Mercedes had a mixed day in Free Practice for the first Indian Grand Prix, with top ten finishes in FP1, dropping to 19th and 21st in FP2. Michael Schumacher was followed by just two HRT drivers and one Virgin car in the second session. However, the team aren't bothered by what the results say, and are happy with their programme.

Team boss Ross Brawn said: "We've had a useful first day of practice around the new Buddh International Circuit today. It's always interesting to explore a new track for the first time, and the grip levels changed a great deal during the two sessions, so the trick will be anticipating where they will be by the race on Sunday. The majority of our programme today focused on race preparation and the car seems in reasonable shape."

Nico Rosberg has analysed the circuit a little better for us: "It has some very interesting corners, and that's why it takes a bit longer to get used to the layout than at some of the other new circuits. Turn two for example is very different; you come from downhill, then go up looking into the sky and so you see the hairpin very late, just before you arrive."

Meanwhile, preparing for the race ahead, Schumacher is concerned about the state of the track itself, saying: "It is a little issue because it will never properly clean up and off-line it remains very slippery. So overtaking is going to be very difficult."