Engine problems for Barrichello in session 1

15 minutes into the session and Schumacher is out on track for a flying run and he is locking his wheels going into the first chicane but he goes straight to the top of the times with a lap of 1 minute 23.319 seconds. Not as fast as yesterday so far, but his very next lap would see a big improvement with a 1.22.538. The times at the top however are a lot closer this morning with Montoya going close to Schumacher’s best and Raikkonen showing good pace as well before pitting. Barrichello so far has been lapping off the pace and then disaster as his engine gives up and brings out the red flags as his F2002 is stranded on the side of the circuit. Barrichello does not look too upset as he waves to the Tifosi, but he will be hoping that his car can be returned to the pits as soon as possible to maybe get him back out in the second session.

The pitlane exit is green once the marshall’s have got the F2002 to safety and Barrichello makes his way back to the pitlane on the back of a scooter. Ferrari confirm that this was in fact the new step-up engine that has let go but they are not too worried by this failure at this stage of the weekend. Michael Schumacher is showing no signs of worrying about his engine as he sets a new fastest lap of the weekend with a 1.22.110

Schumacher was back out on track in the closing minutes of the session, but no improvement from him as he finds yellow flags out for a stranded BAR of Jacques Villeneuve. Ferrari will now set about changing engines on Barrichello’s chassis and hopefully get him back out in the second session. Montoya however goes very close to Schumacher’s times despite the yellow flags.