Ahead of today's sole practice session the air temperature is 23 degrees C while the track temperature is 43 degrees.

Verstappen was quickest in yesterday afternoon's more representative session, however the Dutchman was far from happy. Aside from the fact that the track is constantly evolving - which could lead to some big surprises in qualifying - he wasn't happy with the mediums, feeling that it was like driving on ice, a view shared by Russell and several others.

Leclerc was second, ahead of Antonelli, Norris and Hamilton, with Piastri twelfth, 0.8s off the pace.

While McLaren doesn't appear unduly concerned about the continuing lack oof pace - at least outwardly - it is Verstappen who is playing down his chances insisting that while one lap pace might be strong that doesn't win races.

Indeed, on the long runs the McLaren appeared to have the advantage, but of course there is always the question of fuel loads.

Other than the ever-evolving track conditions, the other factors to watch out for, certainly this afternoon, are traffic and track limits.

Stroll heads out to get the session underway, the Canadian followed by his teammate, the Canadian on mediums and Alonso on hards. As ever, the Aston pair are merely scrubbing tyres and subsequently pit.

Indeed, they head out again, this time sporting softs (Stroll) and mediums (Alonso), they are joined by a medium-shod Verstappen.

While the Aston pair pit again, Verstappen continues, joined by Hamilton and Colapinto.

The Astons head out yet again, this time both on softs.

Verstappen