Ahead of today's second free practice session the air temperature is 18 degrees C, while the track temperature is 20 degrees. The sun has been trying to break through, indeed, at times it was even having a little success, however, minutes before the session gets underway, the rain begins to fall.

Buemi is informed that it will continue raining for the next twenty minutes.

Kovalainen is back in the Lotus, having handed it over to Karun Chandhok this morning, while Adrian Sutil gets his Force India back from Nico Hulkenberg.

After a couple of minutes, Glock is the first driver to come out. However, the German is barely halfway around the track when the heavens truly let rip. Opting for caution as opposed to valour the Virgin driver splashes his way back to the pits. Moments later Alguersuari heads down the pitlane on extreme wets. He is subsequently joined by teammate Buemi, both drivers complaining of aquaplaning.

After another ten minutes of total inactivity Kobayashi heads down the pitlane, the Sauber driver having crashed heavily this morning.

As Martin Whitmarsh and Stefano Domenicali enjoy a quick chat, trying to keep away from prying ears, Rosberg is told that the rain will continue for about fifteen minutes.

Twenty-five minutes into the session the cameras pick up on Alguersuari who has fallen asleep in the cockpit of his Toro Rosso.

Even though the sky is clearing, with large swathes of blue, the rain intensifies. Furthermore, there is quite a bit of standing water. While the drivers, team bosses and crew look bored stiff, spare a thought for those of us that have to live here… this is typical summer weather.

The reason for the lack of running is due to the fact that with the weather for the remainder of the weekend uncertain, they only have five sets of inters - one of which must be returned today - and three sets of full wets. Consequently, with an eye on Saturday and Sunday, the drivers want to save their wets where possible.

At half-time, with no times on the clock, the rain has stopped, a couple of engines fire up. A couple of moments later Rip Van Alguersuari heads down the pitlane. Shortly after he is followed by Buemi and Sutil.

When Alguersuari crosses the line at 2:04.096 the session finally appears to be underway, however, there are already reports that the rain is returning. Sutil posts 2:05.096 to go second.

Kobayashi, Perez, Rosberg all on track as Alguersuari improves with a 2:01.984 and Buemi posts 2:02.354.

Sutil breaks the 2m barrier with a 1:58.323 as Maldonado and Schumacher leave their garages.

Rosberg does magnificently to control his Mercedes when it suddenly snaps out of shape on a large patch of standing water going into Turn 2. Awesome reactions from the German.

Alguersuari raises the bar with a 55.583 as Rosberg goes fourth ahead of Kobayashi, Perez and Maldonado.

Barrichello complains about rear-locking and lots of standing water. Former teammate Schumacher goes quickest with a 55.397 as Kobayashi enjoys another cross-country detour.

With 25:40 on the clock, there are still only twelve names on the timesheets, most of the big guns waiting resolutely in their garages. As the rain begins to fall again, it appears we may not see much more running. While driver are keen to save their wet tyres - just in case - the teams see little point in running should the conditions be dry for the remainder of the weekend.

Petrov leave the Renault garage and a minute or two later Heidfeld, Webber and Alonso give the fans something to watch. It's a fair size crowd today and the fans deserve a bit more than they're getting for their money.

On his first flying lap Webber goes fourth (54.340), behind Buemi (53.619), Sutil and Alguersuari.

As Webber goes quickest with a 53.537, Alonso heads back to the pits after just one lap.