Ahead of today's opening session, the air temperature is 18 degrees C and the track temperature is 24 degrees. It is bright and sunny.

While attention in Japan was focussed on the skies, this weekend it is the ground that will be under scrutiny. While the newly laid asphalt is expected to be slippery, there is concern that if it hasn't cured properly yet it could lift in places when subjected to F1 power.

Today will be a serious test, not only for those teams that have brought updates, but also for the organizers of the new addition to the calendar and, of course, the FIA which gave the circuit the thumbs up.

Only one test driver is on duty this morning, Jerome d'Ambrosio driving di Grassi's Virgin.

With the various advertising hoardings and banners now in place the circuit looks a lot more complete than it did a couple of days ago.

One of those updated we previously referred to earlier is the new front wing on the McLaren, the Woking team also running a revised F-duct.

As we await the start of the session, Kovalainen, Alguersuari and Yamamoto wait patiently at the end of the pitlane. Hamilton is among the early risers.

On his second installation lap, Alguersuari warns his crew that the track is "dirty, very, very dirty".

Just seven minutes into the session all twenty-four driver have been out. Only one time on the board, Jaime Alguersuari's 2:16.178.

Twelve minutes into the session the Renault duo come out for a second run. A lap later they are both back in the pits as Massa and Button head down the pitlane.

Having taken over 12s out of Alguersuari's time by the second split, Massa dives into the pits as Yamamoto begins a warm up lap. On his first flying lap the Hispania driver has a moment at Turn 11, he subsequently backs off. That said, next time around he posts a 2:01.026 as Schumacher heads down the pitlane.

On his first flying lap the German veteran posts 1:53.458 only to be beaten by Buemi moments later (52.318).

Webber's first lap - thirty minutes into the session - sees the Australian go quickest, the title hopeful crossing the line at 49.308. On his next lap, the Red Bull driver is stuck behind Yamamoto who is clearly struggling for grip.

Webber improves to 45.723 as Buemi remains second ahead of Schumacher, Kobayashi and Barrichello. Moments later, however, Kobayashi improves with a 48.298 to go second. Only ten names on the timesheets with thirty-seven minutes of the session complete.

Having gone seventh (48.645) Massa advises Rob Smedley that the track is "very slippery", the Brazilian having enjoys a number of excursions across the run-offs.

At half-time, it's: Webber, Hulkenberg, Schumacher, Kobayashi, Massa, Buemi, Barrichello, Sutil, Kovalainen and Liuzzi.

Hulkenberg, whose future with Williams is said to be in doubt, posts 44.509 having gone quickest in the first two sectors.

Replay shows Kobayashi doing a Hamilton/Coulthard, running wide as he enters the pitlane. That said, the pitlane entrance is not user friendly while the main pitlane is very, very dirty with the tyres covered in detritus even before they take to the track proper.

A 47.099 sees Alonso go tenth on his first flying lap, slotting in behind his Ferrari teammate. Elsewhere, Petrov goes quickest in S1, however the rest of the lap is poor and he fails to improve on twelfth (47.742).

Vettel goes quickest in the final two sectors, crossing the line at 43.599 to go quickest. Moments later Button goes second (44.367) as Hamilton waits in the McLaren garage, the Englishman the only driver yet to post a time. Button improves with a 43.096 as mechanics continue to work on his teammate's car.

With 23:10 on the clock Senna's session comes to an abrupt end, the Brazilian losing his Hispania at Turn 9 following what appears to be a failure of the left-rear suspension.

Thus fat, the Renaults are quickest through the main speedtrap, while sixth and seventh on the timesheets.

Barrichello improves to second with a 43.485 as former Ferrari teammate Schumacher posts 43.939 to go fourth.