Most drivers had positive comments on the new layout of the Hockenheimring. Ralf Schumacher was among them: "I am absolutely enthusiastic!" But low grip levels on the new surface of tarmac served for many spins. Juan Pablo would only set his time in the closing moments of the session when he went out with new Michelin tyres.

But despite the efforts of the WilliamsF1 team it would be Ferrari who would continue to dominate proceedings with Michael Schumacher, after only nine laps, who was able to set a time of 1m:15.337, the fastest lap of the race track and a time that remain unbeaten throughout the session. Team-mate Rubens Barrichello was second fastest, just a tenth slower than Michael. But his session would be marred by an accident in the final corner that would see his car damaged when it hit the wall, although the damage was light.

Behind the WilliamsF1 pair came McLaren's David Coulthard in fifth followed by the impressive Felipe Massa in his Sauber Petronas with the sixth fastest time. Team-mate Nick Heidfeld was to have a hydraulic problem with his car limiting him to just six laps, so his ninth position was very encouraging.

Jordan's Giancarlo Fisichella, after the difficulties of Friday, would move up to seventh fastest ahead of team-mate Sato in tenth. BAR's Olivier Panis was in eighth but Jacques Villeneuve would find the going difficult with running wide at the Agip Kurve twice. he would only end up twelfth fastest.

Arrows driver Enrique Bernoldi was eleventh ahead of Villeneuve and Kimi Raikkonen in the second McLaren Mercedes. Mika Salo was the faster Toyota driver in fourteenth position with Allan McNish back in twentieth.

For Renault's Jenson Button’s his weekend simply went from bad to worse when he he lost control of his Renault exiting the first corner, spinning across the track and hitting the concrete retaining wall. He would finish was two places ahead of team-mate Jarno Trulli in fifteenth.

Their Friday times flatter them because come Saturday both Jaguar drivers struggled with Pedro de la Rosa was eighteenth ahead of Eddie Irvine. Again the final two places were made up of the Minardi's with Webber continuing to be faster than Yoong.