Ahead of today's second, and final, free practice session, the air temperature has risen to 32 degrees C, while the track temperature is 46 degrees. The sun is finally shining.

Eight drivers failed to post a time this morning, while the big surprise was the pace of the two WilliamsF1s, which despite a lack of track-time saw them go second and fifth.

This morning's pace-setter, Pedro de la Rosa, is first out, followed by Kiesa, Zonta and Toccacelo.

The Spaniard posts the benchmark, crossing the line at 1:24.944, improving next time around to 1:23.683. Meanwhile, Kiesa stops in the second sector.

de la Rosa improves yet again, posting 1:22.729, as Zonta goes second, ahead of Liuzzi and Doornbos. Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher are on track.

Zonta improves (23.763) as de la Rosa continues to set a blistering pace, the McLaren really looking as though it's on rails.

Another lap, another improvement for Pedro, who posts 1:22.458. Meanwhile, Michael goes fifth with a 1:25.064. He goes wide at the second chicane, the F2005 clearly struggling. At the second split he's already 1.2s down on de la Rosa. The German improves but remains fifth, and 1.9s off the pace.

As de la Rosa improves again (22.132), teammate Trulli goes third, though moments later he's demoted, first by Michael, then by Button, the Englishman crossing the line at 1:23.576.

Trulli improves again (23.528) to go third, as Heidfeld goes sixth, ahead of Button. Having finally got down to 1:23.708, Michael returns to the Ferrari garage.

It looks so easy for McLaren, as Kimi Raikkonen, on his first flying lap, goes quickest (21.857), out-pacing de la Rosa by 0.275.

Ralf Schumacher goes fourth (23.126), as Barrichello goes ninth, ahead of Massa, Liuzzi and Villeneuve.

Kimi improves again (21.735), as do de la Rosa and Trulli.

A 1:23.408 sees Webber go fifth, ahead of Zonta, Button and Michael. Still no sign of the Renaults or Coulthard, Klien and Albers.

It's 1-2-3 for McLaren, as Montoya goes third with a, 1:22.174. He looks set to improve next time around but loses time behind Toccacelo and opts to return to the pits.

De la Rosa is back on track, as are Button, Sato and Barrichello.

Twenty-two minutes into the session, Fisichella is on track, as Barrichello improves to seventh (23.213).

Fisichella goes fourth (22.508), as Zonta improves to sixth (23.033). Next time around the Italian improves again (22.457) but remains fourth. The Italian's using all the track, and more, particularly up at the Lesmos. Elsewhere, Sato gets it all wrong at the first chicane, out-braking himself.

Michael Schumacher is back on track, as test driver Luca Badoer looks on, all those thousands of miles (seemingly) to no avail.

The World Champion improves to fifth, and looks set to be going quicker still before losing it at the Parabolica and spinning off backwards into the barriers, kicking up clouds of dust in the process. His session is over… the replay showing that he was getting it wrong even at the start of the legendary, unforgiving, corner.

At half-time, it's Raikkonen, de la Rosa, Montoya, Fisichella, Michael, Zonta, Trulli, Ralf, Barrichello and Webber.

Mark Webber improves to third with a 1:22.032, as teammate Nick Heidfeld slots in behind with a 1:22.107.

Raikkonen is back on track and immediately goes quickest in the first sector. The Finn is quickest again in the second sector, however he loses ground in the final sector and fails to improve.

Finally, with twenty-three minutes remaining, Alonso is on track, the Spaniard set to post his first time of the day. He crosses the line at 1:22.897 to go ninth. Michael Schumacher watches proceedings from behind the tyre barrier.

Alonso is pushing hard, but the Renault doesn't have the pace of the McLaren. He improves with a 1:22.619 to go seventh. Elsewhere, Klien goes eleventh (23.040).

As Alonso continues, Montoya goes quickest with a 1:21.583, giving McLaren back its 1-2-3. That said, de la Rosa grinds to a halt around three-quarters of the way around the Parabolica. The McLaren finally gets going and returns to the pits.

Liuzzi almost comes to grief at the second chicane, the Italian appearing to push just a little too hard.