Practice 1: Schumacher on top again

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher laid down his marker ahead of this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix, although it took him 53 minutes of the first free practice session to top the times and resume normal service

On a circuit where teams concentrate on qualifying set-up more than any other, the session started damp but soon dried out. The reigning world champion lapped the tight street circuit in 1m21.094s, three-tenths clear of last year's pole position man David Coulthard (McLaren). Jarno Trulli demonstrated Renault's potential with the third quickest time, ahead of the second Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen continued Arrows' good run of form with the fifth fastest time, ahead of Jacques Villeneuve and his BAR team-mate Olivier Panis. Jenson Button (Renault) was eighth fastest.

Pedro de la Rosa got Jaguar's weekend off to a miserable start when he crashed his Cosworth-powered R3 on the exit of the Swimming Pool. Also in the wall was Kimi Raikkonen, who shunted his McLaren-Mercedes at Rascasse.

Like de la Rosa, he also removed the right-front corner from his car, which should put both out for the second session too. Despite his shunt, Raikkonen ended the session ninth quickest.

Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW) was forced into a U-turn after overshooting at Mirabeau and was only 16th fastest, just behind an impressive Mark Webber (Minardi). Montoya's team-mate Ralf Schumacher was 10th.

Eddie Irvine was 11th fastest for Jaguar, ahead of fellow Brit Allan McNish, who impressively outpaced Toyota team-mate Mika Salo on his Monaco debut.

Jordan had another trying day, with Takuma Sato only 17th fastest and Giancarlo Fisichella last and stranded in the pits with technical problems.

For full practice session 1 results, click here.