Under rain laden skies and on a very slippery track, the 42nd running of the Canadian Grand Prix got underway this morning, while the race, round 8 of the Formula 1 World Championship takes place at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal this Sunday. Quickest at the end of the first free practice session, which did not see too much action because of the dirty track, was Jenson Button (1.18.127) in the McLaren, followed by the Mercedes of Michael Schumacher (1.18.285) and the other McLaren of Lewis Hamilton (1.18.352.) First of the two F10s was that of Fernando Alonso, seventh fastest in 1.18.726, the Spaniard completing just two runs. The two Ferraris took to the track with different aero configurations: Felipe Massa did three runs, trying different settings each time on his way to twelfth place on the time sheet in 1.19.511.

The second free practice session takes this place at 2 this afternoon, local time.