Its all red in Hungary as Ferrari take charge

Barrichello continues to lap and has another minor off at turn 6 as he takes to the gravel. Many more are finding it tough as Villeneuve and Coulthard all spin off track in the opening moments. Villeneuve putting down a lot of gravel and dust on the track when he returns to the racing line! Ralf Schumacher is next to leave the track and he too leaves a dirty track as he returns to the pitlane. Irvine is another spinner as he appears to be caught out on the dust and gravel left by a previous spinner. Even the world champion was to suffer as he spins in the closing stages of the lap, but he calmly selected reverse and continued on his way.

With the track being so slippery both Ferrari drivers retired to the pits to wait for others to clean up the dirt left on the circuit and get the grip level back up. Raikkonen in the McLaren is out on track and it appears that the Michelins are beginning to improve as he was fastest overall in sector two but could not hold it together in the final sector, but they are getting closer to the Ferrari’s. After seeing this Michael Schumacher was back on track and he instantly improves his best time putting in a 1.16.346 to extend his lead at the top for the time being as a little bit of rain once again begins to fall down on the Hungaroring.

The rain has not really left much of an impression on the track maybe giving it a bit less grip but Michael Schumacher is out keen to try the conditions in case this situation occurs during the race on Sunday. A bit slower for Schumacher but a lap of 1.16.419 but amazingly his third sector time was the fastest seen so far, so the conditions are not much of a problem to the German who is still getting his F2002 a bit out of shape in turn 2. Barrichello is also back out on track and once again he is off the track as he runs very wide at turn 4 but once again he keeps control and returns on his way without too much problems. Turn 4 seems to be a problem as Nick Heidfeld goes off as well this time however he tags the barriers and ends his session 20 minutes early.

Closing five minutes of the session and Schumacher is back on track but also taking the chance to try his launch control at the end of the pitlane. Michael takes it very easy for some reason, probably taking in every inch of the track as he constantly fiddles with setting on the steering wheel and below. Barrichello is also out on track and although he is setting personal bests he is still not able to move Michael from the front. As the session came to an end there was no further improvements in times but some more spinners as Montoya beaches his Williams then Massa finally delivers the crash he had been threatening all session.

So a good Friday for Ferrari to get the weekend underway. Both drivers look very fast and comfortable with the chassis and the Bridgestone tyres are working very well so far. But Friday is not the day to be fastest and Ferrari will know that hard work has yet to be done. In the pitlane their seems to be a very heated debate between Michael Schumacher and a Bridgestone technician, it seems that Michael won the debate!