Spanish GP: first practice

After half an hour, track conditions prevented all but nine of the cars from venturing onto the track, while only seven of those had attempted any kind of fast lap.

The yellow flags were brought out with 25 minutes remaining in order to remove Ricardo Zonta's BAR which had parked beside the track, while Alesi had spun his Prost but was able to continue.

Jean Alesi then went fastest with a lap of 1m24.009.

The really fast men did not venture onto the still-dirty track until five minutes of the session were left. David Coulthard was among the quickest, but punctuated his laps with visits to the pits, meaning he registered no time.

1 M Schumacher Ferrari 1m21.982
2 Barrichello Ferrari 1m22.549
3 Hakkinen McLaren 1m23.282
4 R Schumacher Williams 1m24.689
5 Alesi Prost 1m24.009
6 Fisichella Benetton 1m24.026
7 Herbert Jaguar 1m24.114
8 Wurz Benetton 1m24.161
9 Irvine Jaguar 1m24.346
10 Verstappen Arrows 1m24.451
11 Diniz Sauber 1m24.732
12 Zonta BAR 1m24.981
13 Heidfeld Prost 1m24.026
14 Button Williams 1m25.140
15 Gene Minardi 1m25.235
16 DeLa Rosa Arrows 1m25.243
17 Salo Sauber 1m25.388
18 Mazzacane Minardi 1m26.422
19 Villeneuve BAR 1m41.134
20 Trulli Jordan No time
21 Coulthard McLaren No time
22 Frentzen Jordan No time