03/10/2014
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's opening session the air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 30 degrees. There was rain overnight and consequently there are a few little damp patches but not enough to warrant inters.
Currently it is bright and sunny however the main talking point in the paddock remains the progress of Typhoon Phanfone.
Tyre options this weekend are hard and medium whilst the sole DRS zone is on the pit straight.
Today will see history made as Max Verstappen, replacing Jean-Eric Vergne, becomes the youngest ever driver to take part in an F1 practice session. The other third and reserve on duty today is Roberto Mehri at the beleaguered Caterham, while, contrary to earlier reports Will Stevens is not replacing Max Chilton at Marussia due to "paperwork issues".
The lights go green and Ricciardo is first out, followed by Alonso, both out surprisingly early.
Bottas, Maldonado, Perez and Kvyat head down the pitlane, followed by Merhi and Verstappen.
As the drivers return to the pits, having completed the obligatory installation lap, Verstappen complains of an issue with third gear.
With less than five minutes completed all but Chilton have made an appearance.
Button completes three installation laps, while Ricciardo, Maldonado, Grosjean and Magnussen complete two.
Twelve minutes in and Ricciardo heads out for another run, the Australian, mindful of Mercedes reliability issues, still not having given up on the title.
Gutierrez conjures up memories of Andrea de Adamich (remember him) as he sports a pair of spectacles. No jokes about Maldonado and Specsavers.
Merhi posts the first time of the weekend (1:44.564) but this is soon beaten by Bottas who stops the clock at 37.436.
Verstappen's first flying lap is ruined when Merhi spins in front of him at Spoon, nonetheless, the Dutch teenagers posts 43.824 to go third.
A 36.745 sees Hamilton go quickest as replay shows that Merhi ran wide and then lost control on the damp artificial grass as he returned to the track. Bottas did well to avoid the errant Spaniard.
Rosberg goes quickest with a 36.437, eclipsing his teammate, and championship rival, by 0.113s.
Raikkonen is fourth, ahead of Alonso, Massa and Ricciardo. The Finn claims that he has taken a major step forward in terms of understanding the F14T.
Next time around both Mercedes drivers improve however, Rosberg widens the gap to 0.306s.
As Gutierrez gets it all wrong at Degner 1, Alonso leapfrogs his Ferrari teammate to go fourth whilst Button takes fifth moments later.
Cameras pick up on Hamilton running wide at Degner 2, the Briton subsequently heading back to the pits.
Verstappen is currently twelfth (39.074) as Button complains that his seat feels like it is moving under braking.
The opening half hour, in which the drivers get a 'free' set of tyres, comes to a close and Rosberg heads Hamilton, Bottas, Alonso, Kvyat, Button, Raikkonen, Massa, Ricciardo and Hulkenberg. Magnussen and Chilton the only drivers not to post a time.
As has become the norm, following the 'free tyre' period there is a further period of almost fifteen minutes in which there is no activity.
Following said fifteen minutes Merhi breaks the apparent deadlock and heads down the pitlane. He is subsequently joined by the Red Bull duo.
Raikkonen improves to fifth with a 37.187, slotting in behind his Ferrari teammate.
Ricciardo repeats Hamilton's earlier mistake at Degner 2 as Verstappen heads down the pitlane watched by his father.
Talking of Hamilton, the Briton reduces the gap to his teammate to 0.151s with a 35.612.
Verstappen improves to 11th with a 38.157, around 0.4s off his teammate's pace.
Alonso improves to third with a 36.037, but remains 0.576s off Rosberg's pace.
A big lock-up in the chicane for Button, the McLaren having sent up a shower of sparks in 130R.
Bottas improves with a 36.576 to leapfrog Raikkonen and take fourth. Elsewhere, Magnussen improves to sixth.
As mechanics work on Vettel's car it is understood that Alonso has a brake issue.
A very scruffy lap for Hulkenberg who twitches at Spoon before locking-up at the chicane. Next time around he locks-up in Degner 2 and runs wide.
For the third time Hamilton fluffs it at Degner 2 while Magnussen runs wide in spoon. Elsewhere, lots of sparks from Vettel's Red Bull in 130R.
With 11 minutes remaining, Ericsson is the quickest of the Marussia/Caterham bunch.
As Verstappen runs wide in Degner, a very scruffy lap for Raikkonen who makes mistakes at the hairpin and then again at Spoon. Moments later Grosjean also goes wide at Spoon which is catching out a lot of drivers today.
Session over for Verstappen who pulls off track just ahead of the Dunlop Bridge with smoke pouring from the back of his car.
"I had a problem with the engine, it's not pulling any more, what should I do?" he asks calmly. "Pull up," he is told.
Nonetheless an impressive debut for the teenager.
"I'm losing grip on the last two laps, all around, mostly rear," complains Vettel.
"What is going on," moans Magnussen, "I have absolutely no grip."
The session ends with Rosberg quickest ahead of Hamilton, Alonso, Bottas, Raikkonen, Magnussen, Ricciardo, Button, Vettel and Kvyat.
Massa is eleventh, ahead of Verstappen, Perez, Hulkenberg, Grosjean, Sutil, Maldonado, Gutierrez, Ericsson, Merhi, Bianchi and Chilton.
Check out our Friday gallery, here.