Formula One returns after the mid-season break with the first free practice session from the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa.

The teams practise their starts on the grid with Kobayashi topping the timesheet. Join us at this same link for the afternoon session from 1pm UK time - hopefully conditions will be improved.

And Massa is beached - if that is the word today - at Bus Stop with steam coming out of the Ferrari. The steam evaporates and stewards wheel the F2012 away.

The chequered flag is out at the murky circuit as Di Resta snakes about but avoids the barrier. Phew. I find it surprising that more drivers don't crash in these conditions, no matter how careful they are being.

Hamilton lays down a solitary time of 2m16.827s - 14th place of 18.

Surprisingly Hamilton is out for a run despite rain falling ever more heavily.

My experience of F1 wet weather running is, as you can imagine, limited to Playstation games - one touch on the grass and I'm off. Sometimes I struggle to even get the car back on the circuit...

Schumacher has a moment in the Mercedes at the high-speed Eau Rouge but recovers to cut a corner and retain control.

Vett's lap, for what it's worth is 2m14.860s - good enough for ninth.

Rain is falling on the circuit. Attention will turn to the afternoon session soon - will it stop and the water drain off enough for meaningful running?

Rosberg up another place as Vettel comes out for a final run.

Alonso in the cockpit of the Ferrari and looking keen to get out there.

Rosberg up to eighth with the track largely quiet. /// @Lotus_F1Team: "Both cars back in: Cars go out. Cars come in. Cars go out. Cars come in. #SingingInTheSpa"

The timing is now working! So much for typing all those names out... Kobayashi in top spot. /// Rob: "Of course the info they get in­ that downpour is of almost zero use, with the exception­ of tyre temps - ride height to minimise aquaplaning and­ some possible info on the rear wing and diffuser"

Webber also eases around the escape road as he is put off by spray from the car in front.

Fifteen times set now - apologies for the lack of timing today. 1.Kobayashi 2.Maldonado 3.Ricciardo 4.Vergne 5.Perez 6.Webber 7.Bottas 8.Di Resta 9.Glock 10.Petrov 11.Button 12.Pic 13.Rosberg 14.Kovalainen 15.De la Rosa

Schumacher can feel a vibration on the front-left of his Mercedes. And Button also off at Les Combes briefly.

Perez also uses the escape road at Les Combes - Sauber having plenty of problems there - while the rain seems to have eased off.

And Button emerges in his McLaren after Hamilton takes a wander down the pitlane.

Vettel, who was testing out a nosecone, comes back in.

Vettel and Hamilton do not believe Ferrari is truly an underdog in the title battle.