Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

“Fernando Alonso ran a new-spec Honda power-unit this morning, with an upgraded internal combustion engine, as well taking the opportunity to change the engine's control electronics, turbo and the MGU-H, the electric motor that recovers energy from the turbo, all of which were of the same specification apart from a small reliability change to the turbo. That added up to a 25-place grid penalty for using more than the permitted number of parts. 

"However, it turns out Alonso will not be running that engine again in Sochi. Honda have taken it out and fitted an older-spec engine for the rest of the weekend. ‘The new spec has been tested in FP1 and now gathering data,’ a spokeswoman said. There’s more bad news, too. As the ‘new-old’ engine also has a new turbo and MGU-H, that’s a further 10 places - so a 35-place penalty in total.”

Fernando Alonso decides to head back out and as we follow his McLaren round the circuit it is definitely really quite dry in some parts. You would hardly know it had been raining, that is until he comes round the final corner and water sprays up behind his car down the start-finish straight.

Cheeky snooze for Felipe Massa. Looks quite comfy in fairness...

As Sebastian Vettel reports, it looks like half of the track is reasonably dry, with the other half very wet, making it tricky conditions for any tyre. 

All quiet on the circuit again as Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso head back in after that initial recce.

With 30 minutes of the session gone, Fernando Alonso gives Sebastian Vettel some company on the circuit as the Spaniard asses the conditions.

Vettel feeds back his report to Ferrari, saying: "There is quite a big difference in terms of standing water. From Turn 13 to Turn 2 there is quite a lot of water and from 2 to 13 it is only damp."

Tom Clarkson has caught a word with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, and asks him about the possibility of Mercedes supplying Red Bull's engines for 2016. 

"The situation has not changed from a few months ago," he said. "That is we have decided not to pursue that option. We are not set up to supply previous year engines, so we could not do that.

"There are other suppliers. I am not in Red Bull and not aware of any discussions. Red Bull are a very important part of Formula 1. The situation needs to be solved but we are all in charge of our own destinies."

Movement! Sebastian Vettel breaks the silence and heads out on to the circuit with full wet tyres bolted on, a huge spray kicks up behind his Ferrari as he does so.

Image source, Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton was in dominant form on his way to victory at the inaugural Russian Grand Prix last year. 

He won't be able to match his 2014 record, however, having managed just the seventh fastest time in first practice.

With not much happening on the circuit, thank goodness for your track designs!

Why not have a go at designing your dream track via #myidealcircuit, external

The rain is still falling but Jennie Gow suggests the current clouds could be set to move on within the next 10 minutes. 

Clearer skies are on the horizon...

Jenson Button, by the way, will be back in a Formula 1 car in 2016, but it has not stopped him from having a dabble at other forms of motorsport.

He recently swapped his McLaren for a 600-horsepower VW Beetle rallycross car, and you can watch how he got on here.

Jenson Button's cockpit is protected from the elements by an umbrella as the McLaren is wheeled out of the garage. That's a very wet-looking pit lane.