Juan Pablo improves in opening Saturday practice

At the front it would be Michael Schumacher who would set the fastest time followed by McLaren's David Coulthard driving the new MP4-19B. Michael was able to set a time in the 1m:14 second bracket, a time of 1m:14.944. He would lead Coulthard by 0.458 seconds.

Coulthard's team-mate Kimi Raikkonen would complete an installation lap before sitting out the remaining session while his car was worked on by mechanics.

In third just 0.021 seconds behind was Renault's Jarno Trulli, followed by teammate Fernando Alonso. The Toyota drivers continued to impress with Olivier Panis fifth ahead of Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello in sixth, Williams' Juan Pablo Montoya seventh and Jaguar driver Mark Webber eighth.

Sauber's Giancarlo Fisichella was ninth with BAR's Jenson Button completing the top-ten.

Fisichella had spun at turn thirteen early in the session but was able to continue, while Trulli was forced off the circuit briefly after braking late at the same corner.

As announced yesterday the drivers had the opportunity to finalise their tyre choices for qualifying and the race during the morning's two practice sessions.