Summary

  • Rosberg top in both practice sessions, Hamilton 2nd

  • Vettel 4th, Raikkonen 5th for Ferrari

  • Magnussen crashes for McLaren, Massa out

  • Ericsson's rear suspension breaks for Sauber

  • Saubers run for first time after legal dispute

  • Manor cars in the garage, but will not run

Live Reporting

Gary Rose

  1. Out goes Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen for Ferrari for the final few minutes as activity increases on the circuit.

  2. Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas are out on the circuit, along with Toro Rosso duo Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr.

    No big jumps at the top of the timesheet, with Felipe Massa nudging Pastor Maldonado down into seventh following a 1:31.417.

  3. A burst of activity as we enter the final 10 minutes of this session, with cars returning to the circuit.

    Are Mercedes set to top the first practice session of 2015?

  4. Lee McKenzie
    BBC F1 pit-lane reporter

    "I'm at the McLaren garage and Kevin Magnussen has changed out of his race suit and into his civvies while Jenson Button has gone into the hospitality area.

    "The team says they are investigating a mechanical issue with the power unit and hopefully things will be resolved ahead of FP2. Every lap they get today is crucial."

  5. LotusLotus

    Lotus: Getting to watch footage of the nearby lake is one way to pass the time while waiting for our next run.

  6. Fernando AlonsoFernando Alonso

    This brief moment of inactivity means we can check in on what Fernando Alonso has been up to this week.

    Training hard it seems - hopefully replete with a Rocky-style training montage - as he gets himself ready for possibly returning to the track in Malaysia.

  7. Just under 20 minutes of first practice left and silence descends on the circuit once again.

  8. Andrew Benson
    Chief F1 writer in Melbourne

    "You have to feel a bit for McLaren's Kevin Magnussen. Drafted in to replace Fernando Alonso while the Spaniard recovers from concussion following his testing accident, Magnussen had only one truncated day of testing all winter. On Thursday, I bumped into him in the McLaren building and said: 'How many laps was it you did again? 32, was it?' 'Thirty-nine,' he replied, with heavy emphasis on the 'nine', his humour clear. Magnussen is up against it, that's for sure."

  9. Kevin Magnussen is also out of his car and it looks like that's that in first practice for McLaren.

    You would think they would be trying to get as much track time as possible after racking up so few laps in testing?

    A 1:30.748 sees Valtteri Bottas up into P3, behind the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

  10. 'We just need patience'

    Jenson ButtonGetty Images

    McLaren driver Jenson Button: "I'm so excited to be back in Melbourne. After the ups and downs of 2014, I feel that the challenge of 2015 is a completely new chapter in my career and I'm totally up for it.

    "McLaren-Honda has been working incredibly hard over the winter, and although we would of course have liked to cover more miles in Jerez and Barcelona, I can definitely see a difference in the car from the first day to the last.

    "The car is a solid base which gives me optimism that we will get there, we just need patience."

  11. Jenson Button is out of his car and chatting with his team in the McLaren garage.

    The Australian GP has been good for Button, with the Briton having won three of the last six races, but expectations will be very much in check for this weekend.

    Just finishing the race will probably be considered a result after McLaren's testing troubles.

  12. WilliamsWilliams

    Williams: Felipe jumping back in and preparing for his next run.

  13. Ben Edwards
    BBC F1 commentator

    "At the moment the Toro Rossos are out gunning the Red Bulls, but we don't know what the Toro Rossos are doing, they could be running different fuel loads. This is all about learning about the car."

  14. Spin!

    We've just had our first spin of 2015, with Daniel Ricciardo losing his Red Bull at Turn 15. Nothing major, though, and he quickly recovers.

  15. One hour gone and here are the times:

    1) Rosberg 1:29.557

    2) Hamilton 1:29.586

    3 Verstappen 1:31.067

    4) Vettel 1:31.510

    5) Raikkonen 1:31.557

    6) Sainz 1:31.780

    7) Massa 1:31.836

    8) Bottas 1:31.931

    9) Kvyat 1:32.261

    10) Hulkenberg 1:31.261

    11) Perez 1:32.317

    12: Maldonado 1:32.571

    13) Ricciardo 1:33.179

    14) Button 1:34.542

    15) Magnussen 1:34.785

  16. Speaking of Williams, Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas have the sixth and seventh fastest times of the session, and there is very little between them having clocked 1:31.836 and 1:31.932 respectively.

  17. Best-looking F1 car?

    WilliamsGetty Images

    As far as cars go, Williams' FW36 last season was quite a sight.

    What, for you, is the best looking Formula 1 car ever? Let us know via #bbcf1, or text on 81111 (UK only)and I'll delve into the archives to furnish your suggestions with pics!

  18. Red BullGetty Images

    There's not a zebra in sight today as well with the Red Bulls returning to a more familiar look...

    Red BullGetty Images

  19. Romain Grosjean breaks the silence to briefly stir the sunbathers on the sun-soaked grassy hills surrounding the track but it is only a brief outing as he quickly heads back in.

    Daniel Ricciardo, bidding to become the first Australian to win his home race, then heads out for the first time in his Red Bull to the delight of the locals in attendance.

  20. Get Involved via #bbcf1

    Rolo :): Hubby snoring one side of me and 10-week old baby snoring on the other but I will let them off while I listen to #bbcf1 cheering on Red Seb!

    Adam Rubidge: So glad F1 is back! Looking forward to seeing @ManorF1Team on track! :)

    MrHumiliations: Thank god F1 is finally back. Only downside will be the early starts. Well lets hope I can survive the first two practice sessions.