BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Formula One | Trulli fastest in Monaco

Fastest times from Monaco free practice

Jarno Trulli has set the fastest time in Thursday's free practice for the Monaco Grand Prix, pipping Scotland's Allan McNish at the last second.

Trulli, driving a Renault, is something of a Monaco specialist and had been expected to be strong this weekend, especially in qualifying.

McNish's position is more of a surprise - but it underlines the impossibility of predicting race form from such sessions, in which teams pursue their own programmes preparing for the event.

Trulli was the only driver to break the one minute 19 seconds barrier after being at the forefront in both practice sessions.

Allan McNish rounds Massenet corner in his Toyota
McNish was a surprising second fastest in his Toyota

McNish, who is in his first year of Formula One, was more than 0.4 seconds behind him.

McNish's team-mate Mika Salo was fifth fastest, underlining the impression that Toyota were almost certainly trying out their cars in qualifying trim.

That would mean running the car with the lightest fuel load and soft tyres.

Other teams are likely to have geared their preparations more towards Sunday's race.

But as this is Toyota's first season in F1, their approach makes sense.

The magic of Monaco

Overtaking is almost impossible on the twisty street circuit, so a good starting position for the race is paramount - hence the importance of good preparation for qualifying.

Nevertheless, the Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello are expected to resume their customary positions at the top of the time sheets in qualifying on Saturday.

Juan Pablo Montoya rounds Tabac corner in his Williams-BMW
Montoya was ninth fastest for Williams

Barrichello was seventh on Thursday, with Schumacher 11th.

Renault are expected to battle with Williams and McLaren to be the top team behind the Italian cars.

McLaren's David Coulthard was third fastest and Williams' Ralf Schumacher sixth.

Fastest times from Monaco free practice