Like yesterday it's bright but cool, cooler than yesterday because the action begins two hours earlier.

Several drivers had 'offs' yesterday - most noticeably the two Ralfs in qualifying - however several other drivers, including Michael Schumacher had problems due to the 'greenness' of the track, together with dust.

As the lights turned green Cristiano da Matta led the high-speed snake out on to the track, Wilson, Pizzonia, Webber, Verstappen, Villeneuve, Coulthard, Alonso, Fisichella, Frentzen, Raikkonen, Panis, Firman, Trulli, Heidfeld and Button followed.

Frentzen stayed out as did Sauber team-mate Heidfeld, while most of the others returned to their garages. 1:12.996 for Heidfeld while the BAR drivers, who had also stayed out, posted 1:13.369 (JV) and 1:16.996 (JB).

Michael Schumacher came out five minutes into the session and like the BARs and Saubers remained on track after his installation lap. The German going straight to the top of the timesheets on his first timed lap with a 1:12.814.

Frentzen goes second with 1:12.984 but this is soon eclipsed by both Button and Ralf as Barrichello goes eighth on his first lap.

1:11.212 for Schumacher as the F2003-GA continues to 'stretch its legs', Barrichello goes third in the other car. Montoya goes seventh albeit 2s off the pace as Alonso goes second with a 1:11.618.

Antonio Pizzonia, who gets another dose of unhealthy criticism in today's edition of The Sun from Mr Irvine, goes third though he's soon leap frogged by fellow Brazilian Barrichello.

The two BARs are looking good with Button fifth and Villeneuve sixth, but no times from the McLaren drivers yet.

1:10.604 for Michael Schumacher, the German continuing to turn up the heat. The Toyotas have been out but both are over 2s off the pace, this isn't looking good for the Japanese team.

1:11.376 and Trulli goes third behind the two Ferraris, as Renault show signs of improvement since yesterday. Moments later Button goes third though he's soon leap-frogged by Webber, who's giving another great performance this weekend.

Coulthard is ninth though still no time from his team-mate, as Schumacher posts a 1:09.960.

After fifteen minutes the order is: Schumacher, Barrichello, Webber, Button, Trulli, Alonso, Pizzonia, Villeneuve, Coulthard and Fisichella.

Schumacher is remorseless he continues to set best times in various sectors, Barrichello is 0.437 off his pace while Webber - best of the rest - is 1.1s off the German's pace.

As the Australian improves so too does Frentzen while the Toyota slip further and further down the timesheet.

1:10.334 and Alonso goes second 0.374 behind Schumacher. With twenty minutes gone Raikkonen is the only drive yet to set a time.

If the Toyotas aren't looking too good, spare a thought for the WilliamsF1 drivers currently twelfth and seventeenth, though Ralf suddenly goes eighth with a 1:11.535, which is still 1.5s off his brother's pace.

Twenty-two minutes into the session and Raikkonen comes out to play, as Pizzonia goes sixth. 1:10.831 from the Finn is good enough for fifth as Trulli immediately goes fourth with a 1:10.397.

Schumacher goes through the gravel and heads back to the pits as Jos Verstappen stops in sector two, his session over. Meanwhile Heidfeld goes sixth with a 1:10.757.

At this point bottom of the timesheets is Montoya, 3.2s off the pace while team-mate Ralf is eleventh. Webber improves with a 1:10.725 while Fisichella moves up to eleventh.

Michael Schumacher is back on track with fifteen minutes remaining, at this point the order is: Schumacher, Alonso, Barrichello, Trulli, Webber, Coulthard, Heidfeld, Raikkonen, Frentzen and Pizzonia.

Schumacher posts a new benchmark, crossing the line at 1:09.340, after this one hot lap he returns to his garage.

Alonso's on a good lap as Ralf improves his time but stays eleventh and Juan Pablo goes ninth, albeit 1.4s off the pace. Fernando Alonso is just half-a-second off Schumacher's pace, but behind him the next thirteen cars are covered by less than a second.

Toyota are continuing to struggle, this is one team that will be celebrating the fact that the A1-Ring is to be dropped from the calendar. Currently da Matta is sixteenth while Panis is nineteenth, 3.2s off the pace.

1:10.347 and Villeneuve goes third, the BARs have been quiet thus far this morning, it's good to see that yesterday's pace wasn't a fluke. That said Button is currently fourteenth.

A best time of day in sector two for Barrichello, a man who certainly feels he's owed a win at this particular circuit. 1:09.504 the Brazilian goes second as Firman has a slight excursion. 1:09.454, the Brazilian makes another improvement next time around.

Best time of the day in the second sector for Fisichella, the Italian is currently fifteenth. It's a poor final sector for the Jordan driver but nonetheless he goes fifth with a 1:10.371.

1:10.044 and Heidfeld goes fourth, the Saubers are looking much better this morning, as Villeneuve goes fifth with a 1:10.063. Next time around the Canadian sets best time of the day in sector one though the next two sectors are disappointing, yet still it's good enough for third.

Panis improves to fifteenth in the dying moments as Pizzonia leapfrogs his team-mate to go sixth, the Brazilian continues to improve.. even though Eddie Irvine clearly thinks he's rubbish.

The session ends with Schumacher quickest ahead of Barrichello, Villeneuve, Alonso, Heidfeld, Pizzonia, Webber, Fisichella, Trulli and Frentzen.