With the first half of this morning's session compromised by the weather it appears that we are in for much of the same this afternoon.

About half an hour ago, Mat Coch described the conditions as similar to Adelaide 1991. He then reported: "Rain has eased and they're on track sweeping away the standing water".

This was followed by: "Circuit isn't flooded anymore... Borderline wet/inter conditions, probably the little standing water that's around offline will mean wets. There's a nice puddle on the exit to the pitlane, but once a few cars have been through it that should disappear.

While Jenson Button led a McLaren 1-2 this morning, ahead of Schumacher, the big talking point was the handling of the Ferraris, Massa ending his session stuck in the kitty litter after running wide and touching the grass.

For the most part there was little to indicate who's hot and who's not, though it appears HRT is in for another difficult weekend. Pedro de la Rosa didn't get any running, while teammate Narain Karthikeyan suffered an engine problem.

World champion Sebastian Vettel was down in eleventh, but don't read too much into that, indeed, don't read much into any of it.

As the session is about to begin, the air temperature is 20 degrees C, while the track temperature is 21 degrees.

The lights go green and Perez is first out, followed, shortly after, by his Sauber teammate. Soon the Swiss team is joined by Toro Rosso, though the rest of the teams, especially the big guns, show no sign of leaving their garages just yet.

While the Saubers return to the pits, Vergne posts 1:52.220, shortly after teammate Ricciardo posts 48.874. Elsewhere, Senna and Karthikeyan leave the pits.

Karthikeyan's first lap sees the Indian go third, his HRT crossing the line at 55.886. Maldonado and Hulkenberg are now on track.

Hulkenberg goes third with a 48.870, the German clearly not enjoying the conditions.

Talking of not enjoying… the live timing screen is playing up yet again. A sceptic might get around to thinking that Bernie is pushing fans into buying the app.

Kobayashi splits the Toro Rossos, the Japanese driver posting a 47.170, and Perez taking fifth with a 49.144.

As Hulkenberg goes quickest (46.779), Maldonado spins. Moments later a 46.098 sees Kobayashi go quickest.

Button is the first of the big guns to go out, the McLaren driver posting 47.246 to go sixth.

Half-an-hour into the session, just eight drivers have posted times, indeed, only eleven drivers have ventured out.

On his first flying lap, Alonso immediately goes quickest (42.171), the Spaniard on inters.

As Alonso returns to the pits, his place is taken by Massa, also on inters. After his mistake this morning the Brazilian will be looking to improve this afternoon.

It's a good sign when Massa goes quickest in S1, and again in S3, crossing the line at 41.976 to go quickest. Elsewhere, Webber and di Resta leave the pits.

As di Resta goes third and Webber fourth, Maldonado (inters) goes quickest in all three sectors, finally crossing the line at 40.721 to go quickest.

More and more drivers pour on to the track, including Button, the Englishman immediately banging in a 39.497. Demoted to second, Maldonado improves with a 39.586.

Vettel's first flying lap sees the world champion go fourth (40.548), ahead of Ricciardo, Webber, Massa and Hulkenberg.

At half-time, it's: Maldonado, Button, Vergne, Vettel, Ricciardo, Webber, Massa, Hulkenberg, Alonso and di Resta. No times yet from Senna, de la Rosa, Petrov, Kovalainen, Pic, Hamilton or the Lotus duo. Indeed, Hamilton and the Lotus haven't even been out for an installation lap.

Schumacher shoots straight to the top of the timesheets, the German posting a 37.649 on his first timed lap.