First out this afternoon is Antonio Pizzonia, the Jaguar star has had a difficult weekend thus far though things seemed to pick up in this morning's second session. If you remember, Antonio didn't post a time in yesterday's qualifying session, having failed to get the car started. The Jaguars have been plagued with fuel pressure problems, for which the team is hoping to find a solution.

The Brazilian comes out and qualifying is underway. 25.1 at the first split, 32.8 at the second. 1:38.516, the Brazilian sets the benchmark for the day.

In the Ferrari pit the team is working on Michael Schumacher's car which seems to have a serious problem, the German only completed a couple of laps in the warm-up.

25.5 at the first split for Justin Wilson in the Minardi, 34 at the second, a lot quicker than Pizzonia. 1:40.599, he lost a handful of time in the last sector.

Jos Verstappen completes the first sector in 25.2, slightly slower than Pizzonia. 34.1 in the second sector, he's lost time. The Dutchman crosses the line at 1:40.417 to go second.

Now it's Jordan's Ralph Firman on track, the Anglo-Irishman completes the first sector in 25.4, and the second in 33.9. He's made up time in the second sector and at the end of the lap he posts 1:40.910, he's behind the Minardis, a major disappointment.

Now it's Mark Webber's turn to go for pole, the Jaguar star keen to leap-frog his team-mate. 25.4 at the first split, 32.6 best of the session in the second. The Australian completes the lap in 1:38.624 to go second. Somehow the Jaguar star lost vital time in the last sector.

At the first 'break' the order is: Pizzonia, Webber, Verstappen, Wilson and Firman.

Now it's Villeneuve in the BAR, the Canadian out to prove a point. 24.9 at the first split, best of the day. He locks up going into Turn 2 losing time, 33 at the second split. Into Turn 15 and he locks up again but posts a 1:38.289 to grab provisional pole.

Olivier Panis is now on track the Frenchman beaten by his Brazilian team-mate this morning. 24.9 at the first split, 33.1 at the second, not the most impressive of laps. Over the line at 1:38.094, the Frenchman gained a massive amount of time in the final sector.

Ralf Schumacher is next out in the WilliamsF1. 25 at the first split not the best of the day. 33.3 at the second the German down on Panis in both sectors. Over the line at 1:38.789 to go a very disappointing fifth. That said we simply don't know what sort of fuel loads any of these guys are running on.

Fisichella is on track, the Italian completes the first sector in 25.2. 32.7 in the second sector, looks like a good lap. 1:38.416, the Roman goes third.

Next out is Cristiano da Matta who is running in the spare car, having looked so impressive this morning. 25.1 in the first sector, 33 in the second. The Brazilian crosses the line at 1:38.097 to go second behind his team-mate.

At the second break: Panis, da Matta, Villeneuve, Fisichella, Pizzonia, Webber, Ralf, Verstappen, Wilson & Firman.

Now it's Fernando Alonso's opportunity to shine. 24.8 at the first split, best of the session thus far. 32.5 at the second split, again best of the day, a superb lap so far. 1:37.044 a brilliant lap, ultra-clean and over a second quicker than Panis.

25 at the first split for Jenson Button, the BAR star keen to finish ahead of his Canadian team-mate. 32.7 at the second split, good but not brilliant. Over the line at 1:38.073 to go second, the English youngster made up a massive amount of time in the final sector.

Now it's Sauber's Heinz-Harald Frentzen that takes to the track. 24.9 at the first split for the German, 32.9 at the second, this could be good enough for fourth or fifth. 1:38.291, the German goes sixth.

Next out is the second Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld. Looking good, 24.9 at the first split. The German is timed at 32.7 at the second split, the Sauber looking nice and stable. 1:37.766 the youngster goes second having found a lot of time in the final sector. Impressive, or merely a light fuel load?

Jarno Trulli takes to the track, the Italian will be keen to match his team-mate who tops the timesheets. 24.9 at the first split, 32.7 at the second, not looking good at this point. 1:37.217 over the line to go second, the Italian quickest of all in the final sector.

Third break, just five cars left to run, and the order is: Alonso, Trulli, Heidfeld, Button, Panis, da Matta, Villeneuve, Frentzen, Fisichella and Pizzonia.

Clouds are overhead and the track has cooled slightly.

Now it's Melbourne winner David Coulthard on track, the Scot has been consistently quick all weekend. 24.8 best time of the day at the first split, is this the pole-setting lap? 32.7 at the second split, he's lost time. Over the line at 1:37.454 to go third behind the two Renaults.

Kimi Raikkonen takes to the track, can he make up for the disappointment of Melbourne? 24.9 at the first split, he matches Coulthard. At the hairpin the car locks up, he loses precious time, 32.8 at the second split. 1:37.858 the Finn goes fifth, a massive loss of time in the last two sectors.

Now it's Montoya, what can the Colombian do, what magic can he weave? 25 at the first split, 32.6 at the second, he needs to produce something very special in the final sector. 1:37.974, 'the squirrel' goes sixth.

Rubens Barrichello is on track the Ferrari star keen to take his usual place on the front row. 24.9 at the first split, he's unable to match Alonso. 32.6 at the second split, it's good but it doesn't look as if it will be good enough. 1:37.579 over the line, the Brazilian goes fourth.

Now it's the turn of the reigning World Champion, Michael Schumacher. 24.9 at the first split, he's pushing hard, the car gets slightly out of line. 32.5 at the second split, best of the day in this sector. 1:37.393, the German goes third to leave the two Renaults on the front row.

Of course none of us are privy to what fuel loads these guys are running with so even though the grid is slightly topsy-turvy we don't know how seriously to take this. That said a great performance from Alonso and Trulli.

One would say that the big disappointments are Ralf Schumacher (seventeenth) and Firman (twentieth) however we don't have a clue what strategies these guys are on.

An interesting session but in this new era we come away from qualifying with more questions than answers, the good news being that hopefully some of the questions will be answered tomorrow afternoon.