Heidfeld on course for unique hat-trick

The German is going for a Monaco hat trick; he won the last-ever F3 race here in 1997 and last season became the first driver to win an F3000 race in the principality.

'This has been a good start to the weekend,' he said, 'but it doesn't have any bearing on the race. I have to repeat this performance when qualifying begins tomorrow.'

The Astromega team celebrated a flying start to a new sponsorship deal with Benetton when Gonzalo Rodriguez set fastest time in the first of two free practice sessions.

'I like this track,' said the Uruguayan. 'The car felt pretty good, but the important thing is to get everything right tomorrow.'

To complete a satisfying day, Rodriguez's team-mate Justin Wilson was fastest Monaco rookie.

'The Benetton deal was obviously brilliant news,' said Justin, 'and I'm very pleased to have settled in so quickly because I have never done any kind of street race before.'

As always, drivers were punished heavily for the slightest error. The experienced Marc Goossens was one of several drivers to damage his car heavily.

He was joined in the barriers by team-mate Viktor Maslov, Marcelo Battistuzzi, Ricardo Mauricio and Norberto Fontana.

Practice times to follow.