However, as the half wore on, United's veteran midfield duo of Paul Scholes and Giggs started to impose themselves on the game with Nani - who replaced Antonio Valencia in the starting line-up - also finding space on the right.
Nico Rosberg completed a disappointing afternoon for Williams as he failed to take part in the second session, which saw the Toro Rosso duo of Sebastien Bourdais and Sebastian Vettel also eliminated along with Red Bull veteran David Coulthard and Honda's Jenson Button.