Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 33 degrees. It remains bright but there is a lot of cloud.

After Lewis Hamilton dominated both of yesterday's sessions, this morning Red Bull finally began to show its hand, Sebastian Vettel heading a Red Bull 1-2. That said, both Mercedes drivers, particularly the Englishman, were hampered by traffic, so perhaps this afternoon we might get the fight yesterday's sessions suggested we would have.

Of course, Red Bull's 1-2, not to mention its 0.3sc advantage over Mercedes is all very well until you consider that Mark Webber has to forfeit ten grid places following that taxi ride with Fernando Alonso in Singapore.

As yesterday, behind the Red Bulls and Mercedes there was almost perfect symmetry with Ferrari and Lotus enjoying their own little battle ahead of the next group.

Having been 'best of the rest' yesterday, this morning McLaren was under pressure from Sauber, Wlliams and Force India, though in most cases one driver appears to be slightly more competitive than his teammate, Perez, di Resta and Bottas all struggling.

Tyre options this weekend are medium (prime) and supersoft (option), while, unlike 2012, this year there are two DRS zones. The detection point of the first is 70m after Turn 2, with activation 360m after Turn 2. The second detection point is 60m before Turn 16 with activation 95m after Turn 18.

The first corner here is fairly notorious and consequently pole position is important. If Vettel takes it the likelihood is that he will disappear into the distance, much as he has done for the last couple of races, the German given further impetus by the booing at the last couple of races and the talk of cheating at the Austrian outfit. Then there's some of the s**t-stirring been done by the media, with the help of fellow drivers.

A number of teams, most notably Lotus, whilst showing great race pace, are losing out in qualifying meaning they have it all to do on Sunday afternoon. Ferrari has been struggling with its handling all weekend, no doubt writing off qualifying and hoping that Alonso can pull a rabbit out of the hat tomorrow as he did in Singapore.

If it is to stop the Red Bull/Vettel steamroller, Mercedes must take pole today, even better it must lock out the front row. However, based on this morning's form, and the last couple of races, this seems to be a mighty tall order.

With each race, more and more teams are admitting that focus has switched to 2014, understandable given the huge swathe of new rules, yet Red Bull continues to introduce updates, such is its determination. Perhaps, rather than talking of traction control, some of its rivals should be showing the same commitment and determination.

Gutierrez is first out, the Sauber waiting all alone at the end of the pitlane for the lights to turn green.

As the Mexican starts his flying lap he is joined on track by Button, Perez, Rosberg, Hamilton and a heap of others.

At the line the Sauber driver posts 1:41.058, his lap having been somewhat erratic.

In moments the Mexican is demoted to fifth as Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Perez and Button all go quicker, the Englishman crossing the line at 40.169. Rosberg subsequently posts 39.415 as Hamilton takes second with a 39.737.

All but Webber, Vettel and Grosjean are on track.