Ahead of today's first free practice session, the air temperature is 14 degrees C, while the track temperature is 19 degrees. It's bright but cool, everyone is wearing warm clothing, including the drivers.

One of the first out is Felipe Massa, however, like his rivals he completes one installation lap before heading back to the pits. Jarno Trulli seems to forget about the modifications at Bus Stop, and goes straight on.

After fourteen minutes, only the Williams duo hasn't been out, and though the other twenty driver have completed at least one lap there are no times on the timesheets.

Adrian Sutil is back on track, as is his teammate. The German posts the first time of the day, crossing the line at 1:52.713. Yamamoto is almost 7s slower. That said, when Sutil improves to 52.076, the Japanese driver closes to within 3.9s of him.

As Vettel goes third quickest (55.018), Fisichella, Rosberg and Wurz head down the pitlane.

Looking at Fisichella as he heads through Blanchimont, it feels really good to see F1 back here where it belongs. How sad, therefore, that the weekend, indeed the season, has been so badly tainted.

The Italian goes quickest, and in the minutes that follow he's joined on the timesheets by Heidfeld, Schumacher, Webber and Coulthard. However, it's teammate Heikki Kovalainen that goes quickest, the Finn crossing the line at 49.179.

As Heidfeld goes quickest (49.042), Hamilton is on track and already setting a blistering pace. Sure enough, the Englishman goes quickest with a 48.338, as Massa leaves the Ferrari garage.

It's over before it begins for the Brazilian who goes off into the gravel at Rivage, much to Domenicali's frustration. The reply shows him going straight on at the corner, driver error or damper failure?

As the Ferrari is lifted to safety, and Massa begins the long hike back to the pits, Hamilton improves with a 48.142.

At half-time, it's: Hamilton, Heidfeld, Kovalainen, Kubica, Fisichella, Schumacher, Webber, Coulthard, Barrichello and Vettel. Meanwhile, Jean Todt is just arriving at the circuit.

Trulli is still having problems at Bus Stop, as is Kubica. Several drivers have complained about the new pitlane entrance, which forms part of the modified Bus Stop complex.

With forty-one minutes remaining, Alonso heads down the pitlane. Despite being quickest in the second sector, and having had a strong first sector, the Spaniard can only manage 48.321, which puts him second on the timesheets.

Liuzzi goes off into the gravel at Malmedy, as Kovalainen gets into all sorts of trouble at Les Combes. Whereas the Finn is able to continue, the Italian's session is at an end.

Kimi Raikkonen is on track, the Finn immediately going second, just 0.128s off Hamilton's pace.

Alonso and Raikkonen are both on hot laps, indeed, the Spaniard goes quickest with a 47.994. However, Raikkonen has gone quickest in the first two sectors and eventually crosses the line 0.335s up on the World Champion.

Kubica leapfrogs Heidfeld to go fourth, albeit 1.2s off Raikkonen's pace, as the Finn improves yet again, crossing the line at 47.339.

With fifteen minutes remaining, Schumacher is struggling with the Toyota, as Kovalainen has another off-road experience. Yamamoto is having the time of his life, making full use of the wide run off strips. That said, he's over 5s off the pace, though above Massa on the timesheets.

Under ten minutes remain, and Hamilton is back on track, as are Alonso and Hamilton.

Yamamoto gets it all wrong at Bus Stop, going straight where he should have turned right. His car is pushed to safety as he claims that something broke on the car. The replay shows he could be right, the car wouldn't turn in.

Raikkonen goes quickest in the first sector, as Rosberg improves to fourth (48.372). Moments later however, he is demoted when Heidfeld posts 48.052 to go third.

Hamilton improves with a 47.881 to take second, albeit over 0.5s off Raikkonen's pace.

The session ends with Raikkonen quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Alonso, Heidfeld, Rosberg, Kubica, Wurz, Trulli, Kovalainen and Button.

Though the session is over the drivers are allowed to make practice starts on the grid.