With just five minutes before today's free practice session gets underway, the air temperature is 26 degrees C, and the track temperature is 37 degrees. It is is warm and sunny.

First out is Tiago Monteiro, followed by Sakon Yamamoto. While the Portuguese driver returns to the pits, having completed an installation lap, Yamamoto continues around, now joined by his Super Aguri teammate.

Next out is Christijan albers, who will forfeit ten grid places following yesterday's engine failure.

Yamamoto is first to post a time (27.120), but this is soon beaten by his teammate, who crosses the line at 1:20.767. Next time around Takuma gets down to 1:20.276, the SA06 showing a clear improvement on the old car.

As Sato improves to 20.201, Monteiro goes second with a 20.442. Elsewhere, Jarno Trulli leaves the pits.

Back in the Super Aguri garage, Yamamoto prepares to go out for another five lap run in an attempt to "solve the problem", whatever that problem might be.

Talking of problems… Jarno Trulli pulls off track just after the Nordkurve, with smoke pouring out of the back of his car, it looks like his engine's blown.

Ralf leaves the pits, as does Barrichello, while Speed is warned of oil deposited on the track by Trulli.

Ralf goes quickest (18.631), ahead of Albers, Monteiro and Sato, while Speed and Villeneuve leave the pits.

Ralf goes quickest in all three sectors, lowering the benchmark to 18.180, as Rosberg, Raikkonen, de la Rosa and Liuzzi head down the pitlane.

Rubens goes fifth (20.493), behind Sato, as Rosberg posts 19.165 to go second. Next time around however, the Brazilian improves with a 18.919 to take second.

Rosberg goes quickest in the second sector and third sectors to go quickest (17.628), as Speed momentarily goes third before being demoted by Barrichello (18.568).

Raikkonen is still on track, having completed four laps, but remains almost 2s off the pace, and outside the 'top ten'.

Coulthard and Webber are on track as Rosberg improves to 17.628, and Villeneuve goes sixth (19.058).

Twenty-three minutes into the session, Schumacher - you know which one! - heads down the pitlane, the flags wave and klaxons wail. Meanwhile, Coulthard has gone fourth, ahead of Webber, Villeneuve, Speed and Liuzzi.

Next time around the Scot goes second (18.028), as Albers is told to "brake earlier for Turn 1" in order to "carry more speed". He duly obliges.

Michael goes sixth (18.524), but immediately goes quickest in the first sector of his next lap. He loses pace in the second sector, but nonetheless posts 17.631 to go second, splitting the two WilliamsF1s, Mark Webber having previously gone second quickest to Rosberg.

On his next lap, Michael is quickest in the first sector, but only again loses time in the second. He's quickest in the final sector and takes top spot (17.466), but is instantly relegated by his Brazilian teammate, who crosses the line at 1:17.150. Next time around Massa improves to 16.503.

Half-time and it's Massa, Michael, Rosberg, Webber, Coulthard, Button, Ralf, Alonso, Barrichello and Klien.

Button improves to fourth (17.676), as Massa also improves (16.220), posting the quickest lap of the weekend, thus far.

Alonso improves with a 1:17.783, but remain 1.5s off Massa's best. That said, next time around the Spaniard posts 17.346 to go second, albeit 1.1s off the Brazilian's time.

Another lap, another improvement, for Massa who has now got the benchmark down to 16.012. Elsewhere, Ralf goes third (17.419), ahead of his brother, Fisichella, Rosberg, Button, Webber and Barrichello.

Nick Heidfeld goes quickest in the first sector, as Barrichello goes third (17.300). The German loses ground in the sector but makes it up in the third, finally crossing the line at 16.167, to go second. A great lap.

At the bottom of the time sheets, other than the usual suspects it's surprising to see both McLarens, between them Raikkonen and de la Rosa have only completed ten laps, and are twentieth and twenty-first.

That said, Kimi posts 17.437 to go ninth, ahead of Michael, Liuzzi and Button. Next time around the Finn improves to third (16.218).