Ahead of this afternoon's all-important qualifying session the air temperature is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 38 degrees. The sun is shining, but it remains unseasonably cool, though windy.

While it looks as though the fight for pole will be between Ferrari, McLaren and Renault, with BMW also in with a good chance, the real interest lies in what's happening a little further down the grid.

The customer car row has been rumbling on for some time, with Spyker and Williams both warning that things would develop once the circus arrived in Melbourne.

While Red Bull/Toro Rosso has been treating the issue as a joke, making light of the saga at every turn, there's no doubt that Anthony Davidson's performance in this morning's free practice session - when he finished fourth quickest - will not help matters.

It isn't only Williams and Spyker that will be unamused at the prospect of being shown up by a team seemingly doing F1 'on the cheap'. Furthermore, the fact that the Super Aguri is outpacing Honda is unlikely to go down well with the legendary Japanese manufacturer.

That said, we don't expect the row to erupt 'proper' this weekend, indeed, as we previously reported, a high level source has told us that there will be no disruption to this weekend's season opener. However, that does not mean that there will not be a protest, merely that it will be delayed. Should Super Aguri to continue to show the sort of form it has shown in the previous sessions, Spyker, Williams and several other teams will not have a choice, they will have to protest.

The lights go green and first out is Albers, followed, a minute later, by Davidson. Button, Schumacher, Sato, Trulli and Barrichello are next out.

Albers' Spyker is sliding all over the place, it looks a real handful. The Dutch driver posts the benchmark time, crossing the line at 1:32.300. Moments later, Davidson goes quickest, before he too is demoted, by Trulli.

As Button slides all over the place, Rosberg goes quickest in the first sector. As Coulthard goes quickest (28.579), Hamilton goes quickest in the first sector.

Sure enough, Hamilton goes quickest (26.674), ahead of Webber, Coulthard and Rosberg.

Seven minutes remaining, and the Ferraris head down the pitlane.

Scott speed goes third, as Alonso goes quickest in the first sector. As the Spaniard goes second (26.697), Raikkonen goes quickest in the second sector. Despite a minor moment at Turn 15 the Finn goes quickest, crossing the line at 26.644.

Massa can only manage fourth (26.712), as Webber goes wide. No times as yet from the BMW or Renault drivers, with just over three minutes remaining.

Kovalainen goes ninth, as Kubica goes quickest in the first sector. Button is still in the 'danger zone'.