Friday test: Renault sets early pace

The Spaniard completed 44 laps during the session, with his fastest of 1m21.547s shading Trulli by 0.174s. The Italian escaped a massive spin midway through the session, losing control of his Renault heading into Priory. His car skidded across the gravel trap, although fortuitously he came to a halt on the National circuit straight, from where he was able to recover to the pit lane.

Mark Webber was third quickest for Jaguar, 0.513s off Alonso's pace, ahead of the third Renault of the team's Friday tester, Allan McNish. Antonio Pizzonia was fifth quickest in the second Jaguar.

Giancarlo Fisichella was sixth fastest ahead of his rookie team-mate Ralph Firman. The Briton lost time early on with some mechanical trouble, although he was still able to complete 30 laps during the session.

Jos Verstappen won the battle of the Minardi drivers in eighth, ahead of Justin Wilson. The rookie had a troubled start to his home Grand Prix, with mechanical trouble preventing him from running for the first 40 minutes of the session.