2013 Belgian GP P1: Fernando Alonso sets early Spa pace in changeable conditions

Fernando Alonso headed the Practice One timesheets for Ferrari as the Formula 1 season resumed after the summer break in famously inclement Spa-Francorchamps conditions on the opening morning of the Belgian GP.

After skipping Thursday's media day due to what Lotus described as "illness", the man at the centre of the 'silly season', Kimi Raikkonen, made his first appearance of the week but spent plenty of time in the garage as the team worked to resolve what appeared an early issue with the brakes on his E21. In any case, when out on the circuit, both the Finn and team-mate Romain Grosjean remained on intermediate tyres as Lotus appeared to be concentrating on calibrating their passive DRS system. The track remained slippery under braking for the Bus Stop chicane and La Source hairpin in particular and a number of drivers ran straight on at both after snatching at the brakes. "This is a circuit that we all enjoy to go round, it gives a massive exhilaration to go round when it's dry; when it's wet, it's an absolute pain," admitted Sky Sports F1's Johnny Herbert. "It's really slippery, the brakes are always locking, it's really, really difficult then to get it all together. The only thing they can look at, I suppose, is getting the right brake balance because the weather forecast is supposed to be wet tomorrow."