Schumacher quickest, but crashes in Suzuka rain.

Michael Schumacher suffered a spectacular crash just a few minutes into a wet first practice session at Suzuka on Saturday morning, but some still managed to top the timesheeets in the first of two practice sessions.

As expected, the circuit was soaked by continuing overnight rain, and most drivers chose not to venture out at the start of the session. Schumacher was the first driver to complete a flying lap, putting him top of the order, but, as he tried to pick up his pace and test the limits of the Bridgestone extreme wets, he lost control in the middle of the tricky Esses section.

The Ferrari performed a 360-degree spin and hit the tyre wall hard with its nose, wiping off the front wing section and left corner, and possibly damaging the chassis.

Conditions were so bad that most drivers did not attempt a flying lap until near the end of the first session, and only 13 actually set a time. Neither Renault driver ventured out at all before the break, allowing the two McLaren drivers to complete the top three behind Schumacher - albeit at a distance of some two seconds as conditions failed to improve.