06/05/2011
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's opening practice session, the air temperature is 9 degrees C, while the track temperature is 11 degrees. It is unseasonably cool; indeed, some claim it is "freezing", while there has been a fair amount of drizzle for the last couple of hours. Overall, it's what you'd expect at Silverstone not Istanbul.
That said, for the last week, the experts have been predicting such weather for much of the weekend - but then that's not the first time we have heard such predictions this year.
This being the first round of the European season the teams finally have their motorhomes at their disposal, some of them having undergone significant revamps. Arguably the best looking of the lot is that of Pirelli, which has a very sexy (black) carbon fibre finish.
Being the first round of the European season, and following a three week break since China, nearly all the teams have upgrades on their cars - some more than others.
As the lights go green, signalling the start of the session, the rain has increased in intensity, Charlie Whiting officially declaring this to be a wet session.
Di Resta gets the weekend underway, the Force India driver heading down the pitlane followed by d'Ambrosio, Ricciardo, Buemi, Trulli and Glock.
On his out lap, Karthikeyan pulls off to the side of the track, his session over barely before it's begun.
Ten minutes into the session, everyone bar Hamilton and Kobayashi has been out, some on full wets some on intermediates.
Twenty minutes into the session, as most drivers chat with crew members, Hamilton heads down the pitlane. No sooner has the McLaren driver returned to the pits than d'Ambrosio, Ricciardo and Buemi are back on track splashing around.
The Belgian posts the first time of the day, crossing the line at 1:49.518. Moments later Buemi posts 41.632.
From the relative comfort of the Red Bull garage, Sebastian Vettel - sporting a Billy Whiz style haircut - watches along with Helmut Marko.
Massa is the first of the big guns to make a second run, the Brazilian carrying out back-to-back tests with an old front wing and a newer version. The car is also carrying a video camera in order to give the team more detailed feedback.
After thirty minutes there are just four names on the timesheets, Buemi, Ricciardo, d'Ambrosio and Glock.
Rosberg goes third with his first flying lap (42.166) as fellow German Nico Hulkenberg, at the wheel of Sutil's Force India, posts 42.447 to go fourth.
A 42.474 sees Alonso go fifth as Hulkenberg improves to second with a 41.437.
Buemi finally loses his place at the top of the timesheets when Alonso posts a 40.897. However, he is told on his next lap that his full wet tyres are "going away", as the track appears to be moving towards the intermediates.
Rosberg, on wets, goes quickest in all three sectors, crossing the line at 40.072 to go quickest. The German heads straight back to the pits just as teammate Schumacher heads down the pitlane.
Replay shows di Resta having a major wobble having run across a very slippery white line. Meanwhile, Schumacher is warned that there is aquaplaning at Turns 2 and 11.
Schumacher goes third with a 40.954, the German always a master in these sorts of conditions. Moments later however, Japanese hotshot Kobayashi posts a 40.580 to go second.
As Glock proves that the warning about aquaplaning at Turn 11 is correct, Heidfeld goes second and Renault teammate Petrov third. Elsewhere, a 42.564 sees Webber go tenth.
Alonso is back on track on intermediates but he isn't happy. The team inform him that they need the data and that he only needs to do one lap.
Having fired up Vettel's car, his crew switches it off again as the rain increases in intensity.
Despite the complaint of lack of grip, Alonso goes quickest in all three sectors, going quickest overall with a 38.670. Buemi is caught out at Turn 11 but somehow keeps it all together.
As Alonso heads back to the pits, Massa leaves, the Brazilian on the full wets.
The 'rainmaster' Schumacher is caught out at Turn 11, the German doing a full 360 after hitting the white line at Turn 11.
With 32 minutes on the clock, Vettel is finally on track, one of nine drivers still to post a time. The German, on inters, immediately has aquaplaning problems at Turn 11. The McLaren and Williams duos are amongst the others still to posts a time.
Friday is the day when the team normally test their various aero upgrades however; the conditions mean that this is almost impossible today.
The red flag is brought out as Vettel loses the car at the exit of Turn 8, the German running wide and losing control on the kerb. The car jerks to the left and heads across the track into the barriers. The world champion is OK but the car is badly damaged. "I'm sorry," he tells his crew in a little boy voice, "I hit the exit and there was nothing I could do."
Prior to the incident, despite his problems with aquaplaning, the German had warned that he was going to give it another go.
With twenty-five minutes remaining, it's: Alonso, Rosberg, Heidfeld, Petrov, Kobayashi, Schumacher, Massa, Ricciardo, Buemi and Hulkenberg.
With around 17:50 on the clock the session resumes. Still no movement from McLaren, either the Woking team knows something about Sunday's weather or it is conserving rubber.
As Schumacher twitches his way round, there are just five drivers on track, the rain as heavy as ever.
Behind the screens that shield Vettel's side of the Red Bull garage, Marko gives Webber a curious look as the Australian inspects the damage to the German's car.
Schumacher improves to third with a 40.330 as the Williams duo finally leaves the pits.
A big slide along the run off for Maldonado, as teammate Barrichello goes thirteenth with a 49.913.
As the rain falls ever harder, Schumacher spins at Turn 11. At first he appears to have stalled but moments later he gets going again.
With just 0:18s on the clock, Button leave his garage, the Englishman determined to get just one lap in, that and a practice start. Hamilton follows him shortly after but has problems with his clutch and is unable to leave the pitlane before the lights go red.
More problems for Maldonado, the Venezuelan getting it all wrong at Turn 11 (where else) and clouting the barriers with the rear of his car.
Alonso is quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Schumacher, Heidfeld, Petrov, Kobayashi, Massa, Ricciardo, Buemi and Hulkenberg.
Webber is eleventh, ahead of Maldonado, di Resta, Barrichello, Trulli, Liuzzi, Vettel, Glock, D'Ambrosio, Karthikeyan, Chandhok, Perez and Button.
To check out our Istanbul practice gallery, click here.