Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 16 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 42 degrees. Whilst bright and sunny it remains cool.

Whilst we didn't get any rain this morning, FP3 was just as problematic for the drivers as yesterday's weather-compromised session.

A crash involving Felipe Nasr - measured at 7.8g at point of impact - and a technical problem for Jenson Button, both resulted in red flags, and as a consequence the drivers had little opportunity get do any serious running on the option rubber.

Indeed, partly strategy, partly bad luck, Lewis Hamilton failed to post a competitive time on either compound, whilst teammate Nico Rosberg was quickest. The world champion has had a difficult weekend thus far, and whilst quickest in both sessions yesterday, let's not forget his crash in the second session. Indeed, the Briton has had more than his fair share of 'moments' this weekend.

Whilst Nasr's Sauber will not be repaired in time for this afternoon's session, Button will miss out also, McLaren having opted to change the engine in his car the problem this morning said to be "ERS related".

While we know the Mercedes has pace here, so too does the Ferrari, the F15-T's ability to get more out of its tyres - and sooner - combined with an engine upgrade.

Williams has also looked good, the Grove outfit keen to put the misery of Monaco behind it, while Lotus is also looking strong, Romain Grosjean being third quickest earlier and also looking strong on the primes.

Max Verstappen, already facing a 5-place grid penalty for the Monaco incident, will take as further 10-place hit after Toro Rosso elected to change the engine in his car, the teenager thus suffering the dubious honour of being the first driver to incur an engine penalty this year. Many more will suffer however, especially his teammate and those in the sister team.

There are two DRS zones, the first on the straight leading to the final chicane and the second on the pit straight leading to T1. They share a single detection point located just before T9.

The lights go green and shortly after - as his teammate watches from the McLaren garage - Alonso heads out. He is followed by Rosberg, Bottas, Perez, Kvyat and Massa.

All but the Manors and Toro Rossos are on primes, surprising to see the Faenza cars make the switch so early.

Alonso posts 18.752 whilst Ricciardo can only manage 18.917. Moments later Bottas crosses the line at 18.33. Supreme effort from Alonso.

"There is something wrong," complains Vettel. He is told that there is an MGU-H issue and must pit.

No such problems for teammate Raikkonen who posts 17.403. however, this is soon beaten by Rosberg and then Hamilton (16.395).

The Iceman responds with a 16.649, good but not good enough.

Hamilton ups the ante with a 15.979 as Ericsson (option) goes fourth with a 17.191.

Rosberg closes to within 0.023s of his Mercedes teammate, as Bottas improves to fourth.

A 16.928 sees Grosjean go fifth, as Nasr - yes Nasr - leaves the Sauber garage in his repaired car. Great work by the Swiss team.

Verstappen goes sixth (16.932), the highest placed option runner, as Alonso makes the switch to the softer rubber.

Hamilton does well to keep it out of the Wall of Champions as Maldonado makes a total hash of T1 and has to be rescued by the marshals. Nonetheless, he will be happy to have posted the fifth best time of the session.

Rosberg goes quickest (15.893), out-pacing his teammate by just 0.002s.

With 8:10 remaining, Vettel looks ready to leave his garage. But he's not actually going anywhere.

"There's everything to play for," Alonso is told, "you are currently P12".

Nasr goes fourteenth (17.343) as Hamilton takes a punishing ride over the kerb at the final chicane.

Although fifth, Maldonado is back on track, now on the option rubber. Teammate Grosjean also.

The Venezuelan improves to third (16.098) as Vettel finally leaves his garage... 2:40 remaining.

Hulkenberg (option) goes fourth (16.186) but is demoted when Grosjean goes quickest with a 15.833. Perez, also on options, can only manage eleventh.

Frantic calls from Massa who is running out of time and shouting that he has no power.

Vettel can only manage sixteenth (17.344), however he has time for one more lap. No such luck for Massa however, the Brazilian having to settle for seventeenth (17.866).

Vettel fails to improve, and consequently he misses the cut, which is good news for fifteenth placed Alonso.

Quickest is Grosjean, ahead of Rosberg, Hamilton, Maldonado, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Kvyat and Bottas.

We lose Vettel, Massa, Merhi and Stevens.