Hello and welcome to the opening action of the 2012 Formula One season - the first practice session ahead of Sunday's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne!

Alonso has a moment as he turns onto a straight as the session comes to an end. So, Button tops it, followed by Hamilton, Schumacher, Alonso, Webber, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Maldonado and Raikonen. Vettel is in 11th.

That's the end of the session and as things stand, Button tops the timesheets.

Hamilton looks to topple his team-mate Button with under two minutes remaining in the session... but he gets held up by a Mercedes car and he can't improve.

Button now betters that time with a 1:27.560 as Hamilton slots into third place on the timesheets.

That was just Button's second flying lap of the weekend... as Kimi starts his first effort of the day.

Button storms to the top of the timesheets with a 1:27.650! Good things come to those who wait, I suppose.

The general consensus is that Massa was at fault in that spin. He broke with his back end slipping onto the grass...

Massa's on the gravel at turn 9! His back end skids on the grass and he comes straight off! His Ferrari is stranded until the crane comes out to help him off.

Hamilton is told by team radio that he's second quickest so far...

Other drivers yet to set a time: Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen, Narain Karthikeyan and Pedro de la Rosa.

That time from Hamilton is his first of the day. The 2008 world champion has taken his time in getting himself on the board, but a 1:29.987 sees him slot into sixth. Jenson Button is yet to post a time though.

Mark Webber is currently in second, ahead of Rosberg, Alonso, Kobayashi and Hamilton.

Michael Schumacher rears his head having flown somewhat under the radar for the most part of today's action to go fastest with a 1:29.656!

Oh dear, there are a few drops of rain on Rosberg's on-board camera...

Vettel briefly goes top as the times continue to tumble before Kobayashi breaks the one and a half minute barrier with a 1:29.722.

Here comes Vettel again but he can't better Kobayashi's effort of 1:30.761.

Marussia on Twitter: "Charles says its "too dry for wets and too wet for drys". So we wait til it's dry. Out the car and time for a proper chat with PD."

Webber is out now. The Aussie is sporting a helmet-cam this weekend and to be honest, it's pretty thrilling watching his lap through his eyes, as it were. Vibrations, head inclinations and everything!

Kobayashi is already a great deal quicker in his Sauber but a little slide may slow him slightly.

So, that means we're going to start to see some better times now.