Ahead of today's Shootout the air temperature is 33 degrees C, while the track temperature is 44 degrees.

Norris was quickest earlier, ahead of Hulkenberg, Piastri, Alonso and Verstappen, which should give you a rough idea of where we stand.

Courtesy of an ever-evolving track, not to mention the fact that track limits were not being enforced, it is hard to read the pecking order, especially as Mercedes didn't run the softs and Leclerc was sidelined with a gearbox issue, as was Sainz.

The lights go green and Hadjar leads the way, followed by Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, Colapinto and Bearman. Leclerc and Sainz are among the early risers. Among the last out are the McLaren pair.

Hadjar posts a benchmark 34.856, while Tsunoda responds with a 35.259 and Hulkenberg a 34.758, the German quickest in the final two sectors.

A 34.603 sees Lawson go top, as Bortoleto has his time deleted.

Sainz goes second with a 34.637, as Alonso goes third. The Spaniard having a poor final sector.

Leclerc can only manage tenth while his teammate goes top with a 34.226.

Piastri goes second, 0.066s down on Hamilton, while Norris goes third.

Quickest in S1, Verstappen goes top with a 34.140.

Russell goes seventh and Antonelli fifth, the Italian quickest in S2.

With just over 3 minutes remaining, Leclerc is in the drop zone, along with Gasly, Ocon and Colapinto, while Bortoleto has yet to post a time. Albon, Tsunoda and Bearman are hovering.

In the pitlane, Bortoleto forces his way ahead of a Haas in his desperation to get back on track.

"I'm not sure we're going to make it," warns Tsunoda, feeling he went out too late.

Albon goes quickest in S1, as Piastri posts a PB.

Leclerc goes twelfth, the Ferrari driver hampered by traffic.

Piastri goes top, Albon sixth and Sainz fourth.

Quickest in all sectors, Norris crosses the line at 33.224, as Verstappen goes second with a 33.363.

Gasly goes fifteenth, Hadjar sixth and Hulkenberg fifth.

Tsunoda can't believe what has happened, though a couple of other drivers also failed to make it to the line in time.

Norris is quickest, ahead of Verstappen, Piastri, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Sainz, Hadjar, Antonelli, Albon and Lawson.

We lose Bearman, Colapinto, Tsunoda, Ocon and Bortoleto.

A number of drivers are to be investigated for failing to keep to the maximum delta time, among them Verstappen, Norris and Russell.

Verstappen is first out for SQ2, followed by Stroll, Alonso, Russell and Antonelli.

Verstappen posts a benchmark 33.163, while Stroll crosses the line at 34.394.

Alonso goes second with a 33.951 but is demoted by Russell (33.462), while Antonelli goes fifth (34.068).

Sainz goes third and Albon fourth, but both are demoted when Piastri goes second, 0.208s down on Verstappen.

Quickest in S3, Norris goes top with a 33.033, while Leclerc can only manage ninth.

Hamilton goes ninth with a 34.089, thereby demoting his teammate.

Hulkenberg, Hadjar and Lawson head out, the three obviously only going for a single run.

The Williams pair head out, as do the Ferraris, Mercedes and Piastri.

Lawson posts a 34.316 to go 12th but his time will be deleted as he clearly ran wide in Turn 19. He did, and it is.

Hulkenberg goes fifth, Hadjar eleventh and Stroll fourteenth.

Leclerc goes eighth with a 33.938, while his teammate makes thew cut by the skin of his teeth, the Briton having a strong final sector.

Norris is quickest, ahead of Verstappen, Piastri, Russell, Hulkenberg, Sainz, Albon, Leclerc, Alonso and Hamilton.

We lose Antonelli, who made a mistake in Turn11, Hadjar, Gasly, Stroll and Lawson.

Lawson claims there was a Ferrari "sitting in the middle of the road".

Russell is first out for SQ3, followed by Albon and Sainz.

As the Mercedes and Williams begin their flying laps, the remaining seven drivers sit and watch, clearly there is a feeling that, as was the case in SQ2, the track condition will improve at the end of the session. Has Mercedes gone out too early.

Russell posts a 32.888 as Hulkenberg and Leclerc head out, followed by Hamilton.

Albon posts a 33.099 and Sainz a 32.911.

Piastri heads out, leaving Verstappen as the only driver yet to appear.

A strong opening sector for Hulkenberg, who subsequently goes quickest with a 32.645.

Leclerc goes fifth (33.104), as Verstappen goes quickest in S1.

Norris goes top with a 32.214, Hamilton fifth, however the Briton is demoted when Alonso goes fourth.

Verstappen stops the clock at 32.143, the Dutchman quickest in the opening and final sectors.

"Part one complete," the four-time world champion is told.

Verstappen takes pole for the Sprint, ahead of Norris, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Russell, Alonso, Sainz, Hamilton, Albon and Leclerc.

Antonelli will start eleventh, ahead of Hadjar, Gasly, Stroll, Lawson, Bearman, Colapinto, Tsunoda, Ocon, Bortoleto.

While Mercedes and Williams will be ruing the fact that they sent their drivers out too early - a lesson hopefully learned in time for qualifying tomorrow - it is clear that the pace of Hulkenberg and Alonso earlier was no fluke.

McLaren will be happy to have second and third, but surely that 0.380s gap to Verstappen will give Piastri cause for concern.

Ferrari is clearly struggling, and while Hamilton made it into SQ3 by the skin of his teeth, and out-paced his teammate in SQ3, eighth and tenth isn't what the Maranello outfit was looking for.

Check out our Friday gallery from COTA here.