Ahead of today's opening session, the air temperature is 34 degrees C, while the track temperature is 45 degrees.

Tyres options this weekend are the same as used last week in India, medium (prime) and soft (option).

There are two DRS zones, the first on the straight that links T7 and T8 and the second between T10 and T11.

The big news is that Kimi Raikkonen is here. The Finn was notable by his absence yesterday, many wondering whether he had finally quit the team over the fact that he still hasn't been paid and also the little radio spat during last weekend's race.

The other story dominating proceedings this weekend is the 'will he, wont he' saga of Ross Brawn's future at Mercedes... or lack of it.

James Calado takes over Adrian Sutil's car for this session, Heikki Kovalainen is in Giedo Van der Garde's Caterham while Rodolfo Gonzalez is in Max Chilton's Marussia.

The lights go green and Gutierrez leads the way, the nature of the Yas Marina circuit, with its demand for strong traction out of corners, should suit Sauber more than most this weekend.

As the Mexican takes a pounding from the kerbs at the chicane, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Grosjean, Bianchi, Ricciardo, Vergne and Maldonado get to work.

Within the first five minutes all but Webber have been out for an exploratory lap.

Despite have wrapped up both titles last weekend Red Bull is still pushing all the way, the rear of Vettel's car smothered in flo-vis.

As mechanics work on the rear of Raikkonen's car, Gonzalez is the first driver to come out for a second run.

As ever, due to the limits on tyres, there follows a long period of total inactivity, Gonzalez, having completed one further installation lap, heads backs to the pits for a few minutes then comes out again. Elsewhere, a new nose box for Vettel's car.

Twenty-five minutes into the session Perez heads down the pitlane. The Mexican subsequently posts the first time of the weekend, crossing the line at 1:48.525. As he improves to 45.889 teammate Button heads out. Grosjean and Kovalainen follow.

Perez stops the clock at 45.331 with Button posting 47.101 shortly after. Elsewhere, Grosjean gets it all wrong at T5/6, going on to post 52.741.

After just 5 laps he's already at it, "wow, we really don't have any grip", complains the Captain.

Maldonado goes second (46.288) only to be leapfrogged by Grosjean (45.647), while Bottas goes fifth ahead of Pic and Kovalainen.

"I'm really, really struggling for grip," moans Capt No Grip. Now, while the track is very dusty, as Blackadder might suggest, it's a fact that even if this was the grippiest track surface in the entire history of grip, grippy to the power of a million, you know who would still complain.

Rosberg is the first of the big guns to come out for a second run – sad to think that currently we don't include McLaren among that elite group.

Talking of grip, T21, the final turn, is catching out a number of drivers. Meanwhile, in a strange, but wholly understandable move, Rosberg is told to run on the side of the track shielded by the grandstand roof in an effort to cool his tyres. The German's first timed lap is good enough for 13th (2:01.178).

Grosjean goes quickest with a 45.329 as Rosberg runs wide at T6.

Raikkonen posts 55.533 to go 16th.Next time around, despite traffic, he improves to fourth with a 46.174.

Massa gets it wrong at T6, another bit of the track that is catching drivers out. With 37 minutes remaining the Brazilian and his teammate are the only drivers still to post a time.

Rosberg goes third (45.536) and teammate Hamilton fifth (46.014), as Vettel and Webber go 13th and 14th.