Ahead of today's opening free practice session, the air temperature is 31 degrees C, while the track temperature is 33 degrees. Remember, it's 6pm here.

Tyre options are medium (prime) and supersoft (option), as opposed to soft and supersoft.

Another change is the removal of the notorious Singapore sling chicane (Turn 10), which has now been completely re-profiled to make it a regular corner. It is thought that this will see lap times fall by just over a second.

Another change from last year is that there are now two DRS zones. The first is on the pit straight – with activation on the approach to Turn 22, while the second runs between Turns 5 and 7 - with activation just after Turn 4. This second zone was the sole zone in 2012.

Having scored back-to-back victories on two circuits where it was thought he and his team would struggle - Sebastian Vettel, a two-time winner here - heads into the weekend as favourite. However, teammate Webber has a point to prove whilst many believe the Mercedes duo could be a threat.

Because of the nature of the track, none of the third/reserve drivers are in action today, a situation due not only to the fact that it is a street tack and therefore accidents can (and will) happen but also the fact that there is only a two-hour break between FP1 and FP2.

The lights go green ad Chilton, Bianchi and Bottas lead the way. While Bottas has never driver here before, Chilton (like Van der Garde) a winner here in GP2.

Within a few minutes all but Webber and Hamilton have been out. That said, with 85.00 on the clock the Englishman heads down the pitlane.

Alonso is running a back-to-back test of two front wings whilst the Mercedes has tyre heat sensors on its airbox.

After the initial flurry of activity, which eventually saw Webber join in following a suspected gearbox problem, there is a total lack of activity. Fact is, not only is the track still very dusty, the engineers and drivers will have a far better idea of conditions as the sun sets and we approach the time of qualifying and the race.

With 64.00 on the clock, after around twenty minutes of nothing, Perez heads down the pitlane. On the other side of the garages, Alain Prost heads to the Lotus garage sporting a pair of luminous green trainers. Van der Garde is also on track, as is Pic.

Perez posts the first time of the weekend, the Mexican crossing the line at 1:53.245. Moments later Pic posts 59.152 and Van der Garde 57.090. Next time around Perez improves to 51.644.

As Perez improves to 50.863, Hulkenberg complains that traction coming out of corners is "poor". Quickest time in FP1 in 2012 was 50.566, posted by Vettel.

Perez consolidates his position with a 50.103 as Maldonado goes second (50.932) ahead of Bottas, Hulkenberg, Van der Garde and Pic.

As Button goes third (50.830), despite a close encounter of the barrier kind, Maldonado raises the bar with a 49.827.