Ahead of today's all-important qualifying session, the air temperature is 20 degrees C, while the track temperature is 26 degrees. After yesterday's rain, conditions are much improved today - despite a couple of little showers this morning - however, being England, and summer, it would be foolish to take the weather for granted.

Despite the ongoing row over the blown diffuser, which according to Red Bull is hurting the Milton Keynes outfit more than most, Sebastian Vettel was quickest this morning with teammate Mark Webber third.

Both Ferraris were up there, while Force India and Sauber are looking good, indeed, so was Williams. The McLarens are not as close to the Red Bulls as we might have expected while Mercedes is also struggling.

Tyre options this weekend are hard (prime) and soft (option), while, unlike the previous two races, there is only one DRS zone.

Two guys really in the spotlight today, other than the usual suspects, are Paul di Resta - making his F1 debut at home - and Daniel Ricciardo who is making his F1 debut.

With most of the drivers limited to twenty laps of dry running so far this weekend, in many ways we are heading into the unknown.

The lights go green and di Resta leads the way with Hamilton, Button and Alonso close behind. Indeed, as the cars head off into the arena section there are predictions of rain within the next ten minutes or so. There are certainly some dark clouds moving in.

Just one minute into the session all twenty-four drivers are on track. Almost all appear to be on the prime tyre.

Di Resta crosses the line at 36.372, however, a 33.741 sees Alonso go quickest, just as Vettel is informed that there is "light rain at Copse". Massa goes second (33.754), ahead of Barrichello and Maldonado.

As Webber goes third (34.096), Kovalainen (on options) posts 34.923 to go eighth.

Vettel goes quickest with a 33.555 but Alonso looks set to improve having gone quickest in S1. However, the Spaniard goes off into the grass and gravel at Luffield.

Barrichello goes quickest with a 33.532 but moments later he is leapfrogged by Webber (33.044) as Red Bull show no after effects of this morning's FIA ruling.

No sooner has Massa gone quickest than the Brazilian is eclipsed by fellow south American Maldonado who crosses the beam at 32.702.

With 10:21 on the clock, all the usual suspects fill the danger zone along with the Toro Rosso duo. Kovalainen is now sixteenth.

Watched by Ron Dennis, Hamilton goes sixth (33.581) and Button eleventh (34.230).

2010 winner Mark Webber re-takes the top spot, the Australian posting 32.670 while Trulli is informed that he is the only driver only getting one good lap out of his option tyres.

With 6:10 on the clock rain is falling on the start/finish straight, bad news for Alguersuari and Buemi but good news for Kovalainen who is currently sixteenth. Meanwhile, for reasons known only to themselves, McLaren have sent Hamilton out on softs.

As the rain falls ever harder, the front runners watch from the comfort of their garages while Alguersuari, Buemi and Glock try to improve but fail miserably.

With Q1 effectively over, Webber is quickest, ahead of Maldonado, Massa, Vettel, Alonso, Barrichello, Hamilton, Perez, Schumacher and Rosberg.

We lose Alguersuari, Buemi, Glock, Trulli, d'Ambrosio, Liuzzi and Ricciardo.

Even though the rain appears to have stopped and the track drying, Kovalainen is told that conditions will worsen and that he'll be going out on inters.

As the lights go green for Q2 a number of drivers, including Rosberg and Schumacher, follow Kovalainen's example. Heidfeld is on options, however it is still quite wet at Copse.