Ahead of today's all-important qualifying session, the air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 39 degrees. It remains bright and sunny, though there's a strong wind, particularly on certain parts of the track.

The lights go green and surprisingly, Heidfeld is one of the first out, along with Liuzzi, Sutil, Yamamoto and Sato.

Sutil posts the first time (24.479), but this is soon beaten by Liuzzi and Sato. Meanwhile, Heidfeld has returned to the pits.

Trulli and Wurz are both on hot laps. The Austrian goes quickest (21.603), but is almost instantly beaten by Trulli, who crosses the line at 21.442. As Schumacher goes quickest (21.183), Vettel goes off, but is able to continue. The Toro Rosso is clearly a real handful.

Another driver struggling with his car is Mark Webber, as Kovalainen goes quickest with a 21.096.

As Webber goes fourth, Hamilton goes quickest in the first sector. The Englishman maintains the pace in the second sector, finally crossing the line at 19.570, the fastest lap of the weekend, thus far, and quicker than last year's pole winning time.

As Alonso, Mass and Raikkonen head down the pitlane, Heidfeld goes second with a 20.751.

Alonso and Massa are both on the soft compound, which means they clearly favour the harder compound.

The Brazilian goes second, ahead of Alonso, while Raikkonen slips into fifth, behind Heidfeld.

With just over three minutes remaining, Button is still in the danger zone, with teammate Barrichello just outside, and far from safe. Coulthard and Fisichella are two other drivers that need to improve.

While the top five sit it out, the other seventeen drivers make a final bid to get through to the next phase.

Yamamoto loses time behind Fisichella, the Japanese driver consequently out at the first hurdle. Though it is unlikely the Spyker driver would have made the cut, the Italian's actions certainly didn't help. All a bit unnecessary really.

Davidson goes seventh and Webber eighth, while Button can only manage sixteenth. Kovalainen goes second as Sato gets all out of shape, losing the tail of the Super Aguri.

At the first hurdle we lose both Hondas, just twelve months after Jenson Button's famous (maiden) victory, along with the Spykers, Sato and Vettel.

Hamilton was quickest, ahead of Kovalainen, Kubica, Massa, Alonso, Raikkonen, Schumacher, Trulli, Rosberg and Heidfeld.

The second phase gets underway, and Wurz and Liuzzi are first out. Followed, a minute later, by Davidson.

Wurz, on the softer compound, posts the first time, the Austrian crossing the line at 20.865. Meanwhile, his teammate leaves the pits on the harder compound.