Welcome to live text commentary of the first free practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix's Yas Marina Circuit.

Thanks for your company throughout the first session of practice. The second session gets under way from 12:45, so rejoin me for that. In the meantime, let me know what you made of the first sighters at the Yas Marina Circuit - you can get in touch with me via

Lewis Hamilton tops the timesheets after free practice one at the Yas Marina Circuit, with his 1:43.285 seeing him lead the way from team-mate Jenson Button. Championship leader Sebastian Vettel was third fastest, while Fernando Alonso pips Mark Webber with his final lap to finish fourth in the session.

As we come to the end of the first session of practice in Abu Dhabi, no one is really trying to improve at this stage. Maldonado hits a new kerb very hard, but the car is unscathed.

Button complains again about rear locking as he brakes, and his team are very anxious to put that right as he communicates with them over the radio.

Vettel runs very, very wide at turn 17, but the gigantic run-off areas on this Yas Marina circuit enable the Championship leader to get back on track very comfortably.

McLaren tell Hamilton that they are expecting 1:47.5 laps from him now, which is four seconds off his best.

Hamilton, Button, Vettel and Webber are all simply consolidating now with their tyres over 10 laps old following their early runs.

Hamilton is reassured by his team as he continues to fly round, and he is targeting specific lap times now to preserve his tyres.

Schumacher and Alonso are in the pits, with Maldonado and Bottas also back in the garage.

Hamilton's 1:43.285 still sees him top the timesheets, with Button in second for McLaren. Vettel and Webber are right behind in terms of times in their Red Bulls.

Perez has a bit of a shocker as he looks to enter the pits, makes a mistake with his line, and has to bail back onto the circuit - he is not enjoying this session too much.

Alonso is on the track, but it appears that he is gathering data for his team as he is well off the pace - a full 1.689s with Hamilton pulling away.

Hamilton continues to lead the way in this opening session of free practice, with all drivers on the medium tyres. The softs will come out in FP2.

Ah yes, the apologetic hand of Schumacher! He signals to Glock to acknowledge cutting him and holding up the Marussia at turns eight and nine.

Hamilton consolidates his lead as he clocks a 1:43.285, and he is pushing his McLaren very hard through all three sectors.

Hamilton has just set a 1:43.449 and is now 0.699s clear at the top of the timesheets. Webber now has bright paint highlighting his front wing, too.

Button is now thriving on the short straights in the final sector, and he sets the second fastest time with a 1:44.148.

Vettel goes second fastest with a 1:44.643, and Alonso is now 1.098s off. Vettel's Red Bull has bright paint on the right side of his front wing, with changes being made.

Hamilton goes fastest now with a tremendous opener, and he hits the ground running with a 1:44.001. He takes a hefty chunk off Alonso's previous leading time.

Perez remains in his car as his mechanics work frantically on a few minor changes, but he looks set to be back out shortly.