Summery

Michael Schumacher set the fastest time in the free practice session for the Melbourne (Australia) Grand Prix today. Heinz-Harald Frentzen was second. Damon Hill set a very nice 13th time of 1m 35.073s. He had some technical problems in the first free session which ended after just six laps.

Notes

• First session

• Eddie Irvine spun.
  
• Damon Hill out because of technical problem.
  
• Mika Hakkinen chashes but can walk away unhurt. The session is paused.
  
• Shinji Nakano has a Mugen engine replaced between the two sessions.

• Second session

• Spins were there by: Olivier Panis, Damon Hill and Jan Magnussen.
  
• Diniz out due to technical problem.

• Weather during sessions: Sunny and warm.

1. Schumacher (Ferrari) 1m 32.496s
2. Frentzen (Williams) 1m 32.910s
3. Alesi (Benetton) 1m 33.255s
4. Villeneuve (Williams) 1m 33.371s
5. R. Schumacher (Jordan) 1m 33.437s
6. Irvine (Ferrari) 1m 34.157s
7. Berger (Benetton) 1m 34.271s
8. Coulthard (McLaren) 1m 34.432s
9. Herbert (Sauber) 1m 34.593s
10. Hakkinen (McLaren) 1m 34.742s
11. Fisichella (Jordan) 1m 34.777s
12. Panis (Prost) 1m 34.927s
13. Hill (Arrows) 1m 35.073s
14. Salo (Tyrrell) 1m 36.142s
15. Larini (Sauber) 1m 36.223s
16. Trulli (Minardi) 1m 36.392s
17. Verstappen (Tyrrell) 1m 36.716s
18. Magnussen (Stewart) 1m 37.023s
19. Diniz (Arrows) 1m 38.092s20.
20. Nakano (Prost) 1m 39.652s
21. Barrichello (Stewart) 1m 40.002s
22. Katayama (Minardi) 1m 40.947s
23. Rosset (Lola) 1m 41.166s
24. Sospiri (Lola) 1m 42.590s

• 107 % rule time: 1m 38.971s: 5 drivers outside qualification limit.

Quotes

• New team owner Alain Prost of the Prost team, formally the Ligier team, had a nerve wrecking day today with his drivers ending 11th, Olivier Panis, and 20th, Shinji Nakano: "It's tiring and I must say that I had unbelievable pressure when the cars went out of the garage and especially when they went out of the track too. I didn't realise how much tension there was when you are on the pit wall, but it was not very different to when I was driving and last year when I was with McLaren. You are part of the team, whether you are the driver or in the garage, you are part of the family, so I feel the same with a bit more responsibility. But I would have loved to have a better day today for the team and the drivers."

  Prost added: "I'm quite pleased to work with the drivers to help them with my experience, but I don't want to delegate too much yet because I have a lot to learn and I prefer to be in the middle of everything.'

• Michael Schumacher predicted that being the fastest man today doesn't mean he will win races: "We won't be able to win races in my view, not right from the beginning anyhow. We should be able to get on the podium in the first couple of races. I am sure that we will be competitive at certain times and I am hoping that we won't have lost too many points."

  Schumacher added: "My aim is to be in a position to fight for the championship. I don't care how many victories I get as long as I am in a position to fight for it."

• Villeneuve commented: "I'm really looking forward to this race and to start at least one place better than last year. I know the basics now. Last year here, I had everything to discover."

• Damon Hill said the Yamaha engine needs a a lot of work and he added: "We have a lot of ground to make up and there is no good in treading water - so it is hard work for everyone at the team."