Ten drivers have been out for at least one lap under the floodlights, providing some eye-catching shots of sparks kicking up behind the cars. 

Romain Grosjean is the early pacesetter with 1:35.485, but Kimi Raikkonen and then Carlos Sainz go quicker, with the Toro Rosso leading the way after a 1:35.132.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC weather's Ian Fergusson: "Strong winds from the west can bring extensive amounts of sand and dust to the circuit at any time, but the most severe, sudden and dangerous sandstorms - known as Haboobs in Arabic - are caused by downdraft winds rushing forwards across the desert from approaching thunderstorms, kicking-up vast, towering walls of dust up to 100km (62 miles) wide. Thankfully, there's no risk of one through the race weekend."

Image source, F1.com

No, this isn't a still from the Apocalypse Now trailer, this is the lovely sunset over Bahrain at the moment as night time approaches. We'll see conditions more akin to Sunday's race in second practice.

The track is open and 90 minutes of second practice is under way.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Five minutes until second practice is under way and live audio coverage is about to begin on 5 live sports extra. Tune in online now.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Clarkson got up close and personal with Felipe Massa earlier this weekend. Clarkson quizzes Massa on some key issues such as the new qualifying format, who can beat Mercedes and what his favourite biscuit is.

*SPOILER ALERT*

Massa doesn't even know what a biscuit is. Shameful scenes.

Image source, Get

Bernie Ecclestone says Formula 1 is "cheating" its fans because the quality of the show is poor and likened the sport to a rock concert at which the band turned up but could not perform.

Do you feel cheated and if so why? Let us know via #bbcf1, external or text in via 81111 (UK only)

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Bahrain

Image source, Getty Images

The new US-based Haas team had close to a dream debut in Australia, Romain Grosjean taking sixth from close to the back of the grid. The Frenchman has been reflecting on that achievement this weekend, and hinting there is more to come. 

“We got a bit lucky with the red flag,” Grosjean said, “but we were unlucky on Saturday in Australia with the new qualifying format. It was a great debut, better than what we were expecting. It’s been one of those races that I will probably always remember, when I’m getting older and I tell the kids of my stories. But I think it was good for everyone. It was good for Formula 1. It was good for the team. I think a brand new team coming and showing that it’s possible to score points at the first venue, it was a very good thing. And for all my guys and everyone that has been working so hard in the last two months, it was just a good morale boost and a confirmation that the car we are driving is probably one of the best I’ve ever driven.” 

Given that many engineers in F1 believe the Haas is effectively a mildly tweaked 2015 Ferrari, that’s hardly surprising. But that should not detract from the excellent job Haas have done putting a team together.

Yep, Mercedes were ominously fast earlier today with Nico Rosberg half a second quicker than Lewis Hamilton and almost two seconds quicker than 'the best of the rest' Kimi Raikkonen, although you'd expect there is more to come from Ferrari.

Otherwise the timesheet had a largely familiar feel to it, although there was an impressive showing from Haas. Romain Grosjean, sixth at the season-opening Australia GP, was ninth quickest, with Esteban Gutierrez 13th.

Image source, Getty Images

How many different ways can you say 'Mercedes quickest in practice'?

Looks like I am going to have to find that out because that's the way things are shaping up so far this season.

Nico Rosberg was fastest in first practice, with Mercedes some distance ahead of their rivals. 

More of the same in second practice? 

OK, with second practice taking place at 16:00 BST, we are going to take a mini-break but will be back with build-up from 15:30. 

Until then, read Andrew Benson's thoughts on FP1 here, go get some work done and join us later today. Cheerio!

Plenty of responses to Bernie Ecclestone's BBC Sport interview, where he says Formula 1 is "cheating" its fans because the quality of the show is poor. Read more here.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier: "I thought Stoffel did very well. It is not easy to step in and there are a lot of things to learn."

A good outing for Stoffel Vandoorne, who finished that session with a nifty lick of red flow-vis paint. A little run off aside, no major issues and plenty of laps completed. He'll have got some valuable experience in the McLaren.

Mark Gallagher
BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst

"All the data has been collected that the teams hoped to achieve. It was a session that the Mercedes not unexpectedly emerged quickest overall. I think what you can take from that is that in F1, in its current state, FP1 is all about collecting data. It is a foundation for the weekend."

11) Vettel 12) Bottas 13) Gutierrez 14) Button 15) Magnussen 16) Ericsson 17) Wehrlein 18) Vandoorne 19) Nasr 20) Palmer 21) Celis 22) Haryanto

1) Rosberg 2) Hamilton 3) Raikkonen 4) Ricciardo 5) Kvyat 6) Hulkenberg 7) Sainz 8) Verstappen 9) Grosjean 10) Massa