Warm-up: Williams gives it the old 1-2

Ralf Schumacher led the times for much of the session and wasn't to be denied when Williams-BMW team mate Juan Pablo Montoya popped in a late flyer as the German had one of his own left in the tank. Schumacher eventually took the fastest time by 0.030secs with a 1m42.621s on his last lap.

Coulthard's 1m42.743s will give him hope for this afternoon's race, but current World Championship leader Michael Schumacher was breathing right down his neck, just 0.004secs in arrears.

Schumacher's Ferrari team mate Rubens Barrichello was fifth fastest, ahead of McLaren's Mika Hakkinen. Nick Heidfeld showed Sauber is best of the rest once again with the seventh fastest time, ahead of the impressive Enrique Bernoldi as both Arrows-Asiatechs showed excellent speed through the traps.

Jordan suffered an absolutely nightmarish session. Jarno Trulli's Honda engine blew up on the exit of the Ostkurve on his third lap and, minutes later, Ricardo Zonta spun into the gravel at the Sudkurve, gently nudging the tyrewall.

All of this was much to the delight of the German crowd, who rejoiced in the misfortune of the Silverstone-based team that sacked Heinz-Harald Frentzen earlier this week. Adding insult to injury, a Jordan engineer was heard to quip over the team radio: "Is there anyone out there? Time for a cup of coffee then."

Trulli, now an expert in finding his way back to the pits from the extremities of the Hockenheim forest after his escapades in qualifying yesterday, took less than 10 minutes to find his way back and into the spare car. He ended the session back in 14th, however.

Zonta was not the only man in the gravel, as Minardi's Fernando Alonso hit the tyrewall just feet away from where the Brazilian had done likewise. Obviously feeling left out, team mate Tarso Marques had a big spin into the gravel at the Ostkurve, almost taking Prost's Luciano Burti with him.

Another to spin there was Benetton's Giancarlo Fisichella, while Jaguar wasn't free from error either as Pedro de la Rosa was forced to stop at the first chicane when his left-front wheel nut parted company with his R2 although, fortunately, his wheel didn't - so much for self-tightening nuts then...

For full results, click here.