Ahead of today's all-important qualifying session, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 29 degrees. Whilst it was bright, sunny and Scorchio, around forty minutes ago it began to rain, and rain hard.

Nico Rosberg was quickest in this morning's session, as he was in FP2. While the record books will show Max Verstappen as second quickest, just 0.002s off the pace, there is doubt as to how genuine that pace was in terms of fuel loads.

Daniel Ricciardo has looked the more settled of the Red Bull duo thus far, and one cannot help feel that the Australian's 0.465s deficit to Rosberg was a more accurate picture.

Having crashed out of FP2 yesterday, Lewis Hamilton had a scrappy session this morning, and ignoring the 0.508s gap to his teammate, one cannot help but feel that is going to be one of those weekends where he overdoes it in his grim determination to beat the German. We've seen it before.

Struggling for one-lap pace, the Ferraris are no match for the Red Bulls it seems, far less the Mercedes. Victory here in 2015 must seem a lifetime ago for Sebastian Vettel, who, not for the first time this year, was outshone by teammate Kimi Raikkonen earlier.

Behind these three teams is the minefield that is the midfield, with Williams, Force India, McLaren and Renault all giving a good account of themselves earlier.

That said, there was minimal running on the supersofts for the Force India duo so we have yet to see what they are really capable of.

If the Haas was disappointing earlier, what of Toro Rosso, whose two drivers were both over 2s.

Following overnight rain, yesterday's opening session got underway with everyone using Inters, but nobody really expected any further downpours - despite UBIMET's warning of storms on Sunday - so the running wasn't that significant, or so they thought.

As the rain continues to fall, and how, the start of the session is delayed by 10 minutes. Shortly after, another 10 minute delay is announced.

At 14:15, official announce the session will start at 14:20. It has stopped raining but it remains very, very wet.

As we await the green light, Massa heads the long queue at the end of the pitlane.

More rain is expected so drivers will want to get in a 'banker' lap.

As Massa leads his colleagues out on to the circuit, the crowd applauds.

In no time at all, all 22 drivers are on track.

"There's still a chance of more rain after five minutes," Perez is told. Massa is given a similar warning, told to "make these laps count". In other words, 'get on with it, as this might be your one shot'.

Other than trying to stay on the black stuff, drivers are keen to ensure there is enough of a gap ahead.

As conditions deteriorate, Perez is quickest, ahead of Hulkenberg, Alonso, Nasr, Ricciardo and Bottas.

Kvyat, running ahead of Hamilton makes a slight mistake in T13 but is unwilling to give track position to the Mercedes driver. Consequently, Hamilton eases off to give himself some space but in doing so he slows too much and can only post 1:48.428 which puts him 21st. Rosberg is only marginally quicker, in 20th on 48.104.

"It's too much water for these tyres," warns Vettel, as he runs wide in T3, the session is red flagged.

As the drivers return to the pits, the clock is stopped at 13:08, the drop zone comprising Ericsson, Raikkonen, Wehrlein, Rosberg, Hamilton and Haryanto.

At 14:37 officials announce the session will resume at 14:40.

The rain has eased, but like before it is very wet.

Having learned his lesson, Hamilton is one of the first in the queue, which is headed by Verstappen. Rosberg, third in the queue, is told that the rain should stop in seven or eight minutes.

Hamilton, radios his team to say there is "smoke" coming out of his radiator.

The lights go green and off they head again.

Ricciardo posts a purple in S1, whilst teammate goes quickest in S2.

"This is just silly," complains Vettel, "going round in traffic for nothing."

Verstappen goes quickest but is almost immediately leapfrogged by Ricciardo.

Red Flag, Ericsson is off and entangled in the barriers at T10. He is OK, but clearly frustrated. Replay shows him losing the rear end and heading off into the gravel and thence the barriers

Disappointing news for Alonso who had gone quickest in S1.

Rosberg had improved to seventh and Hamilton ninth before the red flag, as Gutierrez, Kvyat, Sainz, Ericsson, Wehrlein and Haryanto comprise the drop zone.

Check out our Saturday gallery, here.