Drivers on go-slow at Silverstone

Pre-qualifying for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone today became a contest over who could drive slowest as teams prepared for rain.

With menacing clouds hanging over the Northamptonshire circuit, most drivers chose to go slow and attempt to use the regulations to their advantage.

The slowest driver in pre-qualifying goes first in the decisive session, seemingly reducing their chance of running in wet weather.

The Ferraris of Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello made mistakes to claim slow times, although it did not seem either had been deliberate.

Juan Pablo Montoya was the first to make it obvious, slowing to a crawl on the start-finish straight and lapping 15 seconds off the pace.

Others followed but Jenson Button opted for a fast lap and earned the potentially dubious honour of starting last.

David Coulthard backed off noticeably but it was not as much as his rivals and he ended the session 11th.

Jaguar duo Mark Webber and Christian Klien were the slowest in 17th and 18th respectively, with the Austrian almost 20 seconds off Button’s pace. Giancarlo Fisichella and Nick Heidfeld did not even complete laps.