Gearbox problems for Montoya in 1st Practice

One driver who would have very little track time was BMW WilliamsF1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya who would lose time due to a faulty gearbox which required a gearbox change. Juan Pablo would finish the session in last position while team-mate Ralf Schumacher was able to set a time good enough for tenth.

By the end of the session it would be Hungarian Grand Prix winner Rubens Barrichello who would set the fastest time with a lap of 1m:49.034 after completing eight laps. Behind Barrichello came Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher. It was only in the closing moments of the session that Barrichello was able to set a time faster than Michael.

In third came McLaren's David Coulthard, who was a second slower than the leading Ferrari's. Coulthard was to be involved in a moment with Michael Schumacher when the Ferrari driver was on a very quick lap only to come across Coulthard momentarily halted Michael's progress, the Ferrari star was not amused.

Renault's Jarno Trulli finished in fourth, followed by McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen, Jaguar’s Eddie Irvine, and Takuma Sato in the Jordan Honda.

For Raikkonen his session would end when he developed a problem on the approach to Blanchimont. With just half an hour before the second session, the McLaren crew had their work cut out if the Finn was to play any further part in today's proceedings.

Two drivers who were impressive in the session were Eddie Irvine and Takuma Sato. With their futures unclear both drivers must be out to impress. This was especially true for Takuma Sato who was attacking Eau Rouge.

Renault's Jenson Button was eighth, ahead of Mika Salo who announced that he would be retiring from competition at the end of the year, and BMW WilliamsF1's Ralf Schumacher.

Scotsman Allan McNish was eleventh, ahead of Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld and Hungarian sixth place finisher Giancarlo Fisichella. Both Toyota drivers seemed to have a point to prove with Allan McNish clearly determined to find a decent drive for next year and not follow his team-mate Salo into retirement.

Jaguar's Pedro de la Rosa was fourteenth, ahead of Jacques Villeneuve, Olivier Panis, Felipe Massa, and Minardi’s temporary replacement Anthony Davidson. Panis would have an engine failure in the closing moments of the session.

Anthony Davidson was lucky to keep it out of the barriers following a slight error at La Source, the youngster giving team-mate Mark Webber a good run for his money. Webber was behind in nineteenth, ahead of Juan-Pablo Montoya who completed only three laps.

The Arrows cars did not complete any running this morning. The team is still waiting for cash from its new investor Cal Smith.

With only half an hour before the start of the second practice those drivers with problems with their cars were going to find the going difficult.