 1:21.294.
The Honda driver, who doesn't have to worry about conserving his engine, continues lapping, gradually getting down to the 1:19s, as does Wurz.
Kubica is back on track, and immediately goes quickest in the first sector. He loses time in the second sector, which includes the Swimming Pool, finally crossing the line at 1:20.193, to go third.
Meanwhile, Michael walks up to the Ferrari garage wearing the most horrible looking overalls ever seen in F1, they're red and yellow, like rhubarb and custard! Absolutely horrible.
Kubica is pushing hard, riding kerbs, crossing up, locking up, getting down to 1:19.920. However, he remains third behind Wurz and Davidson.
Montagny goes fourth (23.210), ahead of Doornbos and Sato. The Frenchman has revealed that he will contest three further races after this weekend's event.
As Kubica goes quickest (19.199), Villeneuve heads off down the pitlane, followed by Ralf Schumacher.
While the Canadian returns to the pits, having completed an installation lap, the Toyota driver stays out. Elsewhere, Montagny goes quickest in the first sector!
Davidson improves with a 1:17.736 to go quickest, ahead of Kubica, Wurz, Doornbos, Montagny, Sato, Jani and Monteiro.
With twenty-five minutes of the session completed, Davidson has done the most laps (13), ahead of Wurz (12) and Kubica (10).
Fisichella is on track, as Davidson lowers the benchmark to 1:17.549. Having completed an installation lap, Fisi returns to the pits for a practice pit stop then heads back to the track.
Rosberg, Alonso and Massa all come out to test the water, so to speak, however, it is only the Brazilian who stays out, having completed an installation lap.
As Webber and Coulthard leave the pits, Massa crosses the line at 1:19.833, to go fourth. He is the tenth driver, thus far, to post a time. Next time around the Ferrari drivers gets down to 1:18.695, but remains fourth.
Jacques Villeneuve goes fifth, ahead of Webber, the Australian rarely seen in the opening session.
With just over twenty minutes remaining, it's; Davidson, Kubica, Wurz, Massa, Villeneuve, Webber, Rosberg, Doornbos, Monteiro and Mondini. Elsewhere, Trulli and Button are on track.
Webber improves to fourth with a 1:18.571, as Rosberg goes sixth. It is very unusual to see both WilliamsF1 race drivers in this session.
As Barrichello leaves the pits, Fernando Alonso is already on track and about to post his first time of the weekend. The Spaniard goes quickest in the second sector, crossing the line at 1:17.633 to go second.
As Button goes fifth (18.329), Alonso takes the top spot with a 1:16.712. Michael leaves the Ferrari garage as Kubica stops at Portier.
Fisichella goes third (17.684), ahead of Kubica and Wurz, as Alonso continues to set a blistering pace.
Michael goes sixth, 1.537s off the pace, as Alonso goes quickest in the first sector. Meanwhile, Fisichella posts 1:17.451, to make it a Renault 1-2, giving the French team an early psychological advantage.
That said, moments later, Michael splits them, crossing the line at 1:16.973, just 0.261s off the World Champion's pace. Fisichella is far from finished however, and reclaims second spot with a 1:16.888.
Klien is on track, other than Kimi, Montoya and Heidfeld, he is the only driver that hasn't posted a time.
Alonso, Fisichella, Michael, Davidson, Kubica, Wurz, Button, Barrichello, Rosberg, Coulthard, Webber, Massa, Trulli, Ralf and Doornbos.
A 1:16.872 sees Anthony Davidson go second, splitting the Renaults, as Montoya leaves the McLaren garage.
The Colombian, closely watched by his teammate who waits in the pits, goes sixth (17.926), as Michael Schumacher returns to work.
With three minutes remaining, there are twenty-three cars on track, it's bloody busy out there.
Button goes quickest in the final sector, but remains eighth, 1.6s off the pace. Indeed, Alonso, Davidson, Fisi and Michael are in a league of their own thus far.
Raikkonen leaves the pits, which means that Heidfeld and Kubica are the only drivers not on track. One can see why some of the drivers are concerned about congestion here, especially in light of the new qualifying format.
The session ends with Alonso quickest, ahead of Davidson, Fisichella, Michael, Montoya, Kubica, Wurz, Button, Doornbos and Barrichello.
Heidfeld and Raikkonen were the only drivers that failed to post a time, indeed the Finn was on track but stopped at the Nouveau Chicane, after smoke was seen pouring out of the engine in the tunnel. Not a good start to the weekend for Kimi, or McLaren, which is celebrating 40 years in Formula One this weekend.
Compared to some of the opening free practice session we've witnessed this year, that was pretty action packed, and a clear sign that the Renault/Ferrari battle is to continue here this weekend.