Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 34 degrees C, while the track temperature is 50 degrees. It remains warm and sunny.

Thankfully, after the shenanigans of Hungary, there are no silly penalties, other than for Christijan Albers, who for the third successive Grand Prix has had to change his engine, and Ralf Schumacher who has had to change the Toyota powerplant in his car also.

The lights go green and the first phase of the session is underway. First out is Monteiro, followed by Alonso and Yamamoto. Trulli is also eager to get to work, as his teammate.

Monteiro posts the benchmark time, the Portuguese driver crossing the line at 30.255. However, Alonso has already gone quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 29.087.

Trulli and Klien are both on fast laps, the Italian going quickest at 29.826. David Coulthard goes third, ahead of Speed and Albers, but is quickly demoted as his Red Bull teammate goes second (28.982).

Michael Schumacher leaves the pits as Button goes fifth, ahead of Speed and Albers. The German goes quickest in the first sector, as Mark Webber goes third (29.069). Schumacher crosses the line at 27.385, as Raikkonen goes second with a 28.236.

With just over five minutes remaining, Massa, de la Rosa, Fisichella and Kubica have yet to post a time.

Nick Heidfeld goes second with a 28.200, as Ralf looks in danger of losing out at the first hurdle.

Massa goes quickest in the first sector, and again in the second. The Brazilian crosses the line at 27.306, to take top spot, giving Ferrari 1-2.

De la Rosa goes fifth with under three minutes remaining, as Kubica and Ralf remain rooted in the 'danger zone'.

Ralf posts 27.668, to go third, but this is bad news for Barrichello and Rosberg. That said, a 28.411 sees the Brazilian go tenth.

A brave last ditch effort from Liuzzi, but it's not good enough, he misses the cut along with Sato, Yamamoto, Monteiro, Speed and Coulthard.

Quickest was Massa, ahead of Michael, Ralf, Alonso, Fisichella, Heidfeld, Kubica, Button, Raikkonen and Klien.

Ahead of the second phase, Albers, who forfeits ten grid spots, asks his crew if he has made it through to the next phase of the session. "Stay in the car mate," he's told, "you're sixteenth, you're through!"

The lights go green for the second phase, and the track temperature has dropped by 3 degrees.

First out is Kubica, followed by Trulli, Rosberg, Heidfeld and Albers.