Following the cancellation of the first free practice session, the signs aren't too promising for the second. The track, especially the paddock area, is shrouded in a heavy fog,, which means that the medical helicopter cannot take off. As a result the second session is 'delayed' for fifteen minutes.

The temperatures are exactly the same as they were at the start of the first session, the ambient temperature is 16 degrees C, while the track temperature is 15 degrees. And it's still raining.

At 10:25 (local time), race organizers announce a further delay, this time of ten minutes.

Just as it looks as though we're going to get the all-clear, it's announced that there will be a further five-minute delay. Assuming the session does begin at 10:45, it would end at 11:30, which would give us just one-and-a-half hours before pre-qualifying gets underway. With strict TV schedules to be adhered to, there is no way that that would be delayed.

The session does indeed get underway at 10:45 (local time), but it will only be a 15-minute session, furthermore, it is declared a 'wet session' so extreme wet weather tyres may be used. That said, it suddenly stops raining.

Michael Schumacher is first out, followed by Zonta, Montoya, Trulli, Bruni, Panis, Alonso, Raikkonen, Pizzonia, Webber, Baumgartner, and just about everyone else.

The conundrum is that although this afternoon's qualifying sessions will almost certainly be wet, or at least partially wet, it's thought that the race will be run in the dry.

Schumacher posts the benchmark, lapping the sodden circuit in 1:57.906, which is only 13s slower than yesterday's best. Montoya, on the other hand, goes second with a 2:02.559, but then Schumacher is 'the rain-master'.

Button goes second, but is 3.252s off Schumacher's pace, while Coulthard goes third ahead of Montoya, Pantano and Klien. Takuma Sato clearly enjoys the conditions, he goes second with a 2:00.591, though moments later he's leapfrogged by Raikkonen who posts 1:59.116.

Button improves, to go third, as Barrichello goes eighth, behind Sato and the two Renaults.

Trulli improves to fourth, as Raikkonen closes in on Schumacher, the Finn crossing the line at 1:58.211, 0.305s off the German's time.

With neither Minardi driver having posted a time, Pizzonia is currently slowest, 9.4s off the pace, as Sato goes quickest in the first sector. As he continues on his way, Rubens Barrichello goes quickest, the Brazilian posting 1:57.085.

Gianmaria Bruni goes eighteenth as Pizzonia goes off, hitting the barriers hard. Moments later the Italian Minardi driver also crashes and the session is instantly red-flagged. It's a heavy crash, but he's out of the car and seems fine.

Although there are just under two minutes remaining, race officials announce that the session will not be re-started, therefore, ahead of today's qualifying sessions, the drivers have 'enjoyed' thirteen minutes of free practice.

Rubens Barrichello tops the timesheets, ahead of Schumacher, Raikkonen, Fisichella, Coulthard, Massa, Button, Trulli, Sato and Alonso.

A chaotic start to a day which is unlikely to further enhance F1's already battered image.