Eau Rouge less of a challenge

Ralf Schumacher said in last week's AUTOSPORT magazine that Eau Rouge had lost a bit of glamour and that it was possible to take it flat-out in qualifying without concern.

A man for whom that was not always the case is Jacques Villeneuve. He always used to take it flat but assuredly not 'without concern' as enormous shunts there with both Williams and BAR must have planted the seed of doubt in even the French Canadian's head.

Villeneuve agrees with Ralf Schumacher. "I always enjoy driving here," he said after the opening day's practice in Belgium, "but it was easy to take Eau Rouge flat today; with traction control and high grip it's now the same for everybody."

A flattening of the exit kerb at the top of Eau Rouge has also made the consequences of a mistake less dire, with drivers now straight-lining the kerb on the run through Raidillon.

Villeneuve finished the session in 13th place and said: "Hopefully we'll have a better day tomorrow and a little more set-up time."