After all the political wrangling, Formula One returns to Silverstone, which according to the FIA poll is race fans’ third favourite circuit, after Spa and Monaco.

Whatever your opinion of the Northamptonshire track it remains a central part of the calendar, a favourite with drivers, and despite its obvious limitations, a track with character, as opposed to some of the newer (Tilke) circuits.

However, despite the sense of excited anticipation that surrounds the beginning of a Grand Prix weekend, there is a sombre mood within the paddock and in the grandstands and terrace around the circuit, as less than a hundred miles away, Britain’s capital gradually comes to terms with Thursday’s atrocities.

In recent weeks our sport has been dominated by political unrest, and much talk of ‘war’, yesterday’s events merely remind us what war is really all about, and prove, just in case some had forgotten, that in the great scheme of things, F1 is just a sport.

However, as we come to terms – yet again – with the reality of what those intent on evil can do, this as good as time as any for F1 to put the bull**** to one side and give us a show.

Ahead of today’s first free practice session, the air temperature is 19 degrees C, while the track temperature is 27 degrees.

First out is Tonio Liuzzi, who is followed by Zonta, back in the Toyota after being replaced by Olivier Panis in France, Christijan Albers, Pedro de la Rosa and Patrick Friesacher. Doornbos and Karthikeyan are also on track.

As the drivers return to their garages, having completed an installation lap, Coulthard, Klien, Monteiro, Villeneuve, Sato and Button all come out to ‘test the water’, as do Massa and Raikkonen.

Zonta posts the first time of the session (22.688), ten minutes into the session, but this is soon eclipsed by de la Rosa (22.124).

As Zonta raises the benchmark to 21.960, Ralf Schumacher returns to his garage having completed an installation lap.

A 1:21.377, sees de la Rosa go quickest, ahead of Zonta, Liuzzi and Doornbos.

As Fisichella and Montoya come out, the order is; de la Rosa, Zonta, Liuzzi, Karthikeyan, Doornbos, Friesacher and Monteiro.

With twenty-five minutes gone, world championship leader, Fernando Alonso, leaves the Renault garage.

Ricardo Zonta goes quickest, out-pacing de la Rosa by just 0.019, then goes quicker still, posting 1:20.703.

With thirty-three minutes gone, Kimi Raikkonen leaves the McLaren garage (again), hopefully to be the first of the ‘big guns’ to post a time. As Monteiro goes seventh, 6.8s off the pace, Raikkonen posts 1:22.220, to go third. Meanwhile, Friesacher stops in the second sector, the Minardi clearly experiencing a technical problem.

As Raikkonen goes quickest (20.411), Mark Webber leaves the WilliamsF1 garage. Elsewhere, Tiago Monteiro has a huge, high-speed spin, but is able to continue.

Webber goes tenth, of ten, crossing the line 7.5s off the pace. Hopefully this was just a test lap and not a sign of things to come. WilliamsF1 is using its heavily revised MkII aero package this weekend.

It’s a McLaren 1-2 as Pedro de la Rosa posts a 1:19.663 to go quickest, ahead of Zonta, who posts a 1:20.139. Meanwhile, Webber improves to fifth (23.522), only to be nudged out by Michael Schumacher, who posts a 1:22.257 on his first lap.

Schumacher improves (22.225) but is leapfrogged by local hero, Jenson Button, who posts 1:20.785, to go fourth.

Sato goes sixth (22.230) ahead of Massa and Barrichello, while de la Rosa remains the only driver to have broken the 1:19s barrier.

With ten minutes remaining, Coulthard, Villeneuve, Ralf, Fisichella, Montoya, Alonso and Trulli are the only drivers that haven’t posted a time.

Coulthard goes ninth with a 1:22.420, as Ralf goes fifth with a 1:21.080.

de la Rosa improves yet again, the McLaren driver crossing the line at 1:19.205, as Button posts 1:20.211 to go third. Elsewhere, Montoya goes sixth (21.091) ahead of Michael Schumacher.

It’s been a low-key session and it ends with Pedro de la Rosa quickest, ahead of, Zonta, Button, Raikkonen, Ralf, Montoya, Michael, Sato, Barrichello and Massa. While Alonso, Fisichella and Trulli failed to post a time.

Let’s hope for a little more action in the second session.