Rubens leads Ferrari one-two at Silverstone

Rubens Barrichello proved he is the master of wet racing as he led a Ferrari one-two in free practice for the British Grand Prix.

Fri, 05 Jul, 2002 - 19:37

Rubens Barrichello proved he is the master of wet racing as he led a Ferrari one-two in free practice for the British Grand Prix.

Barrichello was quickest in both sessions on Friday, but team-mate Michael Schumacher suffered a difficult morning as he span out in the first session, then saw his engine stall.

The German spun on his second timed lap and came to a halt, his Ferrari eventually coasting to a safe parking place before the four times champion clambered out.

Schumacher, who leads the championship by a massive 46 points from brother Ralf after nine rounds, made up the lost time in the afternoon with the second fastest time - 0.424 slower than his Brazilian team mate.

Afterwards, the world champion said: "This morning I made a mistake and then spun. After that, we then faced an issue because the engine stalled which usually doesn't happen." Technical director Ross Brawn said the engine management software had cut the engine due to "a combination of unusual circumstances."

Barrichello, who won the last race in Germany ahead of Schumacher, was quickest in both sessions and lapped in one minute 31.457 after improving his time in the afternoon. There were three Britons in the top five by lunchtime but a sense of reality returned in the afternoon, with only Renault's Jenson Button left in the top 10.

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, whose Jordan team's factory is next to the circuit, was third fastest in 1:33.434 ahead of Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya. Japan's Takuma Sato was fifth in the second Jordan.

The Arrows cars were unable to race, immobilised by financial problems, with $4.7 million outstanding to engine suppliers Cosworth. Cosworth are withholding the engines' electronic control units until payment is received, leaving drivers Heinz-Harald Frentzen of Germany and Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi to kick their heels.

British Grand Prix free practice sessions

1 Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 1:31.457 secs

2 Michael Schumacher (Gremany) Ferrari 1:31.881

3 Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 1:33.434

4 Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 1:33.842

5 Takuma Sato (Japan) Jordan 1:33.901

6 Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1:34.373

7 Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:34.473

8 Felipe Massa (Brazil) Sauber 1:34.676

9 Jenson Button (Britain) Renault 1:34.744

10 Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 1:34.752

11 Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 1:34.766