Lewis Hamilton sets the pace.

It is already very hot on this Friday morning for the first free practice session: 34°C in the air, 46°C on the track. Despite the efforts of the organization, the track is covered with a thin layer of sand. No one wants to take on the role of cleaner, so the start of the session is very calm.

The first part of the day, after 30 minutes of session, is to the credit of Sébastien Bourdais, on medium tires, he completed a first reference time in 1? 36??697. Things then begin to get agitated, at Ferrari in particular where Kimi Räikkönen borders on correctional by going into a spin. He leaves and improves Bourdais' performance, with a lap completed in 1:36:055.

It was then Nico Rosberg's turn to take the lead, then Lewis Hamilton launches into a series of fast laps, shod with medium rubber. In 1:33:647, the reigning World Champion occupies first position, ahead of Nico Rosberg, Heikki Kovalainen, Felipe Massa, Mark Webber and Nelson Piquet, after almost an hour of session.

The positions change in the last quarter of an hour, with the Brawn GP returning to the track. Jenson Button, the leader of the World Championship, climbs to third position, ahead of his teammate, Rubens Barrichello. Lewis Hamilton is, however, still the only man to have fallen below the 1:34 mark. The Briton tries the new one in turn, then the old front wing on his McLaren and definitely seems to be opting for the new one.

Nick Heidfeld, on soft tires, stood out at the end of the session by taking second place, in 1:33:907. As the checkered flag approaches, his teammate, Robert Kubica, also improves and climbs to third place.

Aboard his McLaren, Lewis Hamilton dominates this studious session, ahead of the BMW Saubers of Heidfeld and Kubica, followed by Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button. THE Toro Rosso by Sébastien Bourdais and Sébastien Buemi bring up the rear.