Ahead of today's sole free practice session, the air temperature is 24 degrees C, while the track temperature is 23 degrees. Following a rain shower ahead of the session, the track has been declared wet.

In reality, it's only a little wet, but this will at least give teams the opportunity to run with wets for a few laps - just in case.

Today, we revert to the 22 race drivers, which means we should get a clearer idea - in the absence of the Friday testers - of how Ferrari and Renault, and in particular, Michael and Fernando, shape up. Though, following the engine problem that has hit Felipe Massa, the Italian team will be somewhat on the back foot.

First out is Liuzzi, followed by Speed, Ralf, Trulli and Sato, who, like Massa, will suffer a ten-spot grid penalty this weekend. However, the penalty will mean more to the Brazilian driver than the Japanese.

Fisichella, Alonso, Massa... one by one the drivers leave the pits. Meanwhile, Ralf posts the first time of the day, 1:48.812. Jarno goes second with a 1:50.065.

Already, some drivers have switched to intermediates, as Ralf raises the benchmark to 48.544. Nico Rosberg goes third (49.039), as Coulthard, Webber and the Honda duo leave the pits.

Scott Speed momentarily goes quickest, but is demoted by Button, who crosses the line at 1:46.210. However, Coulthard, on intermediates, is already on a fast lap.

The Scot goes second (46.426), as Speed goes third, ahead of Rosberg and Webber.

As the big guns wait resolutely in their garages, Speed, Coulthard, Button, Webber and Barrichello continue with their preparations, gradually chipping away at the benchmark time.

With the benchmark at 45.634 (Speed), Massa is on track, and the Brazilian, on his first lap, goes quickest, crossing the line at 45.447. Meanwhile, Doornbos goes third, ahead of Coulthard, Button and Webber.

Twenty-four minutes into the session, Jarno Trulli is the only man on track, then he too returns to the pits. Barrichello has dry tyres on his Honda, but is waiting in his garage - some sections of the track are still quite wet.

Monteiro comes out to play, on intermediates, but the rest just watch... and wait.

A couple of drivers come out to test the waters, so to speak, but soon return to their garages.

With 24 minutes remaining, there are just two drivers on track, and one of them, Doornbos, has a big spin at Turn 1. Though he is able to rejoin. Meanwhile, his teammate, Coulthard, goes quickest, with a 1:45.253.

The clock keeps ticking, and with less than twenty minutes remaining, there are only 14 names on the timesheets, with Alonso only completing an installation lap, and Michael not even making an appearance.

That said, Liuzzi's improvement to sixth (46.846), is the signal for Ralf Schumacher to leave the pits. The German is on dry tyres, despite having been told by his crew that there is "no way to go out on dry tyres at the moment!"

He's over a second off the pace in each sector, which appears to indicate that maybe, just maybe, he should have listened to his crew.

His next lap is a little better, indeed he sets a personal best in the final sector, but he remains 2.4s off the pace set by Coulthard, who was on intermediates.

That said, with twelve minutes remaining, the pressure is on, and both Hondas leave the garage.

Barrichello (dry) spins, as Michael and Massa leave the pits. One-by-one, the other drivers take to the track.

Ralf improves to fifth (46.023), clear indication that the track is drying. Yamamoto going eighth is further proof.

Massa spins, but rejoins, as does his teammate, just to prove that there is no favouritism at Ferrari.

However, as Sato goes quickest of all in the first sector, Michael goes quickest in the second.

Sure enough, the German takes top spot with a 1:43.048, ahead of the Super Aguri driver, who posts 44.667. Just over five minutes remaining.

Button goes second, but Rosberg is on a hot lap, as is Alonso. However, the yellow flags come out for Yamamoto, who has stopped in the second sector following a spin. Kimi Raikkonen also has an off, but is able to continue.