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Heavy rain and appalling conditions welcomed the Formula 1 drivers and teams during Friday's initial two practice session of the Grand Prix of Belgium at Spa-Francorchamps.

In the morning session, Japanese Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber emerged quickest as all the other drivers settled for cautious installation runs.

Near the end of the session, more drivers ventured on the slippery Ardennes circuit.

Kamui Kobayashi (Photo: WRi2)

Williams' Pastor Maldonado put his Renault-powered Williams in second place ahead of the Toro Rosso-Ferraris of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne.

Red Bull's Mark Webber was the best of the title contenders in fifth place. His teammate Sebastian Vettel took ninth.

The second session was almost a total wash-out with drivers only completing installation laps and performing practice starts in the pit lane. No driver completed a full timed lap mourned the daunting road course in such heavy rain.

Fernando Alonso (Photo: WRi2)

On his way to the dummy grid to do a practice start, Charles Pic set the best time in his Marussia.

Ricciardo ranked second in front of Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) and Paul di Resta (Sahara Force India).

The engine in Felipe Massa's Ferrari F2012 was changed during the lunch break following a failure this morning.

McLaren's new sidepods (Photo: WRi2)

Grand Prix of Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps, Friday first practice session*:
1 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 2'11"389 - 20 laps
2 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 2'11"941 - 14
3 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 2'12"004 - 12
4 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 2'12"824 - 15
5 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 2'13"191 - 13
6 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 2'13"861 - 16
7 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 2'14"210 - 14
8 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW34-Renault) - 2'14"660 - 16
9 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 2'14"860 - 12
10 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 2'15"402 - 13
11 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 2'15"812 - 11
12 - Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 2'16"409 - 16
13 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 2'16"786 - 10
14 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 2'16"788 - 16
15 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 2'16"827 - 5
16 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 2'16"861 - 8
17 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 2'17"519 - 14
18 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 2'18"199 - 10
19 - Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 2'19"546 - 12
20 - Dani Clos (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 2'19"689 - 12
21 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 2'38"701 - 9
22 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 2'40"749 - 4
23 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 2'46"580 - 9
24 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - no time -

Grand Prix of Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps, Friday second practice session*:
1. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 2m49.354s 4 laps
2. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 2m49.750s 3
3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 2m50.497s 3
4. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 2m51.333s 3
5. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 2m51.660s 4
6. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 2m52.076s 4
7. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 2m53.232s 4
8. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 2m58.232s 3
9. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 2m59.125s 5
10. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 3m12.901s 4
11. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 3
12. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 4
13. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1
14. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 2
15. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 3
16. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 2
17. Felipe Massa Ferrari 2
18. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 3

*Unofficial timing