Formula 1

Montoya ahead after British GP Saturday practices

Juan Pablo Montoya claimed the fastest time at the end of Saturday practices for the British Grand Prix, the Williams driver's best being a 1:21.415. McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen topped the first session while the Ferraris lurked in second and third ...

Published: Jul 20, 2003, 11:57 AM

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Juan Pablo Montoya claimed the fastest time at the end of Saturday practices for the British Grand Prix, the Williams driver's best being a 1:21.415. McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen topped the first session while the Ferraris lurked in second and third both practices. Rubens Barrichello led Michael Schumacher behind Montoya in the second session.

Juan Pablo Montoya.

Photo by Mark Gledhill.

A dry track and a slightly less dull day greeted the first session and Justin Wilson was first man out, the Minardi followed by several others. Ralf Schumacher set the first time, the Williams clocking a 1:24.162, Jaguar's Antonio Pizzonia following up seven tenths behind. Michael eclipsed baby brother with a 1:22.929 and Jenson Button moved into second, the BAR nine tenths behind the Ferrari.

Button was replaced by the Williams of Montoya, four tenths behind Michael, and Rubens Barrichello into third. The Brazilian then took over from teammate Michael, a 1:22.397 putting him at the top of the times. Jarno Trulli and the pair of McLarens were in the top six, Cristiano da Matta, Jacques Villeneuve and Heinz-Harald Frentzen round off the top ten.

Fernando Alonso and Montoya squabbled over third fastest, the Colombian ahead, and Villeneuve moved up to fifth. Michael backed up Barrichello, four tenths behind the Brazilian in second and further down the order, Kimi Raikkonen posted tenth. The Toyota duo of da Matta and Olivier Panis were just outside the top ten, along with Mark Webber.

Michael improved on his time but stayed second then Raikkonen dislodged Barrichello from the top spot. 1:22.263 for the Finn, just a tenth faster than the Ferrari. Villeneuve abruptly ended his session with a blown engine but it was in the final minutes. Raikkonen stayed at the top ahead of the two Ferraris, Montoya and Alonso.

Michael returned to the front at the start of the second session, followed by Panis and da Matta up to fourth. Trulli took third quickest and Button ninth but there was little in the way of track activity. Montoya moved up to second, three tenths behind Michael, while Justin Wilson had a brief off track excursion. Ralf got even closer to Michael's time, just a tenth off, but Schumacher Senior remained at the top.

At the last corner Michael also had a minor wander off the track but kept it together and Barrichello improved to fourth. Pizzonia stopped near the pit lane exit with some kind of mechanical problem and in the final minutes there was some last gasp activity.

Montoya moved to the top with a 1:21.415, Barrichello a tenth behind. Coulthard and Raikkonen improved a couple of places, Ralf improved his time but stayed fourth. All in all a very quiet second session. Final top eight classification: Montoya, Barrichello, M. Schumacher, R. Schumacher, Panis, Coulthard, Trulli, Raikkonen.

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