Ahead of today's first free practice session, the air temperature is 19 degrees C, while the track temperature is 20 degrees. It is exceedingly overcast, and following heavy overnight rain, which has left parts of the track 'damp', the session has been declared 'wet'.

In case you are not already aware, due to an "accident" during transit, BMW has opted to change the engine in Jacques Villeneuve's car, which means the Canadian, who finished eighth in last weekend's race, will forfeit ten grid positions.

Going on previous form, we don't expect too much action in this first session, indeed we only will probably only see fourteen or so drivers post times, while the big guns stand around in their garages, looking cool. Such is F1, 2006 style.

The lights go green, and first out is Mondini, followed by Kubica, Sato, Doornbos, Wurz, Montagny, Jani and Davidson. Surprisingly, Webber and Rosberg are on track also, we rarely see anything of them in the first session. Jarno Trulli is another 'early riser'.

As the drivers return to their garages, having completed the obligatory installation lap, Ralf Schumacher and Button come out to 'test the water'. Moments later, Heidfeld and Liuzzi join them.

Montoya goes out, joined by Alexander Wurz, both drivers running on intermediates, though the damp patches are clearly drying out.

The Austrian posts the first time of the day, crossing the line at 1:29.581. Moments later, Mondini goes second (31.330). Elsewhere, Villeneuve and Coulthard are on track, while Doornbos goes second to Wurz.

Twenty minutes into the session, Neel Jani goes quickest with a 1:28.648. There are still only four times on the timesheet - Jani, Wurz, Doornbos and Mondini.

Hardly has Jani had the time to savour the moment, when Wurz posts a 1:23.845, followed by a 1:20.222, to Austrian (obviously) having been first to switch to dry tyres.

Anthony Davidson is the second driver to switch to dry tyres and consequently goes second with a 1:20.806, as Wurz improves to 20.094. Elsewhere, local hero, Fernando Alonso, makes his first appearance of the weekend.

As Wurz and Davidson move into the 19s, Robert Kubica goes straight to the top of the timesheets with a 1:17.877. Meanwhile, Montagny is crawling round, finally stopping in the first sector, his F1 race baptism taking another turn for the worse.

With twenty-two minutes remaining, just six times on the timesheet - Kubica, Doornbos, Davidson, Jani, Wurz and Mondini. Only Raikkonen, Michael and Massa haven't made an appearance thus far.

As Alonso leaves the pits for the second time today, the air temperature has risen to 21 degrees C, and the track temperature is up to 25 degrees. The sun is shining!

As Sato goes sixth (21.351), Anthony Davidson goes quickest, crossing the line at 1:17.401. However, Kubica is on a hot lap, having gone quickest in the first two sectors. Sure enough, the Pole crosses the line at 1:16.628 to take the top spot.

With fourteen minutes remaining, Michael Schumacher climbs into his Ferrari. If he continues his recent trend - other than winning on Sunday - he will now go out and post a serious time, rather than merely running an installation lap.

Alexander Wurz goes second with a 1:16.785, ahead of Davidson, Doornbos and Jani.

With ten minutes remaining, there are just two cars (Mondini and Davidson) on track, and seven times on the timesheets. What a complete and utter waste of time for the poor souls that have paid to come here today. This is not entertainment, and is certainly not the way to treat the locals after so many years of trying to wean them away from bikes.

Davidson goes quickest in the second sector, but fails to improve overall, as Michael finally leaves the Ferrari garage, with just over five minutes of the session remaining. Moments later, Felipe Massa joins him… one cannot help but feel that the Italian team is playing 'mind games' here.

Sure enough, having completed his installation lap, the German continues around, immediately going quickest in the first sector. However, moments later, Massa goes quickest in the first sector.

The German crosses the line at 1:16.362, to go quickest, but almost immediately Massa raises the benchmark with a stunning 1:15.796.

Next time around the German improves to 1:16.099, while his teammate fails to improve. Nonetheless, the Maranello outfit has sent out a clear signal to the opposition.

The session ends with Massa quickest, ahead of Michael. Third quickest is Wurz, followed by Kubica, Davidson, Doornbos, Jani, Mondini and Sato. The only driver not to make an appearance was Kimi Raikkonen.

Let's hope for some action in the second session.