06/07/2012
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's opening practice session, the air temperature is 18 degrees C, while the track temperature is 17 degrees. There has been rain for much of the night and sadly, for those camping the surrounding fields, it is still raining.
With much of the UK forecast to be hit by up to a month's rain in the next twenty-four hours, it is likely that Silverstone will receive its fair share. Indeed, organisers have already assured fans that contingency plans are in place should the conditions deteriorate. Anyone who knows the area - especially those who were here in 2000 - will be aware that when the weather deteriorates here it really deteriorates.
Most of the teams have brought updates here this weekend, but it is highly unlikely that we'll be seeing much of them, or the benefit they bring, today.
To further complicate matters, Pirelli is trying out a new harder compound here today, the Italian manufacturer eager to try it out before it is introduced next season. The main compounds this weekend are hard (prime) and soft (option).
Three teams are running test drivers this morning; Williams has Bottas standing in for Senna, HRT has Clos in for Karthikeyan and Bianchi is driving Hulkenberg's Force India.
The lights go green and surprisingly the drivers are keen to go out, if only to get the installation lap out of the way. All are on wets.
Perez is the first driver to post a time, the Mexican crossing the line at 2:11.663. All but the Force Indias - which much surely be used to the weather at this circuit - have been out.
"The forecast says that this is pretty much how its going to be," Kovalainen is told, "however, it could get worse." It probably will guys, it probably will.
Being a former airfield, Silverstone is flat, consequently standing water is a major issue here. Even on full wets the drivers complain of aquaplaning.
Twelve minutes into the session, Kobayashi is the only driver on track. In the pitlane McLaren carries out a number of pit stops.
Kobayashi posts a 2:04.479, the Sauber driver subsequently running into trouble at Club, the Japanese a passenger on what appears to be a mini lake.
As Pic posts the third time of the day (2:11.760), Vettel heads down the pitlane in the magnificently liveried Red Bull, the car sporting the images of thousands of fans who have donated to its Wings for Life charity. Webber on track also.
No sooner has Vettel posted a 2:10.702 than teammate Webber goes quickest with a 2:01.153. A 2:01.729 sees Ricciardo go second. The Australian, like his French teammate, needs a result this weekend.
Webber improves to 1:15.719 but Ricciardo is on a hot lap, going quickest in the first two sectors. The Toro Rosso driver crosses the line at 1:58.581.
As Ricciardo ups the ante with a 56.827, Vettel improves to third, ahead of Vergne, Kovalainen, Petrov, Kobayashi, Clos, de la Rosa and Perez.
As Ricciardo gets all out of shape, Clos has a big spin at Turn 5 (Aintree). Interestingly, the Spaniard is the first driver to actually spin this morning. Elsewhere, Grosjean goes second with a 57.058.
Grosjean subsequently improves to 1:56.552, as Massa goes fourth and Schumacher seventh. Still the rain falls. Indeed, as Kobayashi spins, the onboard camera on Hamilton's car reveals some very, very threatening clouds in the distance.
A big spin for de la Rosa at Turn 5, however, a far better recovery than his Spanish teammate.
As Button leaves his garage the rain is falling even heavier. Elsewhere, on his first timed lap, teammate Hamilton goes fourth (57.715).
A bib, big spin for Glock, his team still reeling following Maria de Villota's tragic crash earlier this week.
HRT reveals that de la Rosa reports that some sections of the track are now "dangerous". As if to prove the pint Rosberg runs wide and loses all control on the soaking grass.
At half-time, it's: Grosjean, Ricciardo, Hamilton, Perez, Massa, Webber, Kobayashi, Schumacher, Rosberg and Vergne. All but Alonso and the Force Indias have posted times.
A big, big cross-country excursion for Kovalainen, bringing back memories of Jackie Stewart's trip through the cornfields way back when.
With the rain falling harder few are running and there are certainly no improvements.
Both Force India drivers are out of their cars, mechanics swarming over di Resta's machine. Petrov is told to get out of his Caterham as he won't be running for some time.
At the back of the Ferrari garage Alonso looks like a bored teenager stuck in the caravan on a typically wet summer holiday in Skegness.
At 20.50 there is absolutely nobody on track, scant rewards for a Friday crowd that would outnumber race day attendance at some of the newer venues.
The Lotus duo finally leave the pits, along with Kobayashi, to give the fans something to look at.
As di Resta finally leaves the pits, his team having changed the steering column on the VJM05, the Lotus and Kobayashi return. A minute or so later, Alonso heads down the pitlane.
With only three sets of wets available for each car for the weekend, and lots more rain expected, drivers are loathe to use them up today. That said, as Pirelli reminds us; "the wet and inter tyres do not degrade like the dry compounds. In fact they don't really have degradation at all."
Alonso heads back through the pits where he performs a practice start before returning to the track. At 6:17 he and Schumacher are the only drivers on track.
As Alonso and Schumacher pit, Massa takes their place, the Brazilian apparently trying a new pedal. Returning to the pits, he too carries out a practice start.
Rob Smedley calls Massa in for another practice start - suggesting Ferrari expects it to be wet on Sunday - but the Brazilian has run out of time, the session is over.
Grosjean is quickest, ahead of Ricciardo, Hamilton, Perez, Massa, Webber, Kobayashi, Schumacher, Rosberg and Vergne.
Vettel is eleventh, ahead of Petrov, Bottas, Kovalainen, Maldonado, Raikkonen, Button, Glock, de la Rosa, Clos and Pic. No times from Alonso, di Resta or Bianch.
Check out our Friday gallery, here.