Ahead of the first of today's (two) free practice sessions, it's very overcast, gloomy, dank, whatever else you want to call it. Indeed, the FIA has declared it a wet track.

The track temperature is 19 degrees, the air temperature is 18 and the humidity is a very charming 90%.

The lights go green, and, as ever, it is a Minardi driver that gets things underway, in this case Patrick Friesacher. The Austrian is followed by (teammate) Christijan Albers, Jarno Trulli, Giancarlo Fisichella and Juan Pablo Montoya. Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso are other early risers.

Monteiro, Sato, Ralf, Button and Karthikeyan, all come out for their installation laps, however, it is Jarno Trulli who looks set to be the first driver to post a time. He is joined by former teammate, Giancarlo Fisichella. However, both drivers return to their garages, and it is left to Nick Heidfeld to set the benchmark, as he crosses the line at 1:30.935.

The German continues around, improving to 1:30.272, however, his 19 rivals wait resolutely in their garages.

Seventeen minutes into the session, Fisichella returns to the track, joined by teammate Alonso.

The Italian crosses the line at 1:26.798, which is enough to convince Raikkonen to come out and 'test the water'.

Fisichella improves (26.651) as Alonso goes second and Raikkonen third (27.123). At this stage Mark Webber comes out to play.

A 1:25.934 sees Alonso go quickest, ahead of Raikkonen (26.483), as Jenson button leaves the BAR garage.

The Englishman goes fourth with a 1:27.344, and immediately goes quickest in the first sector of his next lap. He improves to 1:27.276 but remains fourth, ahead of Heidfeld and Webber.

With fourteen minutes remaining, and only seven names on the timesheets, David Coulthard is the only driver on track.

The Scot posts 1:27.019 to go fourth, and returns to the Red Bull garage, which is the signal for teammate Klien to go out on track.

For several minutes there is absolutely no activity, until, with seven minutes remaining, Mark Webber breaks the deadlock.

The Australian posts 1:27.313 to leapfrog his teammate and take seventh.

Alonso, Fisichella and Friesacher are all on track, with just three minutes remaining.

Fisichella goes quickest with a 1:24.922, which is clear proof that conditions are improving, however it's too late in the session for the other big guns to make an appearance.

Next time around it's teammate Alonso that goes quickest, the World Championship leader crossing the line at 1:23.939.

The session ends, and though it didn't rain, the notorious Magny Cours track remained wet throughout. Just nine names on the timesheets, with Alonso quickest, ahead of Fisichella, Raikkonen, Coulthard, Button, Webber, Heidfeld, Friesacher and Albers.