06/06/2008
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's first free practice session, the air temperature is 17 degrees C, while the track temperature is an equally cool 17 degrees.
Sadly, we have no picture at present so we will have to rely on the timing screens. What we do know is that the session has been declared wet. There was a heavy rain shower earlier this morning, and just minutes before the start of the session further light rain has begun to fall.
As ever, a multitude of drivers come out for an installation lap, Jarno Trulli being the only driver to complete two installation laps. After eight minutes, all but Raikkonen, Massa and Button have been out.
Shortly after Button returns to the pits, having completed his installation lap, the Force India pair return to the track, Adrian Sutil still no doubt smarting from his Monaco nightmare.
The German posts the first time of the day, crossing the line at 1:33.637, around 18s off last year's pole time. Moments later, his highly experienced teammate posts 29.625. At this point, Nakajima heads down the pitlane.
Nakajima goes second with a 31.832, and this is (seemingly) the cue for others to get to work, amongst them Bourdais, Rosberg, Piquet, Vettel and Trulli.
After half-an-hour, it's Nakajima quickest (28.574), ahead of Trulli, Fisichella, Rosberg, Vettel, Piquet, Sutil and Bourdais.
It stopped raining a little while ago, but official predict further downpours before the end of the session.
Rosberg goes quickest with a 26.776), as Barrichello goers quickest in the first sector. The Brazilian finally crosses the line at 27.438 to go fourth, splitting Vettel and Trulli.
Coming up to half-time, and still no pictures, Piquet goes fourth with a 27.358. The Brazilian really needs to up his game this weekend.
Another driver under pressure to deliver is Nick Heidfeld. The German goes quickest with a 26.441.
With forty-three minutes remaining, Kimi Raikkonen heads down the pitlane, the Finn needing a good result here following his Monaco misery. Moments later he is followed by his Ferrari teammate.
While Raikkonen completes two laps before heading back to the pits, Massa posts 26.007 to go second to Trulli, as Glock makes it a Toyota 1-3 by posting 26.060.
Woo Hoo! With just thirty minutes remaining, we have sound and vision! That said, there's only one man on track, Sebastian Bourdais.
We also got a quick glimpse of the revised bridge wing on the Toyota. A number of team have been informed that these devices must be modified with a support, following video evidence that the wings were flexing at high speed in Istanbul.
Button goes cross-country, the Englishman caught out by one of the many damp patches.
Having gone quickest in all three sectors, Timo Glock takes the top spot with a 22.782, he and his Toyota teammate being the only drivers on track. Next time around the German improves to 21.555.
With eighteen minutes remaining, there are still only fourteen names on the timesheets. The Red Bull and McLaren drivers and Kimi Raikkonen all yet to post a time. That said, the 2007 World Champion heads down the pitlane.
The Finn wastes no time in posting a time, crossing the line at 27.409 to go eleventh. Next time around he goes quickest in the first sector, finally crossing the line at 20.904 to go quickest. Elsewhere, Rosberg improves to fifth.
Less than eight minutes remaining, and all but Glock, Trulli, Kubica and Hamilton are on track. At which point, the Englishman heads down the pitlane.
A 20.705 sees Rosberg go quickest, only to be demoted, almost instantly, by Raikkonen, who posts 19.914. Massa makes it a Ferrari 1-3 by posting 21.504.
Webber goes third with a 20.015, as Rosberg consolidates second with a 20.022. Meanwhile, Raikkonen reaffirms his pace with an 18.292.
All twenty cars on track as Alonso goes third (20.233) ahead of Massa, Kubica, Nakajima and Webber.
Having posted a 22.407 on his first lap, Hamilton improves to third (19.081) next time around. Meanwhile, Massa heads off to enjoy the Canadian countryside.
Having been demoted to fourth by Heidfeld, Hamilton hits back, posting a 18.314 to go second. Elsewhere, Trulli spins at the hairpin.
It's still fairly damp out there, especially in some certain parts of the track. Added to the fact that this track is barely used anyway, one can understand why the drivers are having problems… some more than others.
As Massa goes quickest (17.948), Kovalainen gets horrible out of shape, but somehow keeps it all together.
The session ends, with Kovalainen momentarily taking second (18.133), before being bumped by Kubica, who crosses the line at 17.809.
A topsy-turvy session in many way, and with more rain predicted throughout the rest of the weekend, we can certainly expect more thrills, spills and upsets.
Let's hope so.