Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 35 degrees C, while the track temperature is 51 degrees. It is hot and sunny.

The big question today is, not so much whether Ferrari will beat McLaren to pole but whether we'll get through the session - indeed the weekend - with no further nonsense such as that witnessed in Hungary.

Although McLaren has been busy presenting a united front, with Alonso and Hamilton having cleared the air, comments from the Spaniard suggest that he is still far from happy. Hopefully, Ron Dennis can keep a lid on things… but that remains to be seen.

The lights go green and first out is Sato, followed by the 'usual suspects'.

Once the dust settles. Liuzzi is quickest, ahead of Yamamoto and Sutil, however, Wurz is already on a very hot lap. Sure enough, the Austrian goes quickest (28.550), but his teammate already looks certain to beat that.

As Schumacher begins his first flying lap, Rosberg goes quickest, crossing the line at 28.275. Davidson goes third.

A 28.332 see Kovalainen go second, splitting the Williams. Fisichella goes fourth (28.845) ahead of Webber, but is then demoted by Button who posts a 28.776.

It's fact and furious with the order constantly changing, however, with seven minutes remaining, Hamilton is the first of the 'big guns' to go out.

It's not the tidiest of laps but it's quick, he crosses the line at 27.513 to go quickest, however, Raikkonen is already on a blindingly quick lap. Sure enough, the Finn crosses the line at 27.294. Kubica goes third ahead of Heidfeld.

Massa goes quickest in the first sector, and again in the second, finally crossing the line at 27.488 to go second. However, he is instantly dropped to third by Alonso who posts 27.328.

Yamamoto spins at Turn 10, and has great trouble getting the car going again. Though he eventually succeeds.

With three minutes remaining, Schumacher is in the 'danger zone', with Webber, Barrichello and Button only just outside.

As Massa heads slowly back to the pits, Kovalainen and Button go out for one more flying lap.

Fourteen cars on track with seconds remaining.

Davidson goes eighth, which should be more than enough, while Coulthard remains eleventh. Webber goes fifteenth, while Schumacher can only manage eighteenth, seven places behind his teammate.

Therefore we lose Liuzzi, Schumacher, Sato, Vettel, Sutil and Yamamoto.

Quickest was Raikkonen, ahead of Alonso, Massa, Hamilton, Kubica, Heidfeld, Kovalainen, Rosberg, Davidson and Fisichella.