Pre-qual: Rubens on top

Schumacher, first out as usual, banged in a splendid 1m19.107s lap - getting on for half a second quicker than anyone else all weekend. Juan Pablo Montoya's Williams looked like the only car capable of toppling him early on, after a first sector that was fractionally faster, but the Colombian's lap fell away.

Then Barrichello managed his 1m18.436s, which must have left some open mouths in the pit lane. That was over one second faster than anyone went this morning in free practice. When the Saubers got in on the act, the reason became clear. Felipe Massa, who will lose 10 spots on the grid after an engine change this morning, produced 1m19.658s, with Giancarlo Fisichella just 0.010s slower in fourth.

Takuma Sato produced a solid 1m19.695s to take the 'Michelin pole', over a tenth clear of Montoya. Jenson Button, second on track, was seventh fastest in the second BAR, ahead of Jarno Trulli (Renault), Antonio Pizzonia (Williams) and a suprisingly lacklustre Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren).

Last year's winner Fernando Alonso was down in 11th in his Renault, ahead of new Toyota racer Cristiano da Matta, who outpaced team-mate Olivier Panis (14th). Nick Heidfeld was an impressive 13th in his Jordan, with team-mate Giorgio Pantano 15th.

Mark Webber overshot Turn 1 after locking up, a problem that appears to have been blighting the Jaguars all weekend. Jag team-mate Christian Klien was down in 18th ahead of the Minardis, Gianmaria Bruni and Zsolt Baumgartner.