LIVE: Melbourne Grand Prix Free Practice 1

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It's finally here, the start of the 2013 F1 season and the chance to see all of the latest cars on track.

The F1 season kicks off this weekend at Albert Park, Melbourne and we are giving live updates throughout the weekend.

Will Red Bull still be on top or will Mclaren and Ferrari be able to challenge them? Join us here from 1:00am GMT to find out how the likes of Lotus and Mclaren fare in the first event of the year.


00:40 GMT: 20 minutes until the green light, Lewis Hamilton says he is 'positive he can get a good result' this weekend.

00:47: Jenson Button says "If your quick enough for pole you are going to go for pole." quashing rumours that drivers' may sacrifice pole position in order to start on the prime tyre

00:51: Sergio Perez has spoke ahead of testing and says: "I am here to win races."

00:55: Triple World Champion remains cautious ahead of this weekend insisting the team really don't know where they stand compared to other teams.

00:55: A smiling Fernando Alonso says "Rain is always good news!" Unfortunately it's blue skies in Melbourne Fernando!

Shiny new Ferrari has just been wheeled out!


00:58: Grandstands aren't full just yet but, look on in envy.

01:00: The lack of rule changes 'could bring the pack together' according to F1 legend Damon Hill.


01:07 The safety car has just been around the track, not long now!

01:10 Sebastian Vettel has described the number one on his car as 'a privilege but, not an advantage.'

01:11 Mark Webbers' Red Bull is being prepared for the first practice session.

01:15: An aero display just before the start of the session.

01:16: Reports are coming in that Mercedes, Mclaren and Ferrari all have major upgrades since testing in Jerez.

01:18 Christian Horner claims electrical programming systems faltered their pre season testing but is hoping that there aren't any recurrences.

01:19 Newcomer Esteban Gutierrez getting comfortable in his Williams' ahead of practice.

01:22 Just under 10 minutes....

01:25: Lewis Hamiltons' Mercedes getting some last minute changes

01:28 Helmets are on. Who will be the first car out on track?

01:29 No surprise here, Vettel has a new helmet.

01:31 Daniel Ricciardo of Torro Rosso is first out out on track!

01:32 He is followed by both Lotus drivers' Raikkonen and Grosjean

01:34 If you thought it would be difficult to tell Hamilton and Rosberg apart don't worry the Brits' helmet is more luminous than ever!

01:35 Ricciardo back in the pits following an installation lap.

Hamiltons helmet bears an uncanny resemblance to the high-vis paint the teams use to test aerodynamics.

01:40 Yet to see a competitive time the teams' are carrying out there 1-lap routines

01:43 Max Chilton is 'excited' at his first weekend in F1, he reveals the team are hoping to put a long run in later on.

01:45 All quiet here at Albert Park circuit, here is a shot of Jenson Button on his installation lap

Here is a nice shot of the Ferrari being pushed back into the garage...

01:50 Caterhams' Charles Pic describes the track as 'slipper' nobody wants to lay down rubber cleaning up the track for other teams so we have all cars in the garage at the minute.

01:55 A bit of news for all you Vettel fans, his new helmet is a tribute to 'space jumper' Felix Baumgartner.

Also the highly anticipated name of his new car is here. HUNGRY HEIDI. decide for yourselves.

01:56 Fernando Alonso makes the first move, returning to the track on the medium compound tyre.

02:04 still no circuit cleaners, the limited number of tyres over a race weekend must be playing a part.

02:06 That looks like an F1 car! IT IS! Ricciardo returns to the track #prayfortimedlap.

02:08 Local boy Ricciardo is the first man to set a timed lap on a medium compound, 1:36:089

02:09 The Marussia of Bianchi has set off on a timed lap how will he compare to the markey lay down by Torro Rosso?

02:11 Ricciardo improves his time to a 1:31:946 followed by Bianchi in the Marussia with a 1:34:537

02:14 Vergne improves on his team-mates time with a 1:31:267 only for a second, Ricciardo strikes back with a 1:30:969

02:17 43 minutes left of practice and the two Torro Rosso drivers are exchanging top times, Vergne currently leading with a 1:30.947

02:19 This years Safety car, lets hope we don't need to see it this weekend.

