Home favourite Fernando Alonso has set the fastest time in the first practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver clocked 1:25.252 around the track in soggy conditions in Barcelona, taking a strong lead over his competitors from the midway point of the session.

Towards the end of the practice, the majority of drivers switched to dry tyres, but Alonso managed to keep the quickest time, with teammate Felipe Massa second-fastest and Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne third.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton secured the sixth-fastest time with 1:26.374, while Sebastian Vettel completed 11 laps for Red Bull in a time of 1:29.457.

First practice full standings:

1. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2. Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
3. Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso)
4. Romain Grosjean (Lotus Renault)
5. Adrian Sutil (Force India)
6. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
7. Valterri Bottas (Williams)
8. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus Renault)
9. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
10. Paul di Resta (Force India)
11. Daniel Ricciardo (STR-Ferrari)
12. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
13. Sergio Perez (McLaren)
14. Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber)
15. Pastor Maldonado (WIlliams)
16. Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham)
17. Giedo van der Garde (Caterham)
18. Jules Bianchi (Marussia)
19. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
20. Mark Webber (Red Bull)
21. Rodolfo Gonzalez (Marussia)
22. Jenson Button (McLaren)