24/07/2015
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's opening session, the air temperature is 27 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 38 degrees. Whilst it is already warm, to say the least, there is a threat of a storm later, as was the case yesterday.
Just two reserve drivers in action today, Jolyon Palmer replacing Romain Grosjean at Lotus and Fabio Leimer in for Roberto Merhi at Manor.
As one can imagine, the sad events of last week hang heavily over the paddock, all the cars and drivers sporting tributes to JB17.
Tyre choices this weekend are medium (prime) and soft (option), a combination used in three of the first four races but not seen since. There are two DRS zones, one on the pit straight and the second on the short straight between T1 and T2. However, there is only one detection zone, just before the final corner.
The lights go green and Vettel leads the way, followed by Hulkenberg, Perez, Bottas, Stevens and Nasr. Soon there are 13 drivers on track.
The nature of this track, where power isn't vital, should help Red Bull and its sister team.
Kvyat complains that only one of his earplugs is working. Elsewhere, Raikkonen's car is sporting lots of flo-vis on its rear wing.
Five minutes in and all but Button and the Lotus duo have made an appearance. There has been talk of Lotus needing to provide Pirelli with some money in order to race this weekend... but we don't want the Enstone outfit blaming the media again do we?
Rosberg, who would love to go into the summer break having closed the gap to his teammate, posts the first time of the weekend, crossing the line at 1:29.215.
With that break in mind, and the fact that there is no more testing, the teams are trying out all sorts of test devices and sensors, Button, in particular, sporting a massive aero rake.
As Rosberg improves to 27.306, Hamilton stops to have his headrest changed.
Rosberg complains of oversteer in certain corners, whilst Hamilton says he heard a "buzzing noise to his left, like a bee".
Verstappen is the second driver to post a time, the Toro Rosso stopping the clock at 30.087. Moments later Hamilton goes quickest with a 26.286.
"High degree of track evolution so times should improve dramatically as the weekend goes on," says Pirelli.
A number of drivers clearly struggling for grip, Raikkonen and Verstappen amongst them.
A couple of incidents whereby drivers appear to trip over one another, "Sainz is blocking me", moans Kvyat. The Russian opting to back-off and give himself some free air.
Such is the traffic, Hamilton waves his hand in frustration as he encounters two slower cars, Sainz (again) being one of them.
Slo-mo camera picks up a nice drift from Ricciardo. Elsewhere, hesitation as Stevens pits with his ERS warning light still shining.
As the opening half-hour comes to a close, the Lotus duo finally make an appearance. It would be harsh, under the circumstances, to mention 'free' tyres.
Following the 'free' tyre period, it's: Hamilton, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Sainz, Alonso, Bottas, Nasr and Perez.
Massa is eleventh, ahead of Hulkenberg, Button, Ericsson, Stevens and Leimer. No times from Vettel, who is understood to have an electrical issue, Kvyat or the Lotus pair.
As has become the norm, there follows a long, long wait before there is any on-track activity.
After almost 17 minutes of total nothing, Nasr fires up his Sauber and heads down the pitlane, followed by Perez and Ericsson.
Both Sauber drivers have been retained for 2016, an announcement that raised a few eyebrows in the paddock... considering what happened to Giedo Van der Garde and Adrian Sutil.
Finally on track, Vettel goes sixth (26.867), only to be demoted when teammate Raikkonen improves to second with a 25.812, albeit 0.521s off Hamilton's pace.
A big, big lock-up for Nasr as Alonso and Button go eleventh and twelfth.
As Vettel complains of a "loss of power" coming out of T5, Kvyat, who had minimal running thus far, goes fourth with a 26.257.
Oh dear, a massive accident for Perez. His car is upside down after T11.
Red Flag.
Asked if he's OK, a clearly breathless Mexican replies "yes".
Replay shows him running wide over the kerbs, then suddenly veering to the right across the track, spinning and flipping over. Just prior to the car spearing to the right, something appears to fall from the car at the front.
"Big hit for Checo," tweets Force India, "thankfully he radios in to confirm he's ok."
Purely for precautionary purposes, Perez is taken to the circuit's medical centre.
As the seriously damaged car is returned to the pits, a totally unruffled Perez walks out of the medical centre.
Perez suggests that it was his error after running wide and getting on to the dirty Astroturf. However, we can't help but feel that it was actually down to a breakage on the car.
With 19 minutes remaining the track is given the all-clear.
As Ricciardo leads the queue of drivers eager to resume work, the big question is whether Force India has the necessary spare parts for the updated car which only made its debut at Silverstone.
Having completed one installation lap, the Lotus duo have not been seen since, the team still getting its tyres up to temperature in their blankets. All of which is the fault of the media.
As Hamilton goes quickest in S1, it's worth noting that Leimer, on his FP1 debut, is 0.8s quicker than teammate Stevens.
Rosberg improves with a 25.719, closing to within 0.207s of his Mercedes teammate.
Maldonado is finally on track, the Venezuelan clearly struggling. Nonetheless, he posts 29.184 to go 17th. He subsequently improves to 28.568 but remains 17th.
As Ricciardo has a big lock-up in T1, Rosberg closes to within 0.109s of Hamilton.
Raikkonen heads down the pitlane having clearly had a mishap, the Ferrari missing its entire front wing. Replay shows him losing it after running wide and over the kerb in T12.
As the session is red flagged, the Finn is oblivious to what happened. "I've got a puncture and I've lost a bit of my front wing," he complains.
Marshals take to the track, some picking up bits of debris others merely kicking it to the side. Can't they afford brushes here?
The session is given the green flag with around 60 seconds remaining. Unbelievably, Ricciardo heads out, as do Palmer, Maldonado, Massa and Bottas.
The session ends with Hamilton quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Vettel, Sainz, Perez, Bottas and Verstappen.
Alonso is eleventh, ahead of Button, Hulkenberg, Massa, Nasr, Ericsson, Maldonado, Stevens, Leimer and Grosjean.
Check out our Friday gallery, here.