Ahead of today's opening practice session, the air temperature is 27 degrees C and the track temperature is 30 degrees. It is bright and sunny and should remain so through to Saturday, though there is the threat of rain, even storms, on Sunday.

Tyre choices on this the fastest track on the calendar are hard (prime) and medium (option). There are two DRS zones, one on the main pit straight the other on the run from the second Lesmo to the Variante Ascari.

This being the last European round on the calendar, much is at stake both in terms of drivers seeking (or retaining) seats for 2014 and teams switching focus to next season having given up on this year's hopes.

There are three reserve drivers on duty this morning, James Calado at Force India (replacing Sutil), Rodolfo Gonzalez at Marussia (Bianchi) and Heikki Kovalainen at Caterham (Van der Garde). While the Gonzalez has taken part in practice sessions before, this is effectively Calado's F1 (weekend) baptism.

Red Bull has never been particularly successful here, the circuit not suiting the Austrian car, however, we used to say that about Spa.

Lotus is running a long wheelbase version of the E21 for Raikkonen, though this is thought to be aimed more at 2014.

The lights go green and Chilton leads the way, followed by Grosjean, Gonzalez, Gutierrez, Ricciardo, Bottas and Vergne.

Within the first couple of minutes all but Vettel have been out, cars sporting ever increasing amounts of flo-vis. Ferrari has a new low-downforce rear wing which has proved itself in simulations, now for the ultimate test.

Friday at Monza is a family day, hence generations of families take advantage of the opportunity to sit in the sun, enjoy a picnic and cheer on their beloved Ferrari. On his installation lap, plays to the gallery, waving to the tifosi.

As Race Control says the track is slippery in S1, Ricciardo complains of a "spongy" brake pedal and Hamilton laments a blurred display on his steering wheel.

As drivers, including Rosberg and Gutierrez, perform practice starts at the end of the pitlane, Race Control sends out a stern warning about where precisely these should be carried out.

As Gonzalez posts the first time of the weekend (1:34.918), Mercedes is running different rear wings on both its cars, the German team intending to back-to-back tests.

Gonzalez improves to 30.795 and then 30.277.

Twenty-five minutes into the session, with Gonzalez the only name on the sheet, Button is the second driver to post a time, the McLaren driver crossing the line at 29.494. The Woking outfit is continuing its 50th anniversary celebrations here this weekend.

As Button improves to 27.715, teammate Perez, thrilled by the prospect of a home race in 2014, begins his first flying lap. The Mexican goes second (27.899), as Chilton posts 29.075 to go third.