As the lights turn from red to green, indicating the start of today's qualifying session, the air temperature is 17 degrees, while the track temperature is 28 degrees. It remains bright, but decidedly cool.

First out is Yamamoto, who crashed out of this morning's session. Kovalainen, Fisichella, Schumacher, Trulli and Sutil are the other early risers.

Fisichella posts the first time of the session, crossing the line at 1:48.262, however, moments later teammate Kovalainen goes quicker (48.127). However, this too is beaten as Trulli posts 47.787.

As Hamilton leaves the pits, Kubica goes quickest (47.654). The Pole will forfeit ten places on the grid after the team changed his engine following a valve failure.

Rosberg goes second, ahead of Trulli, Kovalainen and Fisichella, as the Ferrari crew works on the back of Massa's car. With the clock ticking - seven minutes remaining - the pressure is on the Italian team.

Sutil - yes Sutil - goes quickest in the first sector, but this is soon eclipsed by Hamilton.

Heidfeld goes quickest (46.923), as Sutil goes thirteenth. A great lap from the German.

Hamilton, Alonso and Raikkonen all on track. The Englishman goes quickest, crossing the line at 46.058. However, moments later Alonso goes quicker and Raikkonen goes second.

With just over four minutes remaining, Massa finally leaves the pits. Schumacher and Coulthard are still in the danger zone.

With 2.28 on the clock, Massa begins his first flying lap of the session. Meanwhile, Heidfeld goes fourth, ahead of Kubica, Rosberg, Trulli and Liuzzi.

Massa goes quickest of all in the first sector, losing just a little ground in the second. At the line it's !:46.060, which puts him second by 0.002.

Amazing, Sutil improves to twelfth, and appears to have made the cut. However, Coulthard, Schumacher and Button are all on track.

Liuzzi goes sixth, but is then edged out by Schumacher and Coulthard. There are a whole rash of improvements, and by the time the smoke has settled and the engines cut, Vettel, Barrichello, Sato, Sutil, Davidson and Yamamoto are all out, having fallen at the first hurdle.

Quickest was Alonso, ahead of Massa, Raikkonen, Hamilton, Kubica, Heidfeld, Rosberg, Kovalainen, Webber and Trulli.

The lights go green for the second phase, but as is ever the case, nobody seems willing to get to work.

Three minutes into the session, Fisichella is first out, followed by Kovalainen and Button. Hamilton is the first of the 'big guns' to go out, followed, a few moments later, by his teammate. As the McLarens head down the pitlane the two Ferraris follow.