A wet start in Melbourne

(GMM) Australia may be in the midst of its worst drought in 100 years, but formula one drivers found a wet track when they pulled out of their garages on Friday morning for the first official action of the 2007 season at Albert Park.

A few spots fell on the paddock late on Thursday, before it rained quite heavily in the early hours of this morning.

Lap times were pretty slow in the opening section of Friday's revised format, which is run over 90 minutes from 10am.

Weather reports predict more passing showers, some heavy, throughout the day, but it is expected to be completely dry for qualifying on Saturday and Sunday's grand prix.

All 22 race cars had ventured onto the circuit after three quarters of the morning session, where it became clear that Robert Kubica had been asked by BMW to sit out the session to make way for test youngster Sebastian Vettel.

Pole Kubica is expected to resume his cockpit this afternoon, when another 90 minutes of practice kicks off at 2pm.