The first practice of the day saw the big guns sitting out most of the session, preferring no running to any wet running. Meanwhile, some of the smaller teams did a lot more leg work, with both of the Toyota's running round and round almost continuously.

The rain played a minor role this morning and it looks set to sit out of the limelight for the remainder of the F1 day. What we learnt when the track finally dried out was the Ferrari's were fast, but McLaren and especially BMW were very close behind.

It looks as though F1's third fastest team have taken a conscious change of strategy at this track. Having spent the early part of the season building up to race day, BMW well and truly laid the gauntlet this morning. Watching their progress throughout FP2 will be especially interesting.

Free Practice 2 begins at 2pm local time (7pm in the UK). As before we're following Formula 1's timing machine in the sky as well as watching ITV's online (and slightly delayed) video coverage. For some reason BBC 5Live have decided not to grace us with their presence on a Friday evening.

As ever, please do shout if you're around and tell us who you are following this afternoon. Christine has returned and Sidepodcast is whole again.