Ahead of today's opening free practice session, the air temperature is 20 degrees and the track temperature is 25 degrees. It is overcast.

As at Silverstone we have 29 drivers present today, with Super Aguri fielding three cars once again.

The lights go green and Silverstone (practice) pace-setter Robert Kubica is first out, followed by Yamamoto, Jani, Mondini, Sato, Montagny and Wurz.

Wurz is the first driver to post a time, the Austrian crossing the line at 1:25.445. Next time around the WilliamsF1 test driver lowers the benchmark with a 1:23.449, but Davidson is already on a very, very hot lap.

Although the Englishman is quickest in all three sectors, he 'only' improves on Wurz' best by 0.366s. Next time around the Honda test driver gets down to 1:21.544.

As Davidson gets down to 1:21.029, Mondini stops on track a hundred years or so into his first proper lap. As the Swiss driver is pushed to safety, Kubica goes second quickest with a 21.508. Jani goes third (23.005), ahead of Wurz and Yamamoto.

Just 15 minutes into the session and Felipe Massa leaves the pits, much, much earlier than expected. Meanwhile, Robert Kubica has gone quickest, crossing the line at 1:19.464 - not bad for a guy who has never been here before. Elsewhere, Robert Doornbos goes fifth then immediately improves to fourth (22.367).

Massa has returned to his garage having completed the obligatory installation lap.

Kubica lowers the benchmark ever further with a 1:18.746, as Sato goes sixth (23.669).

As Trulli and Liuzzi leave the pits, Wurz goes quickest in the first sector, and Sato improves to fifth (22.609).

It looks at though we can forget all about seeing Nico Rosberg in this session, the German is standing in his garage wearing jeans, watching the monitors with the WilliamsF1 crew.

Another improvement from Kubica (18.283), who immediately goes quickest in the first sector, finally crossing the line at 1:17.998.

At 'half-time', there are only eight names on the timesheets: Kubica, Davidson, Jani, Doornbos, Sato, Montagny, Wurz and Yamamoto.

Ralf Schumacher come out, completes two installation laps, then returns to the pits. In the Red Bull motorhome David Coulthard chats with his manager, Martin Brundle.

With twenty-three minutes remaining, Fernando Alonso comes out to test the waters, waving to the fans as he heads back to the pits.

Kubica and Yamamoto are the only drivers on track, but even so the Japanese driver manages to get in the Pole's way, though the BMW driver still manages to improve to 17.438. Next time around, with no Super Aguri to contend with, Kubica improves yet again (17.059).

Giancarlo Fisichella is on track, but this is sure to be an installation lap, a quick in and out. Sure enough, the Italian does the one lap then heads back to the pits.

As Fisi climbs out of his car, part of the overhead gantry falls on him, he is unhurt and appears to laugh it off.

In the Ferrari garage Michael climbs into his car. If he adopts the same routine we have seen on previous Fridays, he will post a time in this session.

In the Toyota garage the mechanics are working furiously on the frnt brakes of Ralf's car.

Meanwhile, Alonso is back on track, as are Klien and Speed. The Spaniard completes another installation lap then heads back to the pits, as do Klien and Speed.

Trulli is back on track, posting a 26.834 to go eleventh, of eleven, as Kubica improves to 1:16.390. Last yea's pole time was 1:15.217.

With less than five minutes remaining, Barrichello and Button are both on track, as are Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher, Coulthard and Heidfeld.

Barrichello goes third and Button fourth, as Villeneuve leisurely cruises back to the pits. Elsewhere, Michael goes eighth (20.584) ahead of Ralf.

Next time around Michael improves to fourth (18.994), ahead of the Hondas, as Monteiro clouts the 'wall of champions', ripping off the right-hand side of his car in the process. "I hit the wall," he tells his crew. "Yeh, we can see that," is the response.

The session ends with just 17 names on the timesheets: Kubica, Davidson, Wurz, Michael, Barrichello, Button, Jani, Doornbos, Liuzzi, Albers, Monteiro, Ralf, Montagny, Sato, Massa and Trulli.