The day started with a wet track but as the weather cleared the action heated up and through the final ten minutes of the second 45-minute run the fight was fierce.

Ralf Schumacher was first to hit Albert Park on dry rubber and immediately went to the top of the timesheets. Jarno Trulli followed his team-mate’s lead before Renault bought Toyota down a peg through Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso.

But it was to be McLaren who had the final say with first Juan Pablo Montoya and then Raikkonen setting astonishing times on their final attempts.

Villeneuve decided to leave the pit garage with a tyre warmer still left on the car.

The final order – which finished with Raikkonen on top from Alonso, Montoya, Fisichella and Jenson Button – created the foundations for a fascinating afternoon.