FORMULA 1 Live

11:30 Kovalainen is just a hundredth outside Massa, who goes quickest but will probably not have fond memories of this session.

11:27 Hamilton does improve - a great effort, the Briton goes second despite that compromised line through Stowe.

11:20 No, we might as well forget the last part of this session. Nobody is taking a risk through Stowe - and understandably so.

11:16 You can't imagine any of the drivers going full pelt through Stowe with all that powdered concrete down there. Everybody is coming through inside the racing line.

11:15 We're back under way! Splendid. Fifteen minutes left.

11:07 Stewards lay white powder on the track to cover the oil. You half expect a giant Diego Maradona to stoop down and hoover it up. Just over 20 minutes left in the session.

11:03 Massa could well miss this afternoon's session - his car is a mess, and may need a new chassis. Red flag still out as that oil spill is dealt with.

10:59 There was oil down on the track there - Timo Glock also spun on the oil laid down by Fernando Alonso. Massa and Alonso have a chat. Massa was very lucky there - remember Stowe is the corner where Michael Schumacher broke his leg several years ago.

10:57 Boof! Big crash for Felipe Massa, who loses it going into Stowe and spins backwards into the wall. He gets out and walks off, completely fine. More than can be said for the car, though.

10:56 A problem for Fernando Alonso, who tours off the track and pulls over by the barriers. He gets out and waves to the crowd, who give him a warm reception in spite of his status as Lewis Hamilton's nemesis.

10:54 Massa goes to the top of the pile with a 1:19.575. Ferrari and McLaren monopolise the top four, followed by Kubica and Alonso.

10:48 Robert Kubica is stuck behind Felipe Massa and he is furious! Kubica gesticulates like mad as Massa cuts across the front of him.

10:45 Right, well, that's the halfway point of the session. Heikki Kovalainen is quickest with 1:19.682, a quarter of a second faster than his sideways team-mate Hamilton.

10:43 Lewis Hamilton is sliding all over the pace - cracking entertainment from the Briton who clocks 1:19.916 which is the fastest lap of the day.

10:37 1:21.089 for Kimi Raikkonen at the first attempt, followed by a 1:20.230. Ferrari are running their 'Michael Jackson' aero package this weekend - the nose has a hole in it. Oh look, there's a royal. Old guy, don't know his name. Not one of the important ones.

10:35 Lewis Hamilton dons his yellow helmet and prepares for a foray onto the track. As does Jenson Button in that rather sickly-coloured Honda of his. Glock goes fastest with a 1:21.106.

10:31 Adrian Sutil loses control and takes a rather bumpy detour over the verge through Beckett. Timo Glock has his usual spin, but stays on the black stuff.

10:24 Sebastian Vettel clocks a 1:22.972. Only lap of the day so far. For those who are interested, the air temperature is 17°C, track temperature 18°C. 2.5m/s wind. Doesn't matter if you're not on the track, though.

10:14 A big crowd is watching absolutely nothing at the moment. Nobody has recorded a timed lap and there is nobody on the track. A man in a Wigan shirt with "Scharner" on the back looks slightly peeved. Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello have a chinwag in the Honda garage.

10:05 Lewis Hamilton pops out for a sighter. No timed lap, just one go round. He has the fastest sector two so far, for what it's worth. Which is nothing.

10:03 The weather can best be described as changeable. It is, at once, sunny, cloudy and windy. Rain is expected this weekend, but we should get through this morning unscathed.

10:00 The session is under way! 90 minutes, each of these Friday sessions. Nick Heidfeld is the first man out on track, while Nelson Piquet is also out.

- Welcome to Silverstone for the opening practice session of the British Grand Prix weekend!