Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber topped the timesheets this morning, the Red Bull racer finishing ahead of Jenson Button, Felipe Massa, Jarno Trulli, Giancarlo Fisichella, Kimi Raikkonen, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel.

A chilly morning greeted the teams for the opening day of practice here at the Nurburgring with the thermometer sitting a very cool ten degrees as drivers took to the German track. Overcast skies holding a very heavy threat of rain loomed ominously nearby as Adrian Sutil and Sebastian Vettel took to the circuit.

Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren is up on jacks in the garage as mechanics work feverishly in order to get the Brit out on track. Jarno Trulli stands beside his Toyota all rugged up in his winter woollies while the chilly temperatures take their toll on the brakes of the brawn contender with Rubens Barrichello unable to slow the car down and take the turn properly. He goes down the access road and returns to the pits.

Sixteen minutes in and Sebastien Buemi sets the first timed lap of the weekend and as he does so we can see the first drops of rain, the first indication that the threatened rain is very close at hand. Work continues fitting new development parts, that have only just arrived at the track, in the McLaren garage as light rain continues to fall.

Thirty minutes in and Lewis Hamilton finally appears on the cold and damp circuit. At this stage just five drivers have set a time and the rain eases off and several more put down times, including Kimi Raikkonen and Heikki Kovalainen, who runs wide after setting the third fastest time. Jarno Trulli tops the timesheets with Nico Rosberg now second as we hit the forty minute mark.

Mark Webber is on a flyer and sets the fastest time of the session, almost seven tenths of a second faster than Trulli while the Ferrari of Felipe Massa tests new developments and sets the sixth best time. Webber continues to fly in the Red Bull and improves his lead to over a second as the sun momentarily shines on the German track.

Adrian Sutil’s Force India comes to a halt on track just past turn one and at this stage it looks as if it is a gearbox issue. Sebastian Vettel is on a hot lap and slots in half a second behind his teammate in P2 while Felipe Massa moves into P3. Now Vettel comes to a halt just outside of turn one and his now dormant car joins that of compatriot Adrian Sutil behind the barriers.

The sole surviving Force India of Giancarlo Fisichella is now up into P2 while Lewis Hamilton remains the only driver yet to set a time with just over thirty minutes remaining.  The reigning champion finally appears, his McLaren fitted with a new version of the double decker diffuser. Jenson Button is now second, three tenths behind Webber as Hamilton is told by the team that his KERS device isn’t working properly, the Brit going seventh fastest overall, 1.4 down on Webber, who has extended his lead even further.

Jarno Trulli is up to third, Raikkonen fourth with fifteen minutes remaining in this first ninety minute session but there is very little on track action as the clock begins to wind down. Button and Webber reappear with Massa close behind, the Ferrari driver moving into P3, only a tenth shy of Button’s best after the Ferrari had an off track moment  at the Castrol S Chicane.

Webber begins his final run, along with most of the field, and sets the best time in sector one. Vettel rejoins the action for the final minutes but he is off the pace and his teammate stays at the top of the leaderboard.