02:22 Kimi Raikkonen does a 1:29.029 to lead the way in his Lotus.

02:24 The Finn improves his time to 1:28.095 while Adrian Sutil is told his tyres are 'too cool' over team radio.

02:26 Williams F1 team confirm that both of their cars are on track and running both aero and tyre tests.

Marussia have been tipped to make a huge improvement with this years' car here it is running at Albert Park.

02:28 Mark Webber goes second quickest with a 1:28.737 but Nico Rosberg almost immediately beats his time. The German puts in a 1:28.457.

Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel are the only two drivers not to set a time, as i say it Alonso goes quickest on his first lap with a 1:27.547

02:31 Lewis Hamilton goes second fatest with a 1:27.759m he was sideways through T11

02:34 Vettel goes 8th quickest on his first attempt but is flying on this next lap.

02:35 Vettel goes fastest! 1:27.320 is now the time to beat

02:37 Felipe Massa now goes fastest with a 1:27.211 'Fernando is not quicker than you.' Couldn't resist.

02:45 Heavy degradation on the left rear of Bottas' Williams. Vettel currently ahead on a 1:27.211

02:48 Maldonado goes wide on T11 he uses a lot of curb going through T1 as Nico Hulkenberg locks up his Sauber on the penultimate corner.

02:50 A few longer runs are taking place now understanding the degradation of the tyres will be key this season.

02:51 Fernando Alonso struggles to keep his Ferrari facing the right way...

02:54 The Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel returns to the pits..

Sky F1's Martin Brundle is stood at the braking zone of T15 and says the Lotus is struggling with understeer in the low speed corners'

02:56 A little under 5 minutes remaining can anyone go quicker than Vettel?

02:58 The medium compound tyre appears to be wearing off after 11 or 12 laps, strategies may have to be changed if they react this way throughout the weekend.

03:00 Paul Di Resta goes off into the gravel and does well to avoid beaching his Force India.

03:02 Checkered Flag waves, no sign of the softer compound tyre yet here are the final standings:
Pos. Driver                              Nat. Team               Time        Gap     Laps

1	Sebastian Vettel		Red Bull	1:27.211		15
2	Felipe Massa		Ferrari	1:27.289	0.078	16
3	Fernando Alonso		Ferrari	1:27.547	0.336	15
4	Lewis Hamilton		Mercedes	1:27.552	0.341	17
5	Mark Webber		Red Bull	1:27.668	0.457	17
6	Kimi Raikkonen		Lotus	1:27.887	0.676	8
7	Nico Rosberg		Mercedes	1:28.013	0.802	9
8	Adrian Sutil		Force India	1:28.426	1.215	9
9	Jenson Button		McLaren	1:28.440	1.229	10
10	Sergio Perez		McLaren	1:28.597	1.386	11
11	Nico Hulkenberg		Sauber	1:28.786	1.575	8
12	Paul di Resta		Force India	1:28.981	1.770	10
13	Romain Grosjean		Lotus	1:29.296	2.085	6
14	Pastor Maldonado		Williams	1:29.443	2.232	10
15	Valtteri Bottas		Williams	1:29.928	2.717	9
16	Esteban Gutierrez		Sauber	1:30.203	2.992	12
17	Jean-Eric Vergne		Toro Rosso	1:30.947	3.736	8
18	Daniel Ricciardo		Toro Rosso	1:30.969	3.758	10
19	Jules Bianchi		Marussia	1:31.263	4.052	13
20	Giedo van der Garde		Caterham	1:32.388	5.177	8
21	Charles Pic		Caterham	1:32.682	5.471	10
22	Max Chilton		Marussia	1:32.794	5.583	14

Source: Planet Sport



03:10 Well done for staying up! That concludes the first session and we begin how we left off, Red Bull up top. See you later on for FP2!