Ahead of today's free practice session the air temperature is a cool 19 degrees C, while the track temperature is 29 degrees. It is bright and sunny.

The lights go green and the Spykers lead the way, followed by Trulli, Kubica, Schumacher, Liuzzi, Sato, Davidson and Speed.

After four minutes everyone has been out, bar the Ferraris. Raikkonen and Massa talk to their respective crews as though they haven't a care in the world, far less a practice session to contest.

Seven minutes into the session Winkelhock is back on track, followed by his teammate. There's some great on-board footage from the Spyker, seemingly looking back from the right-front wheel at the driver. Schumacher and Davidson are also on track.

Winkelhock posts the first time of the day, the German crossing the line at 1:38.608. Moments later Sutil posts 36.058.

A 35.198 sees Schumacher go quickest, as Trulli, Liuzzi, Sato and Speed leave the pits. Still no sign of the Ferraris.

Of course, as we say that, Raikkonen heads down the pitlane. No sooner has Rosberg gone quickest with a 33.422, than Raikkonen takes the top spot with a 32.878.

As Heidfeld goes second, Massa begins his first flying lap of the day. They might be late coming out, but when they do the Ferrari drivers get straight to work, no installation laps for the Maranello duo.

The Brazilian goes quickest in the first sector, finally crossing the line at 32.950 to go second, as Raikkonen improves to 32.569. Heidfeld is third, ahead of Rosberg, Schumacher, Trulli and Button.

Robert Kubica leaves the pits, followed the McLarens.

Alonso posts 32.538 but isn't not good enough for top spot since Raikkonen has improved with a 32.321. Moments later, Hamilton splits the two with a 32.472. This is fast and absolutely furious.

Wurz goes fifth (33.406), ahead of Kubica, Heidfeld, Rosberg and Coulthard. However, the Pole posts a 33.296 to leapfrog the Austrian.

Ralf Schumacher takes fifth with a 33.293, though he remains almost a second off Raikkonen's pace.

Renault were adamant that Friday wasn't about posting competitive times. However, we expect that to be different today. As Fisichella returns to the pits, having gone ninth, Kovalainen takes twelfth.

With just over twenty-two minutes remaining, Hamilton heads down the pitlane, followed by Raikkonen. The Finn makes an immediate improvement, crossing the line at 32.104.

Alonso is on track, and immediately goes quickest in the first sector, finally crossing the line at 32.039 to go quickest. With Massa also on track, battle between the four championship contenders is well and truly on. Indeed, the Brazilian displaces Hamilton with a 32.217. The top four are separated by just over quarter-of-a-second.

With thirteen minutes remaining, Schumacher continues to hold fifth place, ahead of Kubica, Wurz, Heidfeld, Rosberg and Fisichella. Elsewhere, Massa goes wide in his quest to improve.

Running on the harder compound, Coulthard goes fifth, 1.051s off Alonso's pace. Elsewhere, Kovalainen appears to have a gearbox problem, the Finn just managing to get his car back to the pits.

Heidfeld goes sixth (33.096), before being demoted by Speed, who, running on the softs, posts 32.974.

With just under eight minutes remaining, we await the final assault. One by one the cars emerge from their garages.

Button goes eighth (33.130), watched by a serious looking Marc Gene. However, Raikkonen is already 0.346s up on Alonso at the first split on what is going to be a very hot lap. By the second split the Finn is 0.558s up and by the line it's 0.643, a typically superfast lap from the Ferrari driver. Elsewhere, Rosberg has gone fifth with a 32.344.

Hamilton is on track on softs and it’s just as well, for Kubica has just gone third matching Alonso’s time exactly (32.039). The Englishman posts 31.627 to go second, albeit 0.231s down on the Finn.

Alonso and Massa are both on track, though the Spaniard doesn't appear to be going for a time. Elsewhere, Winkelhock gets it all wrong at the chicane.

Other than Webber who goes eighth and Coulthard, who goes ninth, there are no significant improvements. Consequently, the session ends with Raikkonen quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Alonso, Kubica, Massa, Rosberg, Heidfeld, Webber, Coulthard and Schumacher.

Liuzzi is eleventh, ahead of Button, Trulli, Speed, Wurz, Fisichella, Barrichello, Kovalainen, Davidson, Sato, Sutil and Winkelhock.

An entertaining session, lets hope qualifying and the race are as good.