By Andrew Benson Motorsport editor at Silverstone

There was little to separate Alonso (above) and Schumacher at Silverstone

Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher look evenly matched going into Sunday's British Grand Prix after Friday's free practice sessions at Silverstone.

Championship leader Alonso finished seventh in his Renault in one minute 22.603 seconds, just ahead of Schumacher's Ferrari in 1:22.825.

The fastest time of 1:21.082 was set by BMW Sauber test driver Robert Kubica.

Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella was the fastest race driver, 1.212secs adrift of Kubica in second spot.

Schumacher was almost certainly saving as many sets of tyres as possible for Saturday's qualifying session and the race itself.

The seven-time champion had a spin in Friday's morning session coming out of the Abbey chicane and into Bridge corner.

Everyone is finding it tough because the weather is making it difficult to find a consistent balance Jenson Button

He had another close shave in a similar place in the afternoon.

Alonso also has a few problems, running off the track at the demanding Becketts swerves late in the afternoon session.

Honda's Jenson Button was down in 17th place, while Red Bull's David Coulthard was 25th.

Button said all the drivers were struggling with the strong winds that were blowing across the flat Northamptonshire track.

"It's been pretty manic because of the weather," said Button. "It's warm and sunny but it's really windy out there.

"Everyone is finding it tough because it's making it difficult to find a consistent balance.

"But I think it will be a great race, it's going to be very competitive."

Alonso agreed the conditions proved to be trickier than expected, he said: "Lots of people were spinning off the circuit, so it seems the hot conditions have caught everybody out.

"It is also windy out there which makes the car inconsistent from corner to corner. But we are in a good position on the times and we know the car can be quick here.

Sakon Yamamato, Super Aguri's new signing, appeared to struggle on his Formula One debut as a test driver and finished both sessions in last place.

Results from the second free practice session at Silverstone:

1. Robert Kubica (Poland) BMW Sauber 1:21.082
2. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Renault 1:22.294
3. Alexander Wurz (Austria) Williams - Cosworth 1:22.300
4. Anthony Davidson (Britain) Honda 1:22.310
5. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Toyota 1:22.437
6. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 1:22.476
7 Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 1:22.603
8. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:22.825
9. Mark Webber (Australia) Williams - Cosworth 1:23.099
10. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Honda 1:23.104
11. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Toyota 1:23.114
12. Robert Doornbos (Netherlands) RedBull - Ferrari 1:23.140
13. Tiago Monteiro (Portugal) MF1 - Toyota 1:23.194
14. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) McLaren 1:23.199
15. Christijan Albers (Netherlands) MF1 - Toyota 1:23.499
16. Giorgio Mondini (Italy) MF1 - Toyota 1:23.529
17. Jenson Button (Britain) Honda 1:23.707
18. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BMW Sauber 1:23.750
19. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Williams - Cosworth 1:23.816
20. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) BMW Sauber 1:23.895
21. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:23.915
22. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Italy) Toro Rosso - Cosworth 1:24.012
23. Christian Klien (Austria) RedBull - Ferrari 1:24.158
24. Scott Speed (U.S.) Toro Rosso - Cosworth 1:24.167
25. David Coulthard (Britain) RedBull - Ferrari 1:24.392
26. Neel Jani (Switzerland) Toro Rosso - Cosworth 1:24.666
27. Takuma Sato (Japan) Super Aguri - Honda 1:25.870
28. Franck Montagny (France) Super Aguri - Honda 1:26.248
29. Sakon Yamamoto (Japan) Super Aguri - Honda 1:27.908