Ahead of today's second session, the air temperature is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 40 degrees. It's bright and sunny.

With only 16 drivers posting times in the first session, we are hoping for a little more action this afternoon.

When the lights go green, Tiago Monteiro is first out, followed by Doornbos, Kubica, Sutil, Jani and Wurz.

Sutil sets the benchmark with a 1:37.270, almost a second quicker than Jani. Moments later however, Davidson posts a 1:35.535.

A 36.578 sees Liuzzi go second, ahead of Klien, Sutil, Albers and Jani. Meanwhile, Massa is on track, and is already quickest of all in the first sector. The Brazilian crosses the line at 1:34.944, taking over half-a-second off Davidson. Elsewhere, Heidfeld, Raikkonen, Villeneuve, Coulthard, Trulli and Montoya are on track.

Massa improves to 1:34.546, having gone quickest in all three sectors. Meanwhile, Ralf goes fourth (36.100).

A 1:35.672 sees Raikkonen go third, behind Massa and Davidson. Kubica goes second (35.202), but Wurz and Rosberg are both on hot laps.

Sure enough, Wurz goes second (34.792), while moments later Rosberg takes the top spot with a 1:34.352.

Fernando Alonso is on track, as is teammate Giancarlo Fisichella, while Rosberg improves to 1:34.215. The Italian goes tenth (35.574) and the Spaniard second (34.340), as Michael Schumacher comes out to play.

Next time around, Fisichella improves to sixth, while Alonso takes the top spot with a 1:33.579. The Italian, like several others, is really riding the kerbs here.

Michael goes fifth (34.762), as Fisichella locks up big-time.

Next time around, Michael improves to second with a 1:33.708, ahead of Rosberg, Fisichella, Massa, Kubica and Wurz. Elsewhere, Barrichello is seventh, Webber ninth and Montoya tenth, ahead of Raikkonen, Heidfeld, Klien and Coulthard.

At the bottom of the timesheets, Villeneuve is twentieth, ahead of Jani, Liuzzi, Sato, Doornbos, Albers, Monteiro and Montagny. Jarno Trulli is the only driver yet to post a time.

Alonso and Michael are both back on track, as is Raikkonen, however, the Finn seems unable, at this time, to improve his time, and remains twelfth.

A 1:34.116 sees Jenson Button go sixth, the top ten covered by just 0.967.

Ralf goes fourth (33.883), as teammate Trulli finally leaves the Toyota garage.

Busiest man, thus far, is Anthony Davidson, who has completed 25 laps. Wurz has completed 24, as have Kubica and Doornbos. Still no time from Trulli.

None of the drivers appear to be improving their times, however, they are completing a fair number of laps.

Alonso has a moment with a slower car, the Spaniard is left unimpressed, and gesticulates to his rival.

At the very last knockings, Wurz goes quickest, crossing the line at 1:32.675, having gone quickest in all three sectors. Michael goes quickest in the final sector, and though he improves his time (33.619), he remains third.

The session ends with Wurz quickest, ahead of Alonso, Michael, Doornbos, Davidson, Ralf, Button, Kubica, Fisichella and Sutil.

We know from experience not to read too much into the Friday session, however, the apparent lack of pace of the McLarens, WilliamsF1s, BMWs and Red Bulls, does seem a little strange.

Still, these are early days.