Summary

The first free practice sessions for Sundays Austrian Grand Prix took place today with McLarens David Coulthard taking fastest time of the day just ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella by one one-thousandths of a second.

The Scot attributed some of his improved performance to a chat that he had with Nigel Mansell at the British Grand Prix. David said "He (Nigel) said keep your head focus on what you're doing and it will come back -- if not this year then next year"

Rubens Barrichello was the shock performer of the day, ending up 5th overall almost 1 second faster than his team mate Jos Verstappen.

Williams suffered badly in the sessions with Jacques Villeneuve and Heinz-Harald Frenzten ending up 13th and 17th respectively.

Notes

• Frentzen remains smiling and optimistic about Williams this year and his series and team choices next year during a news conference in Spielberg, Austria. Nevertheless, his showing during practice ended on a sour note when spinning and only managing the sixth slowest time.
• A television production company in Germany called off a controversial "street dual" in Berlin between Schumacher and Hakkinen after not agreeing to terms set by Mercedes.
  • Weather during sessions: clear (22 Degrees C)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.

Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes) B Fisichella (Benetton-Playlife) B Hakkinen (McLaren-Mercedes) B Herbert (Sauber-Petronas) G Barrichello (Stewart-Ford) B Wurz (Benetton-Playlife) B M. Schumacher (Ferrari) G Irvine (Ferrari) G Hill (Jordan-Mugen) G Alesi (Sauber-Petronas) G Trulli (Prost-Peugeot) B Panis (Prost-Peugeot) B Villeneuve (Williams-Mecachrome) G R. Schumacher (Jordan-Mugen) G Takagi (Tyrrell-Ford) G Verstappen (Stewart-Ford) B Frentzen (Williams-Mecachrome) G Salo (Arrows) B Nakano (Minardi-Ford) B Diniz (Arrows) B Tuero (Minardi-Ford) B Rosset (Tyrrell-Ford)B 107% rule B: Bridgestone G: Goodyear

1m 13.703s 1m 13.704s 1m 13.746s 1m 14.103s 1m 14.302s 1m 14.397s 1m 14.411s 1m 14.523s 1m 14.535s 1m 14.627s 1m 14.685s 1m 14.755s 1m 14.820s 1m 15.117s 1m 15.158s 1m 15.231s 1m 15.345s 1m 15.696s 1m 16.171s 1m 16.303s 1m 16.582s 1m 18.469s 1m 18.863s