Due to the weather conditions the first of yesterday's two sessions was something of a lottery, while the second session gave us a better idea of where things really stand.

The BMW is definitely living up to expectations, as are Ferrari and McLaren. Renault remains confident, despite the technical (fuel pressure)problems that eliminated both cars. Honda is struggling for balance, while a check of our Friday picture gallery gives a clear indication of how the Red Bull/Toro Rosso drivers are feeling.

Williams made a late improvement, while Toyota is one of several teams struggling for grip.

The big surprise yesterday was the pace of the Super Aguri (nee Honda), which saw the little Japanese team outpace several much bigger outfits, not least Honda. Finally, there's Spyker, which as Mike Gascoyne says, needs to get its tyres to work.

Two drivers who will have to behave themselves today are Kimi Raikkonen and Giancarlo Fisichella.

The Finn has the dubious honour of being the first F1 driver to be fined this season, receiving a 200 (euro) fine for speeding in the pitlane. However, this is but nothing compared to the Italian who was hit with a 3,600 (euro) fine - for the same offence, albeit going a lot quicker, 78.2 kph as opposed to 61.7 kph. The pitlane speed limit is 60 kph.

With five minutes to go before today's sole practice session, the air temperature is 19 degrees C, and the track temperature is 26 degrees. It's overcast and cool, unseasonably cool. There has been rain earlier, and consequently the session has been declared "wet". Though there is no further rain predicted within the next hour, showers are being forecast for qualifying.

The lights go green but it's a couple of minutes before the first engine fires up, and another minute before Christijan Albers heads down the pitlane. The Dutch driver is subsequently followed by Trulli, Fisichella, Speed, Sutil, Liuzzi and Wurz. Kovalainen, Button and Alonso are also 'early risers'.

As Schumacher leaves the pits, Button, having completed his installation lap, continues round, hopefully to post the first time of the day. At the end of his second lap the Englishman returns to his garage.

Looking at the crowd it's really nippy out there, most of them are well wrapped up, and some wearing see-through macs - just in case. There is also a fairly strong wind.

Thirteen minutes intro the session and still no times on the timesheets. Due to the uncertainty of the track conditions, nobody is really willing to take a risk.

Nick Heidfeld goes out and having posted fastest time in the first two sectors dives back into the pits. This is the signal for Alonso to climb back into his car.

Nineteen minutes into the session, Albers gets things going, posting the benchmark time (1:35.202). This is immediately beaten by his teammate (34.506). This is the cue for Kubica to leave the pits.

Despite a major lock-up, Sutil improves again, crossing the line at 32.781. In the pits Alonso watches with interest.

Fisichella and Barrichello are both on track, the Italian taking 0.5s out of Sutil in the first sector. The Renault driver crosses the line at 29.866, while Jarno Trulli goes third (31.574).

Albers complains of having problems with his gearbox, as Barrichello goes fourth (31.906), behind Trulli.

As Fisichella improves to 29.065, Button and Schumacher leave the pits. Trulli goes second, ahead of Sutil and Barrichello.

All eyes on Kimi Raikkonen, as Liuzzi goes fifth, albeit 2.45s off the pace. As Raikkonen goes quickest (28.154), Alonso goes quickest in the first sector.

The Spaniard takes top spot with a 27.612, as the Finn improves with a 27.816. Elsewhere, Trulli goes wide.

Hamilton and Massa are both on track, as Raikkonen goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 26.616, to re-take the top spot.

Massa makes it a Ferrari 1-2, crossing the line at 27.352, however, Hamilton is just beginning his first flying lap of the day. At the first split the English driver is 0.2s down, losing a further 0.4s in the second sector. He finally crosses the line at 28.012 to go fifth, behind Kubica.

Coulthard goes seventh, then takes to the grass, as teammate Webber remains almost 4s off the pace in sixteenth.