Ahead of today's second practice session, the air temperature is 34 degrees C, while the track temperature is 50 degrees. It is very overcast and there is a good chance of rain later in the session.

Tyre options this weekend are hard (prime) and medium (option) and though, as is customary, we didn't see the options this morning, this afternoon, as is equally customary, we will.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was the meat in a Mercedes sandwich this morning, Lewis Hamilton quickest, the Iceman, second, Nico Rosberg third and then the two McLarens.

Other than numerous lock-ups and spins, for pretty much everyone, the other big talking point was another disastrous showing for Lotus, Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado completing just six laps between them. Of those six, most were at crawling pace whilst one involved lots of smoke billowing from the back.

Other than the problems at Lotus, Sergio Perez had minimal running and failed to post a time whilst a change of energy story on Kobayashi's car meant the Japanese completed just 5 laps. Sadly, moments before the lights go green the team tweet that there is still a problem with his car and he will not be taking part in this session.

Grosjean is first out, followed by Perez, Magnussen, Ericsson, Chilton and Bianchi.

The Frenchman posts the first time of the afternoon, crossing the line at 1:44.005. Elsewhere, Chilton has stopped at T3 after spinning off. The engine is still running but he is unable to get the car running.

Perez goes second with a 44.239 ahead of Bianchi and Ericsson while Magnussen heads back into the pits.

The yellow flags are out as Chilton's stricken car is towed to safety.

On his first flying lap Button posts 42.445 though Hulkenberg eclipses this with a 42.293 moments later.

Having gone quickest in S2, Vergne spins in T15, ruining what would have been a good lap. As Grosjean continues lapping, work continues on his teammate's car.

Bottas, currently eighth (52.558), goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 41.072 to go quickest. Button takes second with a 41.635.

Massa makes it a Williams 1-2 with a 41.075, just 0.003s down on his teammate, as Grosjean runs wide in T4.

Hulkenberg runs wide in T1 as Raikkonen posts 41.142 to go third behind the Williams duo.

Rosberg goes fourth and Alonso sixth as Grosjean - inevitably - slows. He is told to return to the pits without changing gear.

Having gone quickest in S2, Alonso goes quickest (40.737), with Hamilton taking second (40.785) moments later.

Ricciardo improves to fifth having gone quickest in S2 - a sector that suits the Red Bulls - while teammate Vettel can only manage eighth.

An absolute classic from Bernie Ecclestone who is hearing the sound of F1 live for the first time. "They're louder than I thought," he says, "but they need to be louder.

"We need to get it up," he adds. "I wish I could get it up."