It was a one hour delay before the action finally got underway but with the long delay the session has been cut to 30 minutes although the second session will run for the usual hour. With the weather predicted to be much the same for the rest of the weekend it raises some concerns about the running of Saturday’s early morning sessions and Sunday’s warm-up session.

It was some 10 minutes before a F2002 took to the track and it was Michael Schumacher to do so. The champion proceeds to set a very quick lap straight out of the block but his first flying run is ruined by a slow David Coulthard, but the German continues on his way after making sure Coulthard was giving a wave of the fist! Rubens Barrichello is also lapping the circuit as Schumacher puts in his first real lap of the day with a lap of 1 minute 49.034 seconds to go ahead of Barrichello although Coulthard moves into second place.

10 minutes to go and Schumacher is out on track once more and is pushing the limits as he runs slightly wide taking a chunk of kerbs, strangely it was at the same kerb he spun his Benetton on and lost his race win due to the wooden plank being torn away by the saw edged kerb! Closing moments of the session and Barrichello moves into the top slot with a lap of 1.49.009. Schumacher was back out also and he has to deal with traffic on the track as he crosses the line to remain in second place just missing a chance to do another lap.

So the opening session sees Ferrari set the pace right from the off, while the Williams team struggle once more early in the weekend. Rubens Barrichello looks very strong once more this weekend and it already looks like another duel between the Ferrari drivers!