Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel was a surprise fastest in first practice at the European Grand Prix ahead of Sunday's race.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton was the early pace-setter at the new Valencia track but spun on what was looking set to be his fastest lap.

Vettel had just beaten Hamilton's mark, and the German went faster again to set a one minute 40.496 seconds best.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa was 0.158secs adrift, with Hamilton third followed by Vettel's team-mate Sebastien Bourdais.

A number of drivers had spins or off-course moments as they sought to learn a new track with a slippery, dusty surface.

But there were no major crashes despite the concrete walls lining the track.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was fastest after the drivers had been out for their first exploratory timed laps, but the world champion ended the session seventh.

McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen and BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica, who were both fastest at various points during the 90 minutes of action split Raikkonen from Bourdais.

Times from first practice at European Grand Prix at Valencia:

1 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso-Ferrari one minute 40.496 seconds
2 Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 1:40.654
3 Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 1:40.822
4 Sebastien Bourdais (Fra) 1:41.099
5 Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 1:41.163
6 Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 1:41.281
7 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:41.317
8 Kazuki Nakajima (Jpn) Williams-Toyota 1:41.329
9 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 1:41.385
10 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota 1:41.706
11 Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda 1:41.830
12 Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:41.930
13 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India-Ferrari 1:41.951
14 Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota 1:42.036
15 Nelson Piquet Jr (Brz) Renault 1:42.107
16 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 1:42.453
17 Jenson Button (GB) Honda 1:42.460
18 Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Force India-Ferrari 1:43.075
19 David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull-Renault 1:43.312
20 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull-Renault 1:43.524