Williams expects Ferrari to attack

"I was coming here thinking it would be a bit like Magny-Cours," said pole man Juan Pablo Montoya of the French GP, where Williams scored a 1-2 finish. "But I think this race will be quite a bit harder. I don't think we will run away it. We are looking good but I think the Bridgestone cars will be quite a challenge as well. On the long runs they have been very strong."

The Ferraris line up third (Rubens Barrichello) and sixth (Schumacher). The Brazilian was quicker than the reigning champion for the second successive race, but the 0.4s gap between them was influenced by Rubens being on the softer Bridgestone tyre.

"We are taking Ferrari very seriously," said team principal Frank Williams. "It is worth noting that Michael was slowish in sectors one and two, but by the time he got to sector three he was purple [the colour that indicates the quickest on the timing screens]. That tells us that he has got a very hard tyre and there will be even higher track temperatures in the race, so maybe he will go very well."