Ellie Bartley: My Fantasy Driver Line Up: @Max33Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen - They'd be the ultimate moaning team to beat #bbcf1 #AustrianGP

Philip Meachin: Fantasy line-up has to be Mark Webber and Christijan Albers with Eddie Irvine in reserve

Kayleigh Gray: Paul di Resta because he's bae, and Rosberg cause he'll score us points

Because he's bae is the best reason ever.

The reason Vettel has yet go out is because his car is being a naughty boy.

Engineers have been working on it. In fact, they're just sticking some tyres on and unsheathing those bad boys.

So we could see the German and possibly the new halo device on the Tarmac imminently.

Image source, Getty Images

Britain's Jolyon Palmer sets the very early pace in his Renault, but is quickly usurped by Max Verstappen in the Red Bull with a 1:11.07.

Everyone has ventured out, apart from Seb Vettel Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

Sebastian Vettel had time for some light humour in his news conference on Thursday, when asked about Euro 2016, and made a reference to Germany’s poor record against quarter-final opponents Italy in tournament football.

“It is about time we broke the record of not beating Italy in a tournament,” he said before adding: “We have seen some surprises. England went out to Iceland. Just to rub it in.” That got a laugh. Vettel might not be so cheerful once the F1 weekend gets going, however. There is a report that he is likely to get a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change. Ferrari have not confirmed it yet.

Sebastian Vettel was supposed to go straight out in his Ferrari this morning, with his car donning the new version of the halo safety device.

But the Ferrari is up off the floor being worked on, with no halo attached. Problems this early in the weekend?

Kimi Raikkonen, meanwhile, is out on track.

First practice is under way.

Although we might not get an immediate view of the new halo device.

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Lap-wise, this is the quickest lap of the year. Will we get a new lap record this year?

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Image source, .

Tom Clarkson and Allan McNish are in position for commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, with Claire Cottingham reporting in the pits.

You can tune in by using the Live Coverage tab on this page.

Image source, EPA

If Lewis Hamilton is going to win this world championship, he is clearly going to have to do it the hard way. So far, his season has been a catalogue of problems, either self-inflicted or technical, and this weekend the new engines both he and Nico Rosberg have been given mean Hamilton is now on his fifth turbo and MGU-H - his last before a penalty.

He now believes grid penalties are inevitable and the extension of that is he needs to make the most of his clean weekends. Which means he needs to win in Austria. Another weekend like the one in Baku, when he drove probably worse than he ever has in qualifying, he cannot afford.

It's the time of year we speculate about which drivers are moving where. So what are your fantasy line-ups?

From the past...

Matt Claypole: Jean Alesi and Patrick Depailler. Two ferociously quick frenchman with bags of talent. Seriously underrated

Jonathan Chitty: Fantasy driver line ups? If it was one team with 2 drivers they would be the pairing of Ayrton Senna & Fernando Alonso! epic!

Or from the present...

Rob Helson-White: Ferrari: Seb & SergioWilliams: Valtteri & JensonMcLaren: Fernando & StoffelForce India: Nico H & PascalSauber: Felipe N & Pastor

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Give a big BBC F1 welcome to Claire Cottingham, who will be in the pits for us this weekend.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

The first notable thing about this opening practice session will happen right at the beginning, when Sebastian Vettel does a lap with his Ferrari fitted with the latest prototype of the ‘halo’ head protection that is set to be introduced next season.

An extrication test was done on Thursday evening and the lap is to check visibility and so on. The new halo is slightly different from the first one run in pre-season testing in that it is made of titanium rather than steel and has changed dimensions, partly to increase the ‘free head space’ that ensures the driver’s helmet cannot hit it no matter how extreme the accident. The plan is to test the halo again at Silverstone next week. Barring unforeseen problems, the halo will be used in F1 next season.

With drivers set to move and shake at the end of the season, it got us thinking about our dream F1 line-ups.

So, who, from the past or present, would you love to pair up in your F1 team?

To get you started - here's mine.

In the first seat, I'd have this man, for his charisma, warmth and effervescence.

Image source, Getty Images

And in the second seat, by no means playing second fiddle, I'd have this man, for his commitment, hunger and desire to continue to win world titles.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Rex Features

Ferrari to drop Kimi?

Goodbye Button at McLaren?

Rosberg to remain at Mercedes?

It's the time of the season when the futures of F1 drivers get thrown up in the air and we all speculate about where they might land.

BBC Radio 5 live's F1 analyst Allan McNish has looked at all the possibilities.

Read Allan's column here.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

If you tune into BBC Radio 5 live sports extra right now, you can listen to the F1 podcast preview show with Tom Clarkson and Allan McNish.

You can also click the Live Coverage tab on this page.

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There may be another noise you can hear.

Cup your ear, crane your neck, close your eyes and hold your nose to shut off the other the senses.

Yes, alas, you can hear it, a distant whimpering, coming from somewhere in the paddock. 

It's coming from world champion Lewis Hamilton. He's nervous about picking up penalties in the future because of numerous changes he's made to his engine.

He's already 24 points behind world title leader Nico Rosberg...

Read about Hamilton's concerns here.

Image source, Getty Images

...with the sound of V6 turbo hybrids.

Can you hear it?

The thrilling roar of the not-as-loud-as-it-once-was F1 monster will be thumping around the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, for first practice at 09:00 BST.