Hakkinen stays on top
At the end of the final free practice session this afternoon, it was again Mika Hakkinen who set the pace for the McLaren- Mercedes team, the only driver to break 1m 27,0 secs for the day when he improved marginally over his morning time. David Coulthard made a bigger step forward over his morning time, but did not better fourth overall.
Ralf Schumacher up to second spot
Ralf Schumacher continued to show new found form with the modified Williams-Supertec. Despite complaints of no power from the engine all season, he was second fastest today around the Silverstone circuit which is considered to be a power circuit. Meanwhile, Alex Zanardi , who had to make do with the old style aerodynamics today , was unable to better tenth fastest. The team will have the new bodywork for Zanardi tomorrow.
No faster for Ferrari
Eddie Irvine worked on the set-up of his Marlboro-Ferrari this afternoon, the Irishman not beating his morning time and slipping back to third place overall as he concentrated on finding a good race set-up. Michael Schumacher, who had a high speed trip along the grass at the exit of the first corner, was also working on set-up and aerodynamic balance dropping back to sixth place overall with his morning time, but confident that he would be fighting for the pole tomorrow.
Barrichello up to fifth for Stewart
Rubens Barrichello was happy with his lap that brought him the fifth fastest time of the day this afternoon, but he was still complaining of an overall lack of traction. Johnny Herbert was unable to better 18th fastest time , the Englishman making up for the time lost this morning due to engine problems.
Hill still ahead for Jordan
Damon Hill ended up seventh fastest for Jordan today, the local hero happy with the way his car is performing here. Heinz Harald Frentzen was a distant 14th , but said later, "I didn't go for a time. I just concentrated on finding a good race set-up."
In brief...
The Prost team did not return to the track this afternoon following Trulli's suspension failure this morning. They stripped their cars and sent the wishbones to John Barnard's B3 fabrication department to be checked. Fisichella had a spin, but was able to continue. Wurz stopped early with a broken drive-shaft on his car.
Pedro Diniz was an impressive eighth fastest this afternoon, saying that he had cured his understeer problems. Sauber team-mate Jean Alesi was back in twelfth place complaining that nothing was working properly on his car.
Ricardo Zonta had found a better balance with his BAR this afternoon and jumped up to 11th place, just behind Villeneuve in 9th spot.Both Arrows drivers complained that their cars lacked grip at this track.
Friday Free Practice - Accumulated Times
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Hakkinen Mclaren Mercedes 1:26.981 212.736 kmph
2. R.Schumacher Williams Supertec 1:27.004 + 0.023
3. Irvine Ferrari 1:27.061 + 0.080
4. Coulthard Mclaren Mercedes 1:27.155 + 0.174
5. Barrichello Stewart Ford 1:27.158 + 0.177
6. M.Schumacher Ferrari 1:27.327 + 0.346
7. Hill Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:27.381 + 0.400
8. Diniz Sauber Petronas 1:27.931 + 0.950
9. Villeneuve BAR Supertec 1:27.981 + 1.000
10. Zanardi Williams Supertec 1:28.162 + 1.181
11. Zonta BAR Supertec 1:28.238 + 1.257
12. Alesi Sauber Petronas 1:28.472 + 1.491
13. Fisichella Benetton Playlife 1:28.546 + 1.565
14. Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:28.595 + 1.614
15. Wurz Benetton Playlife 1:28.740 + 1.759
16. Trulli Prost Peugeot 1:28.883 + 1.902
17. Badoer Minardi Ford 1:29.130 + 2.149
18. Herbert Stewart Ford 1:29.201 + 2.220
19. Gene Minardi Ford 1:29.416 + 2.435
20. de la Rosa Arrows TWR 1:29.439 + 2.458
21. Takagi Arrows TWR 1:29.630 + 2.649
22. Panis Prost Peugeot 1:30.372 + 3.391
All timing unofficial
Weather: Dry, warm and sunny
Temperature: Ambient - 22°C, track temperature - 29°C