Another pole for Montoya in France

Qualifying would see both Arrows drivers do slow laps in order not to qualify for the race, which appeared to be part of their strategy in their negotiations. If they wouldn't participate at all they'd have to pay a penalty, that's why they are at least lapping slowly.

Jordan driver Takuma Sato would be the first to complete his flying lap. He would set a time of 1m:14.185. Team-mate Fisichella would miss qualifying after his shunt this morning. Yoong would set a time of 1m:17.366, making it hard for him to meet the 107% mark. Nine minutes into the session and Sato leads ahead of Yoong, Frentzen and Bernoldi.

Minardi's Mark Webber would go second, 2.5 secs faster than Yoong. Webber would stall his Minardi with technical problems during his in lap. Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello would set a time of 1m:13.058, which is quicker than his morning time. Eddie Irvine would go eighth, while Trulli would move into second with a lap of 1m:13.402.

BAR's Olivier Panis would go fifth fastest while Montoya would take to the track for his first flying lap. He would be fastest at T1 and would finally go quickest by 0.3 secs from Barrichello. Team-mate Ralf Schumacher would move into second. So at this early stage of qualifying with fifteen minutes complete was Montoya, R Schumacher, Barrichello, Trulli, Sato, de la Rosa, Irvine, Salo, McNish, Panis, Webber, Yoong.

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher would finally take to the track, but he would have an off in the last corner going across the gravel for the third fastest time, but this time was not classified. In his next flying lap Barrichello would set the fastest time by 0.1 secs from Montoya. Raikkonen would move into fifth with Irvine an encouraging sixth.

Both Montoya and Ralf would return to the track for their next runs. Montoya would again take the lead now ahead of Barrichello with a lap of 1m:12.346, Ralf was next followed by Jenson Button. Michael Schumacher would, after his earlier problems, would take provisional pole from Montoya by 0.059 secs. Raikkonen would go third while McLaren team-mate Coulthard would move into sixth.

So after thirty minutes the order was Michael Schumacher with a 1m:12.287, Montoya (0.1), Raikkonen (0.2), Barrichello (0.3), R Schumacher (0.4), and Coulthard (0.6). Button and Trulli were now in seventh and eighth. Button would improve and takes sixth, less than half a second behind the lead. Outside the 107% ruling were Frentzen, Bernoldi and Fisichella.

The Toyotas are off the pace with Mika Salo only thirteenth. This is a sursprise as the smooth track surface should suit them. Panis would move up into twelfth, 0.2 secs quicker than Villeneuve. Both BMW WilliamF1 Team cars were waiting in the pits. Both Ralf and Juan Pablo would return to the track and Montoya on his next flying lap would be 0.079 secs ahead at end of the first sector and by the end of the lap he would post a time of 1m:12.117 and take provisional pole again. Ralf would also improve and take third behind his brother Michael.

Raikkonen would seta time of 1m:12.542, if he had not made a mistake at the last corner he could have gone quickest. Team-mate Coulthard is in sixth, 0.526 behind the lead. As Juan Pablo and Ralf go back to the pits, the rest of the top teams would go back out including Michael Schumacher. Michael would be 0.068 behind at T1, 0.135 ahead at T2 and finally he would set a time of 1m:12.212 remaining in second. Frentzen would leave the paddock and he will not participate in tomorrow's race.

Michael Schumacher's best time was cancelled as he had cut a corner, but it wouldn't change his second position. Trulli's next lap would see him fail to improve, remaining eighth. Barrichello's next flying lap would see him go second with a time of 1m:12.197. So the order was Montoya, Barrichello, Michael Schumacher, Ralf Schumacher, Raikkonen, and Coulthard, that is to say the big three teams were dominating qualifying.

In a further display of his good form Raikkonen would seta time of 1m:12.244 moving into third, 0.127 behind the lead. The drivers were now all out for their last runs. Michael Schumacher and the WilliamsF1 drivers both would begin their final runs. Ralf Schumacher would loses it in the last corner as team-mate Montoya improves on his earlier time.

Montoya was on a flyer at the end of the session crossing the line with an awesome 1m11.985. As for Michael Schumacher his final run would only be good enough for second leaving Juan Pablo in pole for Sunday's race.

For the BMW WilliamsF1 team Juan Pablo's performance was memorable in that he has taken five poles in a row, but like other races he has to turn this pole position into a race victory. His Michelin tyres are again going to play a major part in his ability to deliver on this.