Benetton's Morale Boosted by Improved Pace

The Benetton team received a morale boost on Friday, as both their drivers were able to move away from the last places of the Formula One field.

Giancarlo Fisichella, who last year qualified in third place at Hockenheim, completed one his team's best performances of the season by setting the eleventh fastest time despite a gearbox problem.

The Italian driver, who has scored the only point for the struggling Benetton team this year, was looking forward to continue with his good form in qualifying tomorrow.

"It was a quite good day and we are pleased with the way things have gone," Fisichella admitted. "We had a small gearbox problem during the first session, but the car has been well balanced from the start and I think we can be consistently quick here.

"We have made some improvements and found more grip and I am sure we will be competitive tomorrow. It is a nice feeling to have on a Friday and I am looking forward to qualifying."

Briton Jenson Button was almost half a second slower than Fisichella, ending the session in 15th place, and the young Brit admitted he struggled with oversteer.

"The biggest problem we had this morning was oversteer, especially in the stadium section," said Button. "I was quite a long way off Giancarlo, but we were running different kinds of tyre, which might have had something to do with it.

"Overall I don't think we are too bad and Giancarlo's position hints at our true potential. Generally the car has worked well ­ and Michelin has come up with a very effective tyre."