McLaren favourite for the front row
At the end of the final free practice session when most of the drivers had tried a quick qualifying lap before this afternoon's qualifying session it looks as though the McLaren team are favourite for the front row spot. Mika Hakkinen destroyed his opposition, including his own teammate David Coulthard, as he took the fastest time of the session in 1:24.489 secs, the only driver to break 1:25.0 secs. Coulthard took the second spot, 0.66 secs behind Hakkinen, the team reporting a trouble free session.
Can Michael beat the McLarens?
Although Michael Schumacher took third place he was 8/10th's of a second slower than Hakkinen, the German having difficulty adjusting his car's set-up to the cooler track conditions this morning. Eddie Irvine ended up in sixth place, his session brought to an end 22 minutes early after he spun off and ended up stuck in a gravel trap. With track temperatures expected to be a lot warmer for qualifying the Marlboro Ferraris could well be a lot closer than this morning's times indicated. Michael also practised pit stops during the session.
Frentzen takes fourth for Jordan
Heinz-Harald Frentzen put his Jordan onto fresh tyres and went for a quick lap at the start of the session setting what was to be the fourth fastest time of the morning. Damon Hill underlined the increase in Jordan's performance this weekend when he gradually improved his own times to take fifth fastest just behind Frentzen. The team had no mechanical problems throughout the session. Both drivers were also running the latest D-spec Mugen Honda engines.
Good showing from Stewart
Rubens Barrichello and Johnny Herbert put both their Stewart's into the top 10, Barrichello seventh fastest and Herbert ninth after making up for his lost time yesterday.
Ralf Schumacher slips to eighth
Ralf Schumacher slipped back to eighth fastest this morning, the German having a tussle with Jacques Villeneuve on the track as they tried to cut each other up at one stage. Alex Zanardi's car was fitted with the revised rear diffuser and sidepods today to match Schumacher's car, but after a spin he was further hampered by an engine misfire, the team deciding if they will change the engine for qualifying.
In brief...
The Prost wishbones got a clean bill of health from the B3 Technologies workshop last night, but both driver complained of a dramatic lack of grip. Villeneuve went off at Copse corner and damaged his BAR's under-tray.
Both the Benetton drivers were complaining of no grip and too much understeer. Wurz had a trip across the grass, but without damage to his car. Minardi were running a new spec Cosworth engine this morning, but were at the bottom of the time sheets.
Saturday Free Practice - Accumulated Times
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Hakkinen Mclaren Mercedes 1:24.489 219.011 kmph
2. Coulthard Mclaren Mercedes 1:25.151 + 0.662
3. M.Schumacher Ferrari 1:25.301 + 0.812
4. Frentzen Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:25.406 + 0.917
5. Hill Jordan Mugen-Honda 1:25.600 + 1.111
6. Irvine Ferrari 1:25.742 + 1.253
7. Barrichello Stewart Ford 1:25.946 + 1.457
8. R.Schumacher Williams Supertec 1:26.250 + 1.761
9. Herbert Stewart Ford 1:26.311 + 1.822
10. Villeneuve BAR Supertec 1:26.531 + 2.042
11. Diniz Sauber Petronas 1:26.564 + 2.075
12. Alesi Sauber Petronas 1:26.676 + 2.187
13. Zonta BAR Supertec 1:27.157 + 2.668
14. Wurz Benetton Playlife 1:27.193 + 2.704
15. Zanardi Williams Supertec 1:27.250 + 2.761
16. Fisichella Benetton Playlife 1:27.254 + 2.765
17. Trulli Prost Peugeot 1:27.309 + 2.820
18. Takagi Arrows TWR 1:27.782 + 3.293
19. Panis Prost Peugeot 1:27.864 + 3.375
20. de la Rosa Arrows TWR 1:27.977 + 3.488
21. Badoer Minardi Ford 1:28.376 + 3.887
22. Gene Minardi Ford 1:28.421 + 3.932
All timing unofficial