Ahead of today's all-important qualifying session, the air temperature is 28 degrees C, and the track temperature is 34 degrees. It remains bright and sunny.

Following his accident this morning, Kimi Raikkonen will use the T-car, but with his original engine, which was not damaged. That said, the Finn, who lost track-time yesterday afternoon also, is under pressure having only completed one flying lap this morning. After Istanbul, Raikkonen was first to admit that his mistakes in qualifying have cost him a couple of wins this year.

First out is Vettel, now sporting a short, somewhat butch, haircut. The German is followed by Sutil, Yamamoto and Raikkonen, who is clearly keen to get his first 'taste' of the T-car.

Vettel sets the benchmark, crossing the line at 1:24.186, watched, from the pit wall, by fellow German, seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher.

Moments later, Raikkonen goes quickest, crossing the line at 22.673, only marginally off his teammate's time this morning. As Trulli goes second, Yamamoto gets it all wrong at the first chicane, taking off the nose as he gently clouts the barrier. The Japanese driver is able to continue and heads back to the pits.

Webber goes second, ahead of Sato, Trulli and Fisichella, as Alonso and Hamilton head down the pitlane. Only Massa hasn't made an appearance yet.

Sato spins at the second chicane as Kovalainen goes second. Elsewhere, Hamilton goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 21.956.

Kubica goes third, ahead of Barrichello, as Alonso begins his first flying lap. Massa is also on track now.

A 21.718 sees Alonso go quickest, the Spaniard running on the (less popular) harder compound.

Heidfeld goes fifth, but is immediately demoted by Massa, who goes third (22.309).

With less than four minutes remaining, Schumacher and Coulthard are still in the danger zone, as are Liuzzi, Davidson and the Spykers. Button, Trulli, Rosberg and Sato are hovering just above the danger zone.

Of the top six, only Raikkonen is on track. The Finn is currently fourth on the timesheets.

On the approach to the Parabolica, there's a car ahead of Yamamoto, much to the obvious frustration of the Japanese driver who shakes his fist repeatedly.

Coulthard stops by the side of the track at the first chicane, having lost the back end, his session over, as Button goes thirteenth, just ahead of Trulli. The waved yellow flags, as a result of Coulthard's stranded Red Bull, are not helping matters.

Consequently, at the first hurdle we lose Yamamoto, Sutil, Coulthard, Liuzzi, Schumacher and Sato.

Quickest was Alonso, ahead of Hamilton, Massa, Raikkonen, Kubica, Heidfeld, Rosberg, Barrichello, Kovalainen and Fisichella. Both Hondas made the cut, the first time for as long as we can remember.