You will be delighted to know that after yesterday's washout conditions are much improved this morning. Indeed, it couldn't be more different, the sun is shining, the sky is blue and people are wearing summer clothing.

That said, there was rain during the night, and for this morning's GP3 session there were still many damp patches all around the circuit.

Of course, this means that the drivers are going to be kept very, very busy over the next sixty minutes, having to fit in today's programme together with all the work that should have been carried out yesterday. A "Herculean task" as Marussia puts it.

Though there was little action of worth yesterday there was enough running for Felipe Massa to lose an engine, Mark Webber to require a gearbox change - resulting in a five place grid penalty - and Michael Schumacher to make a pig's ear of entering the pitlane resulting in a fine.

As we await the start of the session the air temperature is 12 degrees C while the track temperature is 20 degrees. Still cool/cold… but dry. There are still a few damp patches.

Unusually for a Saturday, Alonso's car features flow-viz paint on its front wing, Ferrari, like its rivals, with much to catch up on after yesterday's downpour.

As expected the drivers are keen to get to work, within moments there are thirteen drivers on track. All are on the harder rubber, the exceptions being di Resta, Raikkonen, Maldonado, Schumacher, Button, Hamilton, Alonso, Hulkenberg and Ricciardo.

While the Saubers and Marussia return to the pits, Vergne, Kovalainen, Petrov and a host of others remain on track for a second lap.

Vergne crosses the line at 1:58.079 but this is soon beat by Senna's 57.562. We're in business.

A 56.957 sees Webber take the top spot, while teammate Vettel goes third with a 57.753. Both Red Bulls are on the harder rubber.

Senna re-takes the top spot with a 53.647, the Williams driver joined by his teammate at the top of the timesheets as Maldonado bangs in a 56.025.

In the McLaren garage the mechanics change the ride-height on Hamilton's car.

Going quickest in all three sectors Senna consolidates his top spot with a 52.562, the Brazilian watched keenly by Valtteri Bottas. Maldonado goes second with a 55.608.

A mistake at the chicane means that Raikkonen can only manage ninth (56.545), two spots ahead of Schumacher (56.822).

Hulkenberg improves to second with a 56.097 ahead of Vettel, Maldonado and Webber.

Button leaves the pits, leaving behind Massa, Hamilton and Alonso as the only drivers not on track.

Rosberg pulls off to the side of the track at Fagnes, the German complaining that he has lost drive. The marshals push his car to safety. A disaster for the Shanghai winner.

Obviously inspired by his teammate's performance yesterday, Glock goes second with a 55.070. Indeed, moments later the Frenchman makes it a 2-3 for Marussia when he posts a 54.231.

At 41:50 all but Senna and Kovalainen are on track, Massa slotting straight into second place with a 51.885. Moments later teammate Alonso goes third (53.446) edging out Pic and Glock. Yes, Pic and Glock.

In the Lotus garage a clearly frustrated Raikkonen complains; "we are learning nothing". The Finn, who had hoped to be using his team's new 'device' this weekend, is one of several drivers to run wide at Les Combes this morning, the corner catching out numerous drivers yesterday also.

A 50.936 sees Alonso go quickest as Vettel gets it all wrong at the chicane. Button tells his team that they need to look at the car's balance… Captain No Grip is back. The Englishman is currently eighteenth (56.610), one spot ahead of his teammate.

Worth noting that Pic and Glock, who remain fourth and fifth, were on the harder rubber. Alonso's best was set on the softer tyre. The team is running a number of updates this weekend, though it is early days it appears that they are paying off.

At half-time, it's: Alonso, Massa, Senna, Pic, Glock, Hulkenberg, Vettel, Perez, Webber and Grosjean.