Fernando Alonso spearheaded the Anglo-French team’s challenge with an impressive last-minute lap time of 1:34.715 to top the timesheets.

Giancarlo Fisichella, who claimed pole position and the win in Australia two weeks ago, looked certain to finish second but was pipped at the death by Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher.

McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen was fourth fastest ahead of the impressive, and surprising, Toyota duo of Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher.

The heavily reworked TF105 showed strong pace and was competitive through the 45-minute run.

Williams also had two drivers in the top ten with Nick Heidfeld and Mark Webber finishing ninth and tenth respectively.

The team’s brake and gearbox issues from day one were solved but their apparent lack of pace was still causing trouble.