Ahead of today's opening free practice session, the air temperature is 29 degrees C, while the track temperature is 35 degrees. It is bright and warm, as expected. Humidity is 51%.

The lights go green, and Adrian Sutil is the first driver to head down the pitlane for the obligatory installation lap. Due to the fact that the much-anticipated B-spec car failed its rear impact test, the German, and his Japanese teammate, are having to use the 'old' car again this weekend.

One by one the cars take to the track, Davidson, Kubica, Heidfeld, surprisingly, even McLaren is keen to 'get one in', with Lewis Hamilton following Button and Coulthard down the pitlane.

Twelve minutes into the session and everyone has made an appearance, excepting Massa, Raikkonen, Rosberg and Wurz. However, Heidfeld is back on track and look set to post the first time of the day. We know from experience however, that the German team, like many of its rivals, doesn't really concern itself with times until Saturday.

As it happens, Heidfeld aborts the lap at the last instant and dives back into the pits. Instead, the 'honour' of posting the benchmark time falls to Yamamoto (1:37.279).

Little by little the Japanese driver chips away at his previous best, finally getting down to 34.667, though this is still 8s of last year's pole winning time.

Twenty three minutes into the session, Nico Rosberg is the third driver to post a time, the German going straight to the top of the timesheets with a 33.388. Moments later, a small mistake sees the Williams driver go wide, missing one of the corners entirely. That said, next time around he posts 31.762.

Time passes, with little happening, and then the mad rush. Once the smoke clears, Kimi Raikkonen tops the timesheets, ahead of Schumacher, Trulli, Fisichella and Hamilton. Approaching 'half-time', only Heidfeld and Alonso have yet to post a time. That said, the Spaniard is on track.

As Alonso goes sixth with a 30.437, Massa goes wide, kicking up cloud of dust. Next time around, the World Champion posts 30.036 to go fifth, as Massa goes second with a 28.870.

Raikkonen raises the benchmark with a 28.019, while his teammate consolidates second with a 28.846. However, Hamilton, who goes third with a 29.377, begins a hot lap.

At half time, it's: Raikkonen, Massa, Hamilton, Schumacher, Trulli, Alonso, Kubica, Fisichella, Heidfeld and Kovalainen.

Schumacher has a 360 spin at the first turn, though it is unclear why. Although fourth quickest, the Toyota driver is 1.39s off Raikkonen's pace.

At the wrong end of the timesheets, Super Aguri, Spyker and Toro Rosso have company in the form of the Red Bulls, with Coulthard and Webber both over 3s off the pace. The quicker of the two Honda drivers is Button, who is eleventh on the timesheets, 2.63s off the pace.

With twenty-six minutes remaining, the Ferraris are back on track. While Raikkonen fails to improve, Massa posts 28.391 to close to within 0.372s of the Finn.

Alonso is back on track, watched by Hamilton, who is standing at the back of the garage joking with one of his crew. The Spaniard is currently fifth quickest, 1.516s off Raikkonen's pace.

Yamamoto, who remains firmly at the bottom of the timesheets, has completed the most laps (27), ahead of Sutil (23). Next up is Trulli (19). Quickest through the speedtrap is Wurz, ahead of Rosberg, Heidfeld, Kubica, Hamilton and Alonso.

With thirteen minutes remaining, there are just five cars on track. The most significant improvements over the next couple of minutes sees Fisichella go sixth, ahead of his teammate.

With five minutes remaining, Raikkonen goes quickest in the first sector, however, he loses a heap of time behind a Toro Rosso in the third sector, and consequently fails to improve.

For a brief moment, Rosberg goes fourth (29.403), before being bumped down by Kovalainen. As Yamamoto enjoys a long trip across the gravel, Alonso goes third with a 29.222.

Again, Raikkonen goes quickest in the first sector, maintaining a strong pace in the second. At the line its 27.988, as the Finn compounds his place at the top of the timesheets.

From out of nowhere, Davidson produces a 30.384 to go twelfth, ahead of the Red Bulls, Honda, et al.