This time last week heavy rain was lashing the Autodromo Nazionale, today it is bright and sunny, barely a cloud in the sky. The air temperature is 20 degrees C and the track temperature is 26 degrees.

When the lights go green, one of the first drivers out on track is Schumacher, followed by Trulli, Liuzzi, Yamamoto, Vettel, Davidson, Sato, Sutil, Fisichella and Kovalainen.

Spyker is running its new B-spec car this weekend.

Lewis Hamilton, who yesterday made no secret of his ambition to beat Ferrari at its home track, is another early riser. As the Englishman heads back to the pits, his teammate heads off on his installation lap. The Spaniard, having completed an installation lap, on the softer compound, stays out for another, but he is virtually cruising around, his engine sounding awful.

With the teams testing here last week, most of them for four days, it is unlikely to be that busy today, the real work will begin tomorrow. Twelve minutes into the session, eighteen cars have been out, but no times have been set, indeed only four cars have completed more than one lap.

Eighteen minutes into the session, Sebastian Vettel, at the wheel of the Toro Rosso, posts the first timer of the day, 1:26.754. As the German youngster returns to the pits his teammate heads down the pitlane.

Twenty-three minutes into the session, Trulli raises the benchmark with a 24.885, but Rosberg is on track and pushing hard. Trulli improves to 24.318, as Schumacher goes second, ahead of Rosberg, Vettel and Liuzzi.

Fisichella goes fourth, as Schumacher locks up big time. Elsewhere, Alex Wurz posts 27.069 to go sixth.

As Fisichella improves to second (24.513), Sato heads down the pitlane, followed by Button. Only the Ferraris haven't been out yet.

David Coulthard goes fourth, ahead of Schumacher, Davidson and Rosberg, as Button goes tenth.

All eyes on Hamilton as the World Championship leader goes quickest in all three sectors, crossing the line at 23.632 to go quickest. The McLaren driver makes full use of the kerbs, particularly at the second chicane. At the entrance to the Parabolica he passes Schumacher as though the Toyota is stationary. However, the time lost behind the German is enough to see the youngster fail to improve, even though he was quickest in the first two sectors.

Barrichello is having problems; "the car feels very strange," he says, "every time I change gear it feels as though I'm losing power, it's very strange."

As Hamilton improves to 23.147, Raikkonen heads down the pitlane, much to the delight of the partisan crowd. The Finn is running just a few yards behind Hamilton, the perfect benchmark. When the McLaren driver shuts the door at the second chicane, the Ferrari driver decides to drop back. Massa is on track also.

At halftime, it's: Hamilton, Trulli, Fisichella, Rosberg and Kovalainen, Coulthard, Button, Schumacher Davidson and Sutil. Moments later, however, Raikkonen goes quickest with a 23.055.

Massa goes third (23.478) and Kubica fourth, leaving Alonso and Heidfeld as the only drivers that haven't posted times.

Raikkonen raises the benchmark ever higher, crossing the line at 22.510. Meanwhile, Massa improves to second (23.025). In the McLaren garage the mechanics work on Alonso's car as the Spaniard waits patiently.

Raikkonen improves to 22.446, with Massa on 22.590, leaving Hamilton 0.701s adrift.

Behind the Englishman it's Kubica, Kovalainen, Trulli, Fisichella, Rosberg, Coulthard and Button.

With half-an-hour remaining, Heidfeld is finally on track, and immediately on the pace as he posts 24.090 to go sixth.

Jenson Button is really using the kerbs, the Honda thrown into the air such is the force with which he hits them.

Hamilton is back on track, and immediately improves, though he remains 0.617s off the pace. Elsewhere, Heidfeld loses his best time (23.886) for missing the chicane.

With just over twenty minutes of the session remaining, Alonso is back on track, and pushing hard from the outset. A lock-up sees him drive across the newly asphalted second chicane. Elsewhere, Hamilton goes quickest in the first sector, finally crossing the line at 22.923.