Button lives up to his billing

Jenson Button leads the way in Germany

Jenson Button topped the times in opening practice for Sunday's European Formula One Grand Prix, with a late fastest lap on Friday afternoon.

The 20-year-old Williams driver, who had never even seen the Nuerburgring circuit before arriving on Thursday, lapped in one minute and 19.808 seconds to outpace second-placed Austrian Alexander Wurz in a Benetton.

I don't want to get too excited as it's not qualifying - a lot is going to change

Jenson Button

World champion Mika Hakkinen of Finland, in a McLaren, was third ahead of team-mate David Coulthard and the Schumacher brothers Michael and Ralf, who were fifth and sixth respectively for the Ferrari and Williams teams.

"It's great to be at the top of the list," Button said.

"But I cannot say too much because a lot of the teams were not trying.

"I must admit that it wold be nice to be among those at the very top on Saturday."

It was a stunning effort by Button whose best lap came with just a minute remaining after a session run in mixed wet and dry conditions and in a strong and cold wind.

Michael Schumacher, the championship leader, had been fastest in the first free practice session with a time of 1min 21.092secs.

Hakkinen went off on his final lap of the opening session, when his McLaren locked up at the Dunlop curve.

Practice times (minutes and seconds)

1. Jenson Button (Britain) Williams 1:19.808
2. Alexander Wurz (Austria) Benetton 1:20.248
3. Mika Hakkinen (Finland) McLaren 1:20.300
4. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 1:20.507
5. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:20.519
6. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 1:20.548
7. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Jordan 1:20.609
8. Ricardo Zonta (Brazil) BAR 1:20.709
9. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Prost 1:20.751
10. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1:20.786
11. Marc Gene (Spain) Minardi 1:20.801
12. Pedro Diniz (Brazil) Sauber 1:20.850
13. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Benetton 1:20.862
14. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 1:20.891
15. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Jordan 1:20.992
16. Eddie Irvine (Britain) Jaguar 1:21.246
17. Johnny Herbert (Britain) Jaguar 1:21.323
18. Jean Alesi (France) Prost 1:21.442
19. Jos Verstappen (Netherlands) Arrows 1:21.655
20. Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) Arrows 1:21.659
21. Gaston Mazzacane (Argentina) Minardi 1:22.135
22. Mika Salo (Finland) Sauber 1:22.161