17/10/2008
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's first free practice session, the air temperature is 24 degrees C, while the track temperature is 23 degrees. While overcast, the sun is trying to break through and there is no threat of rain. Humidity is 70 per cent.
The lights go green, and as ever the Force Indias lead the way, followed by Hamilton, Bourdais, Piquet and Heidfeld.
Four minutes into the session, all but Barrichello and the Ferraris have made an appearance, as Button is the first driver to begin a second lap, though he dives into the pits at the end of it.
Seven minutes into the session, Barrichello leaves the pits, leaving the Ferraris as the only 'no shows'. In the McLaren garage Heikki Kovalainen chats with his father.
The tyre options this weekend are hard and medium, which we will refer to as hard (hard) and soft (medium).
There follows the usual period of total inactivity, as the teams and drivers wait for someone, anyone, to break the deadlock. An engine fires up, but then goes silent. As Hamilton chats with his crew, Robert Kubica looks as though he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Sitting in his Toyota, Jarno Trulli adjusts his watch.
Eighteen minutes into the session, Bourdais is back on track. The Frenchman has warned Toro Rosso not to leave him in limbo regarding 2009 for too long otherwise he will make the decision for them. He's definitely improved as the season has progressed, and will have every right to feel bitter about last week.
The Frenchman posts the first time of the weekend, crossing the line at 1:39.496. As Massa watches from the Ferrari garage, looking unimpressed and wearing the biggest watch you ever saw, Piquet heads down the pitlane.
Bourdais improves with a 38.547, as Kimi Raikkonen is strapped into his Ferrari. Piquet posts 40.710 as Bourdais improves with a 37.958. Rosberg, Trulli and Glock head down the pitlane.
Rosberg is pushing, however, the Williams looks a real handful, slipping and sliding around. Nonetheless, he goes second with a 38.709, ahead of Piquet and Glock.
Next time around, the German fails to improve, as Bourdais (37.101) continues to raise the benchmark little by little.
As Piquet goes second with a 38.058, Raikkonen heads out of the Ferrari garage.
Webber goes third (38.103), ahead of Button, Glock, Barrichello, Trulli and Rosberg. However, moments later, the Australian is demoted to fourth when Raikkonen goes second with 37.298. Elsewhere, Vettel and Kovalainen leave the pits.
Webber improves to third again (37.778), as Raikkonen goes quickest with a 36.625. However, moments later the Finn spins off, rejoining behind his Brazilian teammate. Hamilton is also on track, indeed, there are 19 drivers on track.
As Kovalainen goes quickest in the first sector, Bourdais complains that the track is greasy and that "like Magny Cours" he is struggling for grip in the fast corners.
Kovalainen goes second with a 36.977, and Hamilton fourth (37.350), as Massa can only manage nineteenth (41.627).
A 37.252 sees Alonso go fourth, ahead of Hamilton. Clearly spurred on by a banner in the stands which reads 'Kung Fu Kova', Heikki goes quickest with a 36.581. Moments later, however, Massa takes the top spot with a 36.368.
Hamilton goes quickest in the second sector, but then gets it wrong and goes well wide, making another mistake a couple of corners later.
As Raikkonen re-takes the top spot (36.257), both McLaren drivers are on hot laps. Kovalainen goes quickest (36.103), only to be leapfrogged by his English teammate moments later, who crosses the line at 36.044.
BMW continues with its usual Friday programme, looking for consistency as opposed to pace. That said, Kubica is seventh (37.185).
Nakajima admits that he is struggling for grip, and is also suffering understeer.
At half-time, it's: Hamilton, Kovalainen, Raikkonen, Massa, Alonso, Bourdais, Kubica, Vettel, Webber and Heidfeld. That said, Kubica moves up to sixth with a 37.055, the BMW really riding the kerbs. Next time around, the Pole improves to fifth (36.507).
Early days, but both Toyotas are over 2s off the pace. The Williams drivers also appear to be struggling. Other than that, it's the usual suspects, Force India and Honda.
RBS sponsorship very much in evidence here this weekend, though it remains to be seen if disgraced former boss Fred Goodwin will show his face this weekend. More info on this in Mike Lawrence's next feature.
A 36.020 sees Massa go quickest, 0.024s quicker than Hamilton.
Trulli spins, and is lucky to keep it out of the wall. The Italian is soon on his way again. Button is up to eleventh, as Heidfeld seeks, but fails, to improve on twelfth.
Through the speed-trap, Raikkonen is 5 kph quicker than Hamilton, with Massa 4 kph faster than the McLaren driver. The top three - Massa, Hamilton and Kovalainen - are covered by just 0.087s.
A 35.966 sees Hamilton go quickest, as a mistake at the final corner sees Raikkonen fail to improve. Next time around, however, the Finn improves to third with a 36.052.
As Bourdais gets it all wrong, Hamilton improves with a 35.839, giving him 0.181s breathing space over Massa.
A rarity, we are given access to the McLaren team radio. Hamilton is told that despite being on a hot lap he is losing time in Turns 8 and 11. Nonetheless, he crosses the line at 35.630 to consolidate his place at the top of the timesheets.
Robert Kubica grinds to a halt as he leaves his garage, his crew runs to his rescue.
As a couple of well connected fans take pictures in the pitlane, it's all smiles on the Renault prat-perch.
With seventeen minutes remaining, Bourdais has completed the most laps (25), ahead of Piquet (22) and Rosberg (21). The Ferraris remain quickest through the speed-trap.
No sign of the softer (medium) compound yet. They'll probably appear in the second session.
Button improves to twelfth, splitting the two Red Bulls. Richard Cregan, who is soon to leave Toyota, looks on as Trulli and Glock remain at the wrong end of the timesheets. Elsewhere, Heidfeld goes airborne as his BMW rides the kerbs.
Having somehow kept it under control when his rear end snaps out, Nelson Piquet makes another mistake as he enters the pits, replicating Hamilton's famous error here last year. On the pit wall, Ron Dennis allows himself a wry smile. Behind his dark visor it is impossible to see Hamilton's reaction.
With just over seven minutes remaining, most drivers are on track, including the big guns. Still no sign of the softer option.
Massa and Hamilton are both on track, running less than a hundred feet apart. The McLaren driver slows, to give himself some 'clear air'. The Englishman remains the only driver to break the 1:35s barrier.
Hamilton gets all crossed up, but it's no big deal. Elsewhere, Nakajima and Rosberg look set to improve, but only the German succeeds.
Kubica takes a detour across the gravel as the chequered flag is waved, with no significant improvements and no sign of the medium compound tyres.
The session ends with Hamilton quickest, ahead of Massa, Raikkonen, Kovalainen, Kubica, Alonso, Heidfeld, Heidfeld, Bourdais, Piquet and Vettel.