With the temperature nudging the 30 degree Celsius mark the last thing people expected was rain. Though it was forecast it seemed difficult to believe.

Rain though it did, albeit briefly, drenching the circuit just prior to the Porsche Cup cars heading out on to the track. The downpour was so intense the cars left a wake as they rounded the wiggly final sector. It had dried, or just about, come first F1 practice, though with, a green circuit, few were brave enough to venture out early.

Tyres then became the talk of the town with many drivers complaining of graining. This was largely dismissed by Bridgestone who say the circuit is a second a lap faster than the same point last year. As fuel loads go up so does the graining, admits the Japanese company, which is nonetheless happy with the performance of both compounds.

Adrian Sutil was quizzed by one fashion conscious BBC staffer on his trademark 'lucky golden boots.' The German has sported the trainers as he's wandered around the paddock all season, though he has promised he will have a something different for 2011.

Friday also heralded the arrival of the Ferrari Opus, the book to end all books for Ferrari aficionado's. Launched at Ferrari World many of the worlds media made the trek over, if only to ride the roller coasted, touted as the fastest in the world.

Back at the track the daily press conference featured the standard questions around the world championship contenders with Stefano Domenicali (Ferrari), Adam Parr (Williams), Christian Horner (Red Bull) and Martin Whitmarsh (McLaren) all present. The little smirks and half smiles from Christian Horner and Martin Whitmarsh provided light entertainment in what was an otherwise relatively run of the mill conference.

Everyone seemed to be on their best behaviour, with nothing out of the ordinary to get the press salivating. Richard Branson is expected tomorrow and that could well change things as he tries to draw more attention to yesterdays Marussia Virgin Racing announcement.

Other than Branson the story of tomorrow will be of Bridgestone as they complete their last qualifying session in Formula One. Nico Hulkenberg will be working to persuade the decision makers at Williams that he's worth another shot, while Christian Klien and Bruno Senna resume battle for supremacy at HRT.

To check out our Abu Dhabi practice gallery, click here