As the cars prepare to go out for the first of today's free practice sessions, the air temperature is 24 degrees C, while the track temperature is 28 degrees. The sun is shining with just a few clouds in the sky.

First out is Giorgio Pantano, followed by Baumgartner, Glock, Leinders, Wirdheim, Davidson, Heidfeld, Panis, Zonta and Massa.

One by one the drivers complete their installation laps and return to their garages, as Briscoe, Fisichella, Bruni, Trulli and Alonso follow suit. After six minutes everyone has been out except the two Ferrari drivers, Raikkonen and Sato.

As Spa winner Raikkonen comes out for his installation lap, he's followed by Timo Glock, who looks set to post the first time of the day. The German crosses the line at 1:25.498, next time around he improves to 1:25.247.

Wirdheim posts a 1:24.942 as Leinders crosses the line at 1:27.257. Next time around the Belgian improves to 1:25.763.

Anthony Davidson is on track, as is Briscoe, the Englishman is already almost a second up on Wirdheim in the first sector. Briscoe posts 1:23.774, while Davidson can only manage 1:25.286, having lost a load of time in the second sector. Next time around however, the BAR tester improves to 1:22.843.

Twenty minutes into the session, and Davidson is quickest ahead of Briscoe, Wirdheim, Glock, Leinders, Bruni and Baumgartner. Still no sign of the Ferraris or Sato.

As Davidson raises the benchmark to 1:22.765, Takuma Sato finally leaves his garage. After twenty-five minutes, only seven drivers have posted times.

One has to wonder why there is so little action, could it be that the teams know that it will be wet on Sunday and that therefore today's dry set-up work will be to no avail. We're now halfway through this first session and only seven drivers have posted times.

That said, Massa come out, followed by Heidfeld. The Brazilian immediately goes quickest, crossing the line at 1:22.266, that's around 1.3s slower than last year's pole time. Heidfeld goes fourth with a 1:24.000.

Anthony Davidson is on a blistering lap, the English youngster going quickest in the first two sectors and finally crossing the line at 1:21.488. He is desperate to impress and thereby secure a race seat for 2005.

Giancarlo Fisichella goes third (1:22.460) and Pantano seventh, as the crowd erupts - the Ferraris are on track.

Both of the scarlet cars complete an installation lap, then continue around, Barrichello going fastest in each sector only to be eclipsed by Schumacher moments later. The German goes quickest with a 1:20.526 - faster than last year's pole-time, while his teammate is second on 1:21.166.

Now the action truly gets underway as Alonso goes sixth and Montoya seventh. Meanwhile, Barrichello has improved to 1:20.861.

Jarno Trulli goes quickest in the first sector, as Alonso improves to fourth. The Italian finally crosses the line at 1:22.052, to go fifth.

Pizzonia is sixth, one place ahead of his teammate Montoya, while Panis goes tenth.

With just over fifteen minutes remaining, Button, Klien, Webber, Coulthard, Raikkonen and Sato, have yet to set times.

Michael is quickest, ahead of Barrichello, Davidson, Alonso, Trulli, Pizzonia, Montoya, Massa, Fisichella and Panis.

With eleven minutes remaining, Klien is on track, as is Webber. Elsewhere, Briscoe has improved to twelfth, right behind Panis and Zonta.

Klien goes sixteenth, 3.770s off the pace, while Webber goes fifteenth moments later.

Davidson improves with a 1:20.902, but remains third behind the two Ferraris.

Finally, Button, Sato, Coulthard and Raikkonen look as though they're about to post times, with just seven minutes remaining.

The Japanese driver goes tenth, with a 1:22.245, as Coulthard goes eleventh and Raikkonen fourth, ahead of the Renaults. Only Button has yet to post a time.

Coulthard improves his time but remains eleventh, as Button goes sixth, crossing the line at 1:21.904.

Barrichello is fastest through the fourth speed trap, the Brazilian hitting 224 mph.

In the final moments there are no significant improvements, the drivers seemingly prepared to wait until the second session, when temperatures will have risen.