Ahead of today's opening session the air temperature is 15.6 degrees C, while the track temperature is 20.1 degrees. As expected it is cool and wet, very wet. It has been raining for the last couple of hours and looks set to continue.

The upgrades this weekend see Ferrari with a new floor, AlphaTauri a new rear wing, Aston Martin a new beam wing, Williams a revised engine cover and Alfa Romeo: a new nose and front wing.

The weather hasn't dampened the enthusiasm of the fans however, who are as welcoming of the sport as ever.

The lights go green but it is 5 minutes before a driver appears, it is Magnussen. He is subsequently joined by local hero Tsunoda. Both, understandably, on full wets.

"There's a couple of rivers after S1," reports the AlphaTauri driver.

As the pair return to the comfort of the pits - Magnussen having completed two laps - Latifi heads out. He is subsequently joined by Schumacher, Stroll, Vettel and Sainz.

Schumacher posts the first time of the weekend, a 52.537.

As he heads out, Leclerc reports that he thinks it could be time for Inters.

Schumacher improves to 50.343.

Having detected an issue, Mercedes is changing the engine in Russell's car and it is unlikely he will be out any time soon.

No sooner has Sainz posted a 49.952 than Leclerc crosses the line at 49.024.

"There's a bit of noise in the engine, I think it's the turbo," reports Sainz.

As Leclerc improves to 48.104, more drivers head out, but full wets remain the go-to tyre.

Despite his noisy turbocharger, Sainz raises the bar with a 47.758, as Norris reveals that he's had a PU warning".

After 28 minutes all bar the Bulls, Ocon and Russell have been out.

Ricciardo goes third (48.582), ahead of Alonso, Bottas, Norris and Magnussen.

As Bottas switches to Inters, Verstappen and Ocon head out on the green-banded rubber.

Latifi is the first to bring out the yellows, after going off at Turn 11.

Perez heads out on Inters.

Verstappen immediately goes quickest, crossing the line at 44.059.

As Ocon posts a 43.022 the rain, which had eased off, suddenly increases in intensity.

Nonetheless, Russell finally heads out... on Inters.

All bar Verstappen, Tsunoda and Hamilton are on track.

Sainz retakes the top spot with a 42.563, but Alonso is on a hot lap. Indeed, the Spaniard bangs in a 42.248.

Russell posts a 46.103 to go 17th, two places ahead of his Mercedes teammate.

As conditions worsen, there are offs for Norris and Leclerc, the Monegasque on full wets.

"Tyres aren't biting," reports Russell, "weird, really sliding a lot."

The majority of the drivers head back to the pits. Indeed everyone heads back to the pits.

With 10 minutes remaining it is unlikely that there will be much more running.

That said, with just under 4 minutes remaining, Zhou heads out on full wets, along with his alfa teammate.

"Massive increase in standing water in sector one," reports Zhou.

Schumacher, Gasly, Tsunoda and Vettel head out, as do the Ferrari pair, all on the blue-banded rubber.

As the session ends Bottas has a wobble in 130R. "Yeh, had a bit of a snap there," he admits, "standing water."

Shortly after, Schumacher spins off and hits the barriers at Turn 8 causing significant damage to the front of the car. Asked if he is okay, a slightly breathless German replies: "Yes, I had a huge aquaplaning."

Ironically, like the resto f the drivers that went out late, he was only on track in order to perform a practice start and was therefore not running that quickly.

Alonso is quickest, ahead of Sainz, Leclerc, Ocon, Magnussen, Verstappen, Schumacher, Norris, Bottas and Perez.

Zhou is eleventh, ahead of Ricciardo, Hamilton, Stroll, Albon, Gasly, Latifi, Russell, Tsunoda and Vettel.

Check out our Friday gallery from Suzuka here.