Silverstone Test - Day One: 29 June.

Pre-race testing at Silverstone in preparation for the British Grand Prix was headed on day one by Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, but action on the track took a back seat to speculation over Damon Hill's future.


The Jordan team announced just minutes before the first session began that Jos Verstappen would join regular tester Shinji Nakano at the Northampton circuit for days one and two, before Hill and Heinz-Harald Frentzen arrived on Thursday to complete the preparations. Hill was rumoured to be at the Jordan factory just across the road from the circuit, and the media waited with bated breath for an announcement concerning his future, but none was forthcoming.


On the track, meanwhile, Nakano brought up the tail of the field, some four seconds behind the pace-setting Schumacher, with Verstappen faring little better on his first acquaintance with the 199. The Dutchman was almost a second quicker than his 'team-mate', however, and, should he be in the running for a permanent seat, will be pleased with his day's work.


"It is a very good to drive a top car," Verstappen said, "and I enjoyed myself very much. The car feels very good, and is certainly quick. Now it is up to me to show how quick I can be."


Behind Schumacher, McLaren's David Coulthard held off the two Stewarts of Rubens Barrichello and Johnny Herbert, which ran with 'significant aerodynamic modifications' for the first time. The new configuration includes revised sidepods, bodywork and wings and, if successful, could be used in the grand prix next weekend. Giancarlo Fisichella, Jean Alesi and Olivier Panis were next up for Benetton, Sauber and Prost respectively, all over a second adrift of the top two.


Leading performances (29 June):


Michael Schumacher Ferrari-Ferrari 1min 26.91secs

David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes 1min 27.32secs

Rubens Barrichello Stewart-Ford 1min 27.92secs

Johnny Herbert Stewart-Ford 1min 28.31secs

Giancarlo Fisichella Benetton-Playlife 1min 28.63secs

Jean Alesi Sauber-Petronas 1min 28.87secs

Olivier Panis Prost-Peugeot 1min 28.89secs

Alex Wurz Benetton-Playlife 1min 29.13secs

Jarno Trulli Prost-Peugeot 1min 29.66secs

Jos Verstappen Jordan-Mugen 1min 30.16secs

Pedro de la Rosa Arrows-Arrows 1min 31.09secs

Shinji Nakano Jordan-Mugen 1min 31.12secs