Schumacher fastest overall despite crash

The German lost control at Stewart Bend, a fast right-hander of the Melbourne track, 27 minutes into the final session. The Ferrari skated across the gravel and hit the tyres very hard, causing a lot of damage to the left-hand side. Schumacher climbed out of the car unaided, and was ferried back to the pits on the back of a motorcycle.

He admitted it was his mistake that caused the incident, but having topped the times on the first day of the new season he said he was satisfied with what Ferrari had achieved.

"The car slipped away from me and I lost control," he said. "It's my fault, I was going too fast. I just ran out of room. Luckily I didn't hurt myself. Things like this happen in motor racing.

"Except for that accident we can be quite content. We fulfilled our expectations.

"We improved the car quite a lot from morning to afternoon and there is plenty of room for improvement tomorrow. All in all we can be satisfied. Rubens and I are close and we are not one second behind the McLarens."

Rubens Barrichello wound up third in his first Ferrari drive, just three tenths slower than his team mate.

Team boss Jean Todt said the car was unlikely to be repaired in time for qualifying but would be ready for raceday.

Both McLaren drivers David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen suffered spins on their way to second and fourth overall, Coulthard going off at the same corner as Schumacher.

There were strong showings from BAR drivers Jacques Villeneuve and Ricardo Zonta in fifth and ninth, while rookie Gaston Mazzacane was the best of the newcomers in an excellent 12th place in the Minardi.

The full times, combined from both free practice sessions are: