32 Min: Session over. Order is: Michael Schumacher, Barrichello, Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher, Raikkonen, Massa, Heidfeld, Fisichella, Trulli, Irvine, Frentzen, McNish, Panis, Sato, Montoya, Salo, Villeneuve, Button, Webber, Yoong, Bernoldi and de la Rosa.

31 Min: Both Ferraris are still out. Michael still concentrating on start practices.

30 Min: Salo's car seems to have only minor damage.

29 Min: Salo crashes with only one minute to go

26 Min: Massa is finally on a fast lap (1.44.389) moving up to 6th place. McNish is faster too.

25 Min; Frentzen and Ralf Schumacher are on fast laps. Michael Schumacher stalls in the pit lane.

23 Min: With only 7 minutes to go order is: Michael Schumacher, Barrichello, Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher, Raikkonen and Heidfeld. Webber in the Minardi is in 15th

21 Min: Massa is out again - after some time in the pits.

19 Min: Followed by Michael Schumacher going for a short trip off the beaten path.

18 Min: The track is still very slippery Raikkonen and Coulthard have both had minor offs.

16 Min: Order is: Michael Schumacher, Coulthard, Raikkonen, Barrichello

14 Min: Michael Schumacher is fastest (1.41.504). Massa back in the pits - it is not working for him

12 Min: Montoya and Raikkonen are so far the only drivers to post speeds below 1min 55sec. Michael Schumacher is back on the track in his race car.

10 Min: Massa has swapped for the spare car but still seems slow

8 Min: Michael Schumacher is out in the spare car but also progressing carefully.

6 Min: Montoya is trying but only posts 1.46 - still too much water on the track.

4 Min: They are all driving gingerly because of the water on the track.

2 Min: Montoya is the last to go out. Massa is slowing!

0 Min: Cars are out led by Massa. The track is wet and slight drizzle still falling. 

-30 Min: It is raining at Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia, the venue of the first race of the season. The forecast is for the drizzle to continue for most of the morning, clearing in patches in the afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to be below 20 degrees Celsius all day.

The weather is playing into Ferrari's and more specifically Michael Schumacher's hands.  The Bridgestone tyres are better in cool, damp or wet conditions and their main rivals, Williams and McLaren are on Michelin tyres. Michael Schumacher is the acknowledged rain master.  He may not be starting from pole but in these conditions he is faster than Rubens Barrichello, his teammate, who is starting from pole this afternoon. 

Session starting at 9:30 AM local time