The Jordan team had another disastrous start to a grand prix weekend yesterday with Damon Hill crashing in the morning and Ralf Schumacher suffering an engine failure in the first practice sessions for Sunday's race in Monte Carlo.

Hill, yet to score his first points with Jordan, damaged the nose and front wing of the car after just four laps and then suffered a seized gearbox in the afternoon to finish 17th, while team-mate Ralf Schumacher finished 20th.

"I lost most the morning session after the crash," said Hill. "In the afternoon I got a couple of runs in and then the third gear slipped and seized the gear box."

"I slowed down and changed into second coming into the chicane but then the car locked up and stopped so that meant I lost most of the afternoon session as well."

It was a similarly awful day for the struggling Williams team with world champion Jacques Villeneuve lashing out at Brazilian journeyman Ricardo Rosset. The Canadian was left seething after being forced into the guardrail by the Tyrrell driver just before the end of the session. Villeneuve was attempting to overtake in his Williams when Rosset suddenly cut across him at a tight right-handed corner, sending them both into the metal barrier.

"That guy should not be in Formula One," said Villeneuve of Rosset, who was controversially selected ahead of Dutchman Jos Verstappen, with many believing he had bought the drive. "He is a liability at this level of racing. I've had a few close calls with him this season but every time I've seen him I've thought: `Oh, I'd better watch out'.

"This time I was really next to him. When I got out of the car and went over to him I didn't use my voice, just my fingers to point at his mirrors."

Surprisingly, Michael Schumacher, who has won three of the last four races in Monte Carlo, fared little better. The Ferrari driver was setting the pace when he lost control on the exit of Casino Square and slid into the rails.

"I was trying too hard and lost control," admitted the German, who wound up fifth fastest as championship pace-setter Mika Hakkinen took advantage by clocking the fastest time, threetenths of a second quicker than Benetton's Giancarlo Fisichella.

Team-mate David Coulthard saw his hopes of putting some early pressure on the Finn, who he trails by seven points, dashed as he had to settle for third spot in the other McLaren.

Eddie Irvine was sixth fastest in the other Ferrari while Sauber's Johnny Herbert, who was quickest on the opening day last year, was just one place back.