By Julian Shea
**Robert Kubica seized the early initiative ahead of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix as he clocked the fastest time in Friday’s first practice.**The Polish Renault driver clocked a fastest lap time of 1:26.927, 0.199secs aheadd of Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg.
The German was 0.356secs ahead of Jenson Button’s McLaren in third.
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, first-race winner Fernando Alonso of Ferrari and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton were next up.
Force India reserve driver Paul di Resta was a creditable 11th on his Formula 1 race-weekend debut, one place ahead of Michael Schumacher’s Mercedes.
Red Bull’s Australian driver Mark Webber clocked the 14th fastest time in front of his home crowd.
Sauber had a torrid session - Japanese Kamui Kobayashi completed only five laps but in that time managed to tear off his front wing twice, while team-mate Pedro de la Rosa’s session was brought to a premature halt when his car ground to a halt on the track.
More to follow