Loving these Kimi hats. I'm sure the Finn will approve of them too.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, F1.com

The marshals have scurried onto the track to sweep away that bit of debris, and sweep up in the vicinity just to be sure.

This is the reason for the red flag. A bit of debris came off Felipe Massa's Williams when his left rear went kaput.

Red flagpublished at 03:25 British Summer Time 15 April 2016

03:25 BST 15 April 2016

A few more marshals have joined the first two that were on the scene, but no-one is feeling brave enough to nip on to the circuit and sweep away the bit of debris.

As a result, red flag.

Just as Daniel Ricciardo goes third quickest with 1:40.650 we have a virtual safety car because there's a tiny bit of debris on the track. Some marshals are waiting patiently in a gravel trap with massive brooms, ready for the moment to sweep away the offending item.

Marcus Ericsson, Pascal Wehrlein and Rio Haryanto have joined Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in completing timed laps with 25 minutes gone in the session. Wehrlein is the fastest of the trio with 1:42.973 - four seconds off Hamilton's time.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Don't forget you can listen to commentary from Jack Nicholls and the gang by clicking the play icon at the top of the page. 

This is their view from the comm box. S'alright.

Now there's a big moment for Felipe Massa, because he's into the gravel at the exit of Turn 6. 

It looks like the Brazilian suffered a left rear blow out moments before, causing him to lose control.

"Something is broken in the car," he reports over the radio.

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Schumacher's last win in Formula 1 was at the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix, winning the race from sixth.

Some encouragement for Lewis Hamilton then...

Lewis Hamilton falls foul of the lack of grip on the track as he completes a 360 degree spin at Turn 11. He quickly rights himself and gets back on his way.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

With regards to the University of Sheffield study into the best ever F1 driver, it's not so much the identity of the drivers in the top 10 that will generate debate, but their order. Alain Prost ahead of Ayrton Senna, who proved faster when they were McLaren team-mates, for example. 

Fernando Alonso in third ahead of Jim Clark. And Michael Schumacher in ninth. Dr Andrew Bell, the report author, said: "Re: Senna and Prost: the model used takes account of all races and considers, basically, the extent to which each beats their team partner (with beating really good drivers counting in your favour more than beating less good drivers). 

"So Senna may have beaten Prost on average when on the same team, but in other seasons, Prost's performances were perhaps comparatively more impressive, in part because his team-mates were generally better ranked drivers, so the model values victories over them more. 

"So, taking all years together, the model sees Prost's results as more impressive. They will also be affected by the fact that Prost has a lower proportion of retirements."

We're asking for your top three drivers of all time after a Sheffield University study listed Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost and Fernando Alonso as the best three based on ability alone.

So far so good for Fernando Alonso. He's asked asked about the position of his seat by his race engineer and he reports back with no problems.

Meanwhile, we've got our first two times on the board courtesy of the two Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton leads the way with 1:38.802, while Nico Rosberg clocks 1:39.012.

Image source, Getty Images

The only slight disappointment about the return of Fernando Alonso is it means we won't get to see more of my second favourite Stoffel (after Stoffel the honey badger, external).

Yep, McLaren reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne has been stood down after filling in for Alonso in Bahrain.

The Belgian rookie impressed, steering McLaren to their first point of the season by finishing 10th.

Imagine if that proves to be the only point McLaren score all season.

Awks...

Out goes Fernando Alonso for his installation lap. 

A more important session than most for the Spaniard because he will be hoping for a pain-free 90 minutes.

He'll be assessed by FIA doctors after first practice to make sure he has truly recovered from breaking in a rib back in Australia.

Tom Clarkson
BBC Radio 5 live commentator

This track is not used very much throughout the year. It is not a clean race track ion  a racing context, there is very little racing rubber down so in this first session the track will clean up a lot, so the performances of the cars will improve without changing set ups. 

They talk about the track becoming representative and it will be at least halfway through this session before it becomes representative.