Ahead of this afternoon's session, the air temperature is 12 degrees C, while the track temperature is 20 degrees. It remains chilly, winds and overcast.

Both Sutil and Vettel lost a lot of track-time this morning as a result of technical problems, however the Red Bull driver was able to get out for a couple of laps right at the very end of the session.

The lights go green and, as was this case in the previous session, Vettel is first out. Bourdais, Kubica, Glock, Heidfeld and Buemi are also keen to get to work.

Having completed their out laps, Vettel and Bourdais almost come to grief as the German attempts to pass the Frenchman at the end of the pit straight. Elsewhere, Nakajima goes off into the gravel but is able to continue.

Just a few minutes into the session there are nine names on the timesheets, with Trulli setting the pace. However, there is further misery for Force India as Fisichella spins off and hits the barriers at Turn 11.

Vettel goes quickest, ahead of Vettel and Trulli, at which point light rain begins to fall, however, within seconds it increases in intensity and the drivers head back to the pits.

After a couple of minutes of inactivity, Heidfeld takes to the track on wets.

The rain finally eases off and the drivers begin to filter back on track, most of them now opting for Inters.

Rosberg goes second with a 36.732 but Kovalainen is on a hot lap, going quickest in the second sector. The Finn is quickest again in the final sector crossing the line at 34.906 to go quickest.

After thirty minutes, all but Sutil, Hamilton, Piquet, Alonso, Barrichello and Raikkonen have posted times, with the 2007 World Champion yet to make an appearance in this afternoon's session.

Massa pushing hard and looking very aggressive, the Brazilian improving from ninth to fourth with a 35.953.

Nakajima makes it a Williams 2-3 when he posts 34.958, albeit 1.234s off Kovalainen's pace.

A 33.424 sees Heidfeld go quickest, however, Webber goes quickest in the second sector, finally crossing the line at 33.154 to take the top spot. Heidfeld, like Kovalainen before him, is on the super-soft compound.

Heidfeld momentarily re-takes the top spot only for Webber to snatch it straight back, the Australian posting 32.940.

Trulli spins but is able to continue, the Italian currently thirteenth on the timesheets. Elsewhere, Raikkonen goes fourth with a 33.577.

Webber, really looking good this weekend, raises the benchmark ever higher, the Red Bull driver posting 32.584. Button is up to third, having posted a 33.331.

At half-time, it's: Webber, Heidfeld, Vettel, Button, Raikkonen, Kovalainen, Alonso, Piquet, Barrichello and Rosberg.

A 32.858 sees Trulli improve to second, while Nakajima goes third with a 33.001.

Button goes quickest with a 32.369, edging out Webber by 0.215. Meanwhile, Sutil improves to third, just one-thousandth of a second shy of Webber's time.

With thirty minutes remaining, most drivers are running the super-soft tyres, however, given the overcast conditions it is difficult to spot the ludicrous green band.

Having gone quickest in the final sector, Hamilton goes second with a 32.413, 0.044s off Button's place. However, elsewhere, Vettel goes quickest in the first sector, going on to post a personal best in the second. The German crosses the line at 32.342 to go quickest.

Barrichello is up to seventh (32.664), while the Ferraris are clearly struggling for grip, Massa in eleventh and Raikkonen down in fifteenth.

Hamilton spins at Turn 2 but is able to continue. With ten minutes remaining the World Champion is currently third.

A 32.149 sees Hamilton go quickest, the Englishman seemingly on a low fuel load. Not wishing to take anything away from him or his team.

With less than five minutes remaining the sky is getting darker, with great storm clouds quickly moving in.

At the second split, Vettel is 0.107s up on Hamilton, however, he loses time in the final sector and fails to eclipse Hamilton's benchmark.