The air temperature, ahead of today's first free practice session, is 29 degrees C, while the track temperature is 35 degrees.

One of the local heroes, Jordan third driver Timo Glock, is first out, followed by Zonta, Pantano, Heidfeld, da Matta, Panis, Wirdheim, Davidson, Massa and Baumgartner.

David Coulthard is another early rise, the Scot still looking for a berth for 2005. Teammate Kimi Raikkonen is also eager to get out on track, in the car that took everyone by surprise at Silverstone, the McLaren MP4-19B.

Several teams are expecting big things this weekend, with Toyota running a heavily revised car, while Renault is running its latest spec engine and the WilliamsF1 carries a whole host of aero 'improvements'. Time will tell as to who's got it right.

Toyota tester Ricardo Zonta look set to post the first time of the day, the 2003 pole - posted by Juan Pablo Montoya - was 1:15.167. The Brazilian crosses the line at 1:20.561, as Timo Glock comes back out.

Zonta improves to 1:19.776, and after ten minutes only the Ferraris and Minardi tester Bas Leinders haven't been out.

As Glock posts 1:21.076, BAR's Anthony Davidson goes quickest with a 1:18.840. The Englishman is said to be in serious talks with Sauber, though several other teams, including WilliamsF1, are now taking notice. He improves to 1:18.181, as Bjorn Wirdheim goes second with a 1:19.172.

Leinders comes out for an installation lap, as teammate Gianmaria Bruni goes fifth quickest with a 1:21.526. The Ferrari's wait resolutely in their garages.

Olivier Panis is on a flyer, the Frenchman going quickest with a 1:17.432, having posted the fastest times in the first two sectors. A good start for Toyota.

Felipe Massa goes second in the Sauber, as fellow Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia goes quickest in the second sector. The 'Jungle-boy' goes fourth with a 1:18.574, as yet another Brazilian, Cristiano da Matta, goes fifth.

Pizzonia improves, after twenty minutes, it's: Panis, Pizzonia, Massa, Davidson, da Matta, Wirdheim, Zonta, Pantano, Glock, Baumgartner and Bruni.

Zonta improves with a 1:17.264 as Pizzonia closes to within 0.050s.

Nick Heidfeld goes eighth, as Juan Pablo Montoya begins his first flying lap of the day. The Colombian goes quickest in the first and second sectors, crossing the line at 1:16.795, to go quickest by 0.469s.

Twelve months ago, Juan Pablo won here, indeed it was WilliamsF1's last victory.

Twenty seven minutes into the session and Michael Schumacher emerges from his garage, much to the delight of the partisan crowd. Moments later, Rubens Barrichello also emerges, the Ferrari show is finally underway.

There's absolutely no messing about, Schumacher goes straight to the top of the timesheets. On his first flying lap, the six-time World Champion posts 1:15.864, almost a second quicker than Montoya and 0.7s off the 2003 pole.

What's so frustrating/amazing (you choose) is that he makes it look so easy, that was not a special lap.

Meanwhile, Barrichello can only manage eighth, with a 1:17.745, as Davidson goes second with a 1:16.126. Moment later, the Ferrari driver goes second, albeit 0.62s off his teammate's pace.

The Renaults emerge, with Alonso going sixth and Trulli tenth. As Fisichella - rumoured to be heading to Renault - comes out, we have yet to see a time from Webber or either of the McLaren drivers.

Jenson Button goes fourth with a 1:16.544, as Fisi slots in right behind, the Italian posting 1:16.622, then improving to third with a 1:16.451.

Coulthard goes seventh with a 1:16.916, while teammate Raikkonen stays put in the McLaren garage.

With around eighteen minutes to go, the session is red-flagged. Timo Glock hits the kerb and bollard heavily, destroying his front wing and thereby leaving shards of carbon fibre everywhere. There were only three other drivers on track at the time; Schumacher, Coulthard and Heidfeld.

Of course this is only a practice session, of no interest to TV viewers or broadcasters, one has to wonder if the race would be stopped in the same circumstances.

The order is: Schumacher, Davidson, Fisichella, Barrichello, Button, Montoya, Coulthard, Alonso, Zonta and Pizzonia. Still no times from Raikkonen or Webber.

Around eight minutes later, the session resumes. Davidson, Barrichello, Panis, Massa, Bruni and Baumgartner, are eager to get back to work.