Ahead of today's first free practice session the air temperature is 28 degrees C, while the track temperature is 40 degrees. It is bright and sunny.
When the lights go green, Robert Kubica is first out, followed by Sutil, Wurz, Davidson, Doornbos, Montagny and Jani. This weekend is Montagny's last race weekend, while Pedro de la Rosa is driving the second McLaren following Juan Pablo Montoya's move to NASCAR.
Kubica's BMW is sporting the hideous twin fins, first seen at last week's test at Jerez. Although there was concern that they might be banned, if only for aesthetic reasons, they were officially approved by the scrutineers on Thursday evening.
Alexander Wurz posts the first time of the weekend, the Austrian crossing the line at 1:20.991.
Wurz improves to 19.731 as Davidson posts a 1:20.070. Moments later the Austrian goes very wide, but is able to continue.
Sutil goes third (22.066), but is soon displaced by Kubica, who posts 20.482, then improves with a 1:19.325 to go quickest.
Maybe the fins are having an affect, however they look horrible, while the McLaren style 'horns' on either side of the engine cover only add to the car's ugliness.
Yamamoto is another driver to find that the little-used Magny Cours asphalt offers little grip.
Kubica consolidates top spot with a 19.057, while Wurz improves to 19.731.
Fifteen minutes into the session, Jacques Villeneuve is the first of the 'big names' to appear. However, it is merely an installation lap for the Canadian, who has been making noises about switching to NASCAR.
With twenty minutes gone, there are only six names on the timesheets. Hopefully this will change next year, following the World Motor Sport Council's approval of the scrapping of 'third drivers' in 2007. It's though that by doing away with third drivers next season, race fans will get to see a bit more of the regular racers, though will the need to 'conserve' engines, this remains doubtful.
Davidson posts a 1:18.677 to go quickest, ahead of Kubica, Jani, Wurz, Doornbos, Sutil and Yamamoto. The Japanese driver is scheduled to step up to a full race seat in Germany, where Super Aguri will debut its first 'self-built' car.
As Kubica goes to the top of the timesheets (17.790), Jarno Trulli leaves the pits. Meanwhile, fellow-Italian Giancarlo Fisichella is proudly showing off his new helmet design, which pays tribute to his country's World Cup victory.
The Ferrari, which has yet to go out, is sporting a strange sort of flick-up wing, which, like the BMW appendages, has been declared legal.
With twenty five minutes remaining, Fisichella and Ralf come out to play, however, whereas the Italian returns to the pits after his installation lap, Ralf stays out.
Having gone off earlier, Yamamoto now grinds to a halt on track. The Japanese driver remains in his car, but it isn't going anywhere - meanwhile the yellow flags are waved as the car is pushed to safety.
Alonso completes an installation lap, but with seventeen minutes remaining there are still only nine names on the timesheets.
With eleven minutes remaining, Pedro de la Rosa heads down the pitlane, the Spaniard hoping that he will retain the second McLaren seat for the remainder of the season, and beyond. That said, he won't find the Magny Cours run-offs as forgiving as Bahrain.
Kubica goes quickest in all three sectors, raising the benchmark to 1:16.794, but that's still over 2s off last year's pole time.
Scott Speed and Nico Rosberg leave the pits, followed by Liuzzi, Coulthard, Klien and Button.
Ralf Schumacher goes sixth (19.205), ahead of Villeneuve, who posts 19.215, then proceeds to lock-up big time on his next lap.
Ralf improves to third, behind Kubica and Davidson, as Button begins a flying lap.
With fifty seconds - that's fifty seconds - remaining, Raikkonen leaves the pits… but what's the bloody point?
The Ferrari garage is empty, save for the cars, it's as if everyone got bored and went home.
Button goes third with a 1:18.297, as the chequered flag comes out.
The session ends with Kubica quickest, ahead of Davidson, Button, Ralf, Sutil, Jani, Wurz, Villeneuve, Doornbos and Rosberg.
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