Ahead of today's second free practice session the air temperature is 29 degrees C, while the track temperature is 41 degrees. It remains bright and sunny.

Tyres this weekend are hard (prime) and medium (option). As in 2012 there is one DRS zone and it is on the main pit straight, albeit slightly longer than last year.

The big news is that Jules Bianchi will not be taking part in this afternoon's session, following his crash this morning. While the Frenchman is fine, other than a bruised elbow, his car sustained damage that - according to Marussia - "is repairable but not in sufficient time for him to take part in FP2"

Lewis Hamilton was quickest earlier ahead of teammate Nico Rosberg. Behind them we had the 'Noah affect', in the sense that it was the Red Bull duo ahead of the Ferraris and Lotus'.

Other than the Bianchi incident we also saw Van der Garde crash out, the Dutchman going off at Degner, the same spot where the Marussia driver came to grief, while Maldonado lost his left-rear wheel for reasons yet to be explained.

The lights go green and first out is Maldonado - with all four wheels. He is followed by Hulkenberg and Chilton.

Maldonado gets things underway with a 36.722 but this is soon eclipsed by Hulkenberg's 36.625.

In no time at all there are twelve names on the timesheet, Grosjean heading Ricciardo and Perez, before Vettel bangs in a 34.746 having gone quickest in all three sectors. Just eight minutes into the session all but Webber are on track.

As Webber heads down the pitlane, Rosberg goes quickest with a 34.690.

More misery for Williams and indeed Maldonado, the Venezuelan having gone into the barriers at Degner in an incident very similar to Bianchi's mishap this morning.

Vettel retakes the top spot with a 34.487 ahead of Rosberg, Webber and Hamilton as the Red Bull/Mercedes supremacy continues. Behind them, Alonso heads the Ferrari duo with Ricciardo seventh and Perez eighth.

There's a nasty crash for Perez at Spoon, a corner which, like Degner, has caught out a number of drivers today.

Asked if he's OK, the answer is yes, though it is some time before he climbs from the car.

Replay shows him drifting to the right and getting his right-rear on the artificial grass on the entry to the corner. He hits the barriers hard, side-on.

A 35.065 sees Button go fifth, giving McLaren a slight boost ahead of what promises to be a long, long night.