The Ferrari number one seemed to be rejuvenated, posting a time of 1:19.882, a full nine tenths of a second ahead of second place Juan Pablo Montoya in the McLaren (1:20.779).

Third place went to Jarno Trulli in the Toyota (1:20.839), and fourth to Kimi Raikkonen in the second McLaren.

Raikkonen's performance was particularly impressive, the Finn going out first on a track well known for dust and debris, posting a time of 1:20.891.

Ralf Schumacher will start fifth in his Toyota (1:20.964), while World Championship leader Fernando Alonso could only manage sixth in the lead Renault after enjoying a lurid moment at the final corner on his lap. (1:21.141.)

The Renaults seemed to be struggling for ultimate pace here, with second driver Giancarlo Fisichella (1:21.333) only just scraping into the top ten in ninth.

Rubens Barrichello worked hard with his Ferrari to post 1:21.158 for seventh, while the two BAR-Honda's showed good pace with Jenson Button in eighth (1:21.302) and Takuma Sato rounding out the top ten on 1:21.787.

In the lower order, both Red Bull Racing cars performed well, Christian Klien (1:21.937) an excellent eleventh and team leader David Coulthard 13th with 1:22.279.

Williams continue to struggle and are again running untested aerodynamic parts on the cars. Nick Heidfeld did well to qualify 12th (1:22.086) while Mark Webber was hampered by having to run second and starts 16th (1:23.495).

The two Saubers start 14th and 15th, Felipe Massa (1:22.565) ahead of Jacques Villeneuve (1:22.846).

In the Jordan/Minardi battle Crijstian Albers inpressed again with a time of 1:24.332 and will start 17th, comfortably quicker than the fastest Jordan of Narain Karthikeyan on 1:25.057.

The final pair are Robert Doornbos in the second Minardi (1:25.484) and Tiago Monteiro, who opted not to set a time in his Jordan and has again changed an engine.

The focus for the race will, as usual, be on strategy, with the suspicion being that the pole-sitting Ferrari may be running significantly less fuel than the two McLarens.

The McLaren is clearly the car with the best outright pace, but it remains to be seen whether the team have overcome the repeated niggling mechanical failures that have hampered Raikkonens championship challenge so badly.

With Renault clearly not quite on the pace here it is left to the two Toyotas to pick up the 'next best' mantle, although those behind them on the grid must be concerned following the red and white cars ability to act as 'mobile chicanes' in race trim.

This could be a classic encounter between seven times champion Michael Schumacher and the two McLarens of Montoya and Raikkonen.