Ahead of today's second free practice session, the air temperature is 20 degrees C, while the track temperature is 26 degrees. There has been rain between the two session, and though it has stopped, the track remains wet.

As Sutil, Winkelhock and Trulli take to the track, Scott Speed watches the action on a Kangaroo device.

On-board footage shows Trulli is running on intermediates, as are Hamilton and Alonso, who are both out surprisingly early. That said, like several other drivers, the McLaren duo merely complete an installation lap.

It is Jenson Button who posts the first time of the session, the Honda driver crossing the line at 1:56.537.

In the grandstands and on the spectator banks the fans are clearly feeling the cold, as is Michael Schumacher on the pit-wall.

Ten minutes into the session Hamilton is back on track, which is now clearly drying, but still has a number of wet patches.

The Englishman immediately raises the benchmark - and how! - crossing the line at 1:41.236. This is the signal for Fisichella to leave the pits. The Italian completes an installation lap before heading back into the pits.

Seventeen minutes into the session, both Spykers are on track, and both are shod with the soft option tyres. They run together, Sutil leading the way, as though ties by a length of invisible rope.

Sutil goes second (40.613) and Winkelhock third, as Webber heads down the pitlane.

As the Australian goes second (36.785), Hamilton continues to lap the German track, gradually raising the benchmark to 35.236. Raikkonen and Kovalainen leave the pits.

The Ferrari driver makes a mistake and is forced to take to the slip road at the chicane. Despite a minor off on his next lap, the Finn goes second, crossing the line at 35.673. Button improves to third behind Webber.

On his first flying lap, Fernando Alonso goes quickest, the Spaniard posting a 35.176. Meanwhile, there is 'earnest discussion' between a Ferrari man and several Williams team members outside the Grove outfit's garage.

Back on track, Massa goes fourth but immediately goes quickest in the first sector of his next lap. Teammate Raikkonen is also on a quick lap, the Finn going quickest in the second sector. Raikkonen goes quickest (34.631), whereas his Brazilian teammate can 'only' manage third (35.182). Alonso becoming the meat in a Ferrari sandwich.

Next time around, Massa improves to second with a 34.773. The Brazilian's progress is watched by Kubica, who, like his BMW teammate, has yet to make an appearance in this session. Wurz is the only other driver that hasn't been out.

A 35.554 sees Takuma Sato go fifth, as Nico Rosberg snatches sixth. Meanwhile, Davidson, Schumacher and Coulthard all appear to be on good laps.

Having gone quickest in the first two sectors, Massa loses a little ground in the third, but is still able to take the top spot, crossing the line at 34.307. Davidson goes sixth, but is quickly demoted by Coulthard.

Thirty-seven minutes into the session, Robert Kubica is on track. As the Pole begins his first flying lap his teammate heads down the pitlane.

The Pole goes eighth, behind Sato (fifth) Coulthard and Button, but is soon demoted as Rosberg and Wurz go fifth and sixth.

Raikkonen is setting a blistering pace. Having retaken the top spot with a 33.964, the Finn immediately goes quickest in the first sector of his next lap. That said, he fails to improve.

Moments after Kubica improves to third (34.689), his BMW teammate goes fourth, posting a 34.701. The Bavarian team is clearly fired up for its home race.

Raikkonen consolidates the top spot with a 33.815, but moments later Kubica goes second (34.267) and Heidfeld third (34.271). These guys mean business.

At 'half-time', it's: Raikkonen, Kubica, Heidfeld, Massa, Hamilton, Wurz, Alonso, Fisichella, Rosberg and Button.

As Mark Webber calls for "more stability at the apex", which he acknowledges is "hard to do", Davidson goes fifth, splitting Massa and Hamilton.