All I can hear is engines. Sweet, sweet engines – do you reckon I can get it as my ringtone?

Having spoken to more friendly media peeps, the best place to be for practice is right here in the media centre. There are banks of TVs showing the action on track with live timings, and if  squint a bit I can actually read them.

The footage I'm watching is pretty similar to the stuff  I'm used to seeing on telly – panning shots of the track, close-ups of the cars, and footage of the garages and pitlanes. I can't tell you how exciting it is just to be here – I may be looking at a screen, but I can hear the action outside, and I am covered in goose bumps. It feels a little bit like falling in love, to get all sentimental on you.

So, practice. Pretty much everyone's out on the track, as the drivers are as keen for the season to start as we are. Track temperature is 37 degrees, while the air outside is a more refreshing (yeah, right) 29 degrees. And this at 10am! I am beginning to understand Kimi Raikkonen's ice-cream passion.

One of the Virgins (sorry...) is just pulling in to the garage. Still seems to have all its parts, which must be a relief for the team. Have heard a rumour that the car has actually spent some time in a wind tunnel, so I'm going to see if I can get that confirmed for you. Apparently the design was all CFD, as has been widely publicised, but the team used the wind tunnel data to corroborate their computer predictions. Wouldn't be surprised if that turns out to be the case, but remember – at the moment it's just a rumour, albeit a believable one. And the logical is rarely true in F1, as we know all too well.

HRT are still fiddling with their car, but all the other drivers (except di Grassi) have now completed at least an installation lap. We'll see how long it takes the Spaniards to get on to the track – everyone's waiting with baited breath to see how the car survives what is essentially its first test session. Apparently there are hydraulic issues with Karun Chandhok's car, but hopefully we'll see some action from Bruno Senna before too long.

Installation laps completed, it's now a bit quieter. Most people have returned to the garage so the teams can do all manner of checks and tweaks before the session begins in earnest. We've got another 73 minutes of morning practice, so it's all still to play for.

I'm going to head off into the paddock and see if I can get you any photos or quotes from the drivers. More of a practice report to come once there's actually been some action to write about. The big news at the circuit today (and yesterday) is the legality of the McLaren. The FIA have said the car's okay, but the other teams are muttering about interpreting the spirit of the rules. Remind anyone of the double diffusers last year?

Basically the fuss all boils down to a hole in the cockpit, which McLaren say is used to cool down the driver. And it may well do. But when running on a straight, if the driver chooses to use his knee or elbow to block the hole, the rear wing stalls, generating straight-line speed. Ingenious, especially in these days of the homologated chassis, meaning the other teams can't copy the idea straight away.

Anyway, off to the paddocks – back with more news by the time you've got to work! Kate Walker Girlracer Magazine http://www.girlracer.co.uk

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Comments (1)

• |2010-03-12 09:56:37 Sophie  - Goose bumps for sure...
  ahhh... got to love the smell of F1 fuel in the morning.. and love the office.. lots of open space... tv's.. sweet..
  So does the media consist of mostly men... or are there as many women. Its interesting you have to wear clothing that keeps you covered, good thing you thought of that when packing.
  So practice starts here (US west coast) at 3 am...a couple more hours... (its that whole time warp thing)... but will look for your happy face in the crowd... maybe you could wave to a camera... haha ... have a great day in F1 World. GirlRacer rules..
  
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• |2010-03-12 12:19:21 Kate
  Not many women in the media centre - I'd say 20, tops? There are loads of women in the paddock, though - mostly working for the teams, not just there for show.
  
  Saw a woman yesterday who was very well turned out. Celeb glam, but I didn't recognise her. Every time I walked past her in the paddock she had a different bloke dragging her huge suitcase. Wonder why she didn't just leave it somewhere!
  
  Keeping an eye out for video cameras to walk by - so far it's been the BBC, but I'll keep an eye out for Speed TV!
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• |2010-03-12 14:45:06 Daniel
  Some interviews with some of those women working for the teams would be good if you could manage it. I know people who assume the only women in F1 are the driver's girlfriends (:rolls eyes).
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• |2010-03-12 20:54:10 Sophie  - Probably her make-up bag.. haha..
  Good to see women working in the paddocks for the teams. Would like to see more of that in the States...theres more women than in previous years, but still seems like a mans world.
  Yes, Speed TV...perfect...!
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