Montoya, who had been 11th quickest on the opening day, was one of several drivers to move top of the leaderboard in the final minutes of the session as the times came tumbling down.

But Schumacher’s late flying lap is an ominous warning ahead of qualifying later today for tomorrow’s sixth round of the 17-race season.

Mika Hakkinen, who badly needs to make it three wins in four years in Austria to keep his title hopes alive, was third quickest for McLaren with Rubens Barrichello fourth in the other Ferrari.

Hakkinen’s team-mate David Coulthard slipped from top spot yesterday to fifth place this morning and the title hopeful also slid into the gravel at one stage.

Eddie Irvine was 13th quickest for Jaguar Racing while Jenson Button moved off the bottom into 21st spot but only because Minardi’s Tarso Marques did not post a single lap time.