Pole time 99' - 1:37.460 - Michael Schumacher

Japanese GP - 1st Saturday Practice

Final Order: Michael Schumacher ahead of Ralf Schumacher and David Coulthard. Jenson Button, Giancarlo Fisichella and Jacques Villeneuve make the top 6.

45 min: Michael Schumacher improves his time to 1:37.176 which is better than pole time of last year.

44 min: Mika Hakkinen doesn't improve.

44 min: Michael Schumacher retakes the top spot just 0.072 seconds fastest than his brother Ralf.

44 min: Villeneuve spins and goes off into the gravel just after setting 6th fastest.

44 min: Both Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen are on the track.

43 min: Villeneuve improves to 6th under a second off the pace.

43 min: Most drivers start their final run of the session with just 2 minutes to go.

41 min: Villeneuve moves into 8th place with a time of 1:38.824. He is 1.331 seconds off the pace.

40 min: Giancarlo Fisichella improves to 4th with a time of 1:38.296.

39 min: Hakkinen improves to 10th place with a time of 1:39.515

38 min: Barrichello spins and goes off into the gravel. Session over for him.

36 min: Mika Hakkinen is back on the track. He is currently way back in 20th position.

35 min: Top 10 - R Schumacher, Coulthard, Button, M Schumacher, Fisichella, Barrichello, Herbert, de la Rosa, Alesi and  Verstappen

35 min: Ralf Schumacher goes fastest with a time of 1:37.493. Just under pole time of last year.

33 min: David Coulthard goes fastest with a time of 1:37.775. Frentzen moves into 16th place.

32 min: Barrichello moves back up to 4th with a time of 1:38.522 and 0.268 behind Button. Hakkinen is in 20th place!

31 min: Jenson Button goes fastest with a time of 1:38.254. Top 6 - Button, M Schumacher, Fisichella, Herbert, Barrichello and Coulthard.

30 min: Jenson Button improves to second now just 0.017 behind Michael !

28 min: Giancarlo Fisichella moves into 2nd with a time of 1:38.326 just 0.027 behind Michael !

27 min: Jenson Button moves into 3rd place with a time of 1:38.640 just behind Barrichello !

25 min: Top 10 - M Schumacher, Barrichello, Coulthard, R Schumacher, de la Rosa, Alesi, Verstappen, Salo, Villeneuve and Zonta.

24 min: Barrichello improves to 1:38.631 and moves into 2nd place while Villeneuve improves to 1:40.179 in 7th.

23 min: Jean Alesi moves into 4th with a time of 1:39.478. Ralph Schumacher is in 3rd with a time of 1:39.091.

22 min: Barrichello sets a time of 1:40.439 while Villeneuve sets a time of 1:40.770.

21 min: Barrichello and Villeneuve are on track, both have not set times yet.

20 min: Alexander Wurz who had a terrible session yesterday is up in 5th place just under 2 seconds off the pace.

18 min: David Coulthard spins and goes off into the gravel. He manages to recover before hitting the barrier.

17 min: Both Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard improve. Michael still ahead by 0.433 seconds.

15 min: Top 10 - M Schumacher, Coulthard, Verstappen, de la Rosa, Herbert, Zonta, Wurz, Irvine, Fisichella and Gene.

15 min: David Coulthard moves into second place with a time of 1:38.608. 0.808 seconds behind Michael.

14 min: Mika Hakkinen sets his first time of the day back in 8th place and 4 seconds slower than Michael Schumacher.

12 min: Pedro Diniz retires with an engine problem while Trulli spins in the oil and is off in the gravel. Session over for both. They have not set times.

10 min: Top 6 - M Schumacher, Verstappen, de la Rosa, Herbert, Zonta and Irvine.

10 min: Michael Schumacher takes the top spot with a time of 1:38.790. Zonta is in 5th.

9 min: Herbert moves into 3rd with a time of 1:40.969.

8 min: Michael Schumacher, Ricardo Zonta and Marc Gene are on track.

7 min: Jos Verstappen improves to 1:39.696 while Pedro de la Rosa sets his first time of the day with a time of :140.199. Irvine is now 3rd fastest followed by Herbert. Gaston Mazzacane is also on the track.

5 min: Jos Verstappen is the first to set a time today clocking 1:40.377. Both Jaguar drivers have also set times of 1:44.060 for Herbert and 1:44.419 for Irvine.

3 min: While most of the drivers have made it back to the pits. Jos Verstappen, Johnny Herbert and Eddie Irvine stay out on the track and are on their way to set their first timed laps of the day. Only Rubens Barrichello has not gone out yet.

1 min: Jos Verstappen is the first to go out followed by a stream of other cars. Most will be going out on their installation laps.

A number of cars are waiting in the pit lane for the start of the session.

Michael Schumacher dominated yesterday and McLaren were struggling with setup. Interesting to see what will happen today. Session starting in 2 minutes.

Session starting in 5 minutes. Weather conditions: Sunny with a temperature of 18 degrees.