New section of track gets mixed reviews

A number of cars overshot the first corner, a switchback right-hand hairpin, including Sauber's Felipe Massa who had a brief trip through the dirt on the exit. Reigning world champion Michael Schumacher proved it was possible to overshoot the corner straight out of the pit lane, while McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen was regularly locking up his wheels under braking and struggling to get around cleanly.

"I think it's pretty good," said Jordan's Takuma Sato, who last raced at the Nurburgring in Formula Opel. "It gives more scope for overtaking. It's a bit bumpy on the entry, though, and you are unsighted in the first corner itself. Overall, it's a good feeling, I think."

However, team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella was less enthusiastic. He said: "I don't like the changes to the circuit as it makes everything too slow."

Arrows driver Heinz-Harald Frentzen said. "I like the new track layout. I've got used to the new combination of corners now and I think it will create some overtaking opportunities in the race on Sunday."

One of the more vociferous opponents of the changes was Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya, who said: "The new chicane is much too slow for me, I preferred it as it was before."

A number of drivers have questioned the severity of the opening bend, however, and the potential for an accident on the first lap of the race.

"There is a real chance of some accidents from the start," said Toyota's Allan McNish, who was an impressive fourth fastest in the first practice session.

Other drivers doubt that the changes will have an impact on increasing the amount of overtaking too.

"The new section of the track is fine but it's very bumpy which might result in not a lot of overtaking at the first corner," said David Coulthard. "However, overall it's good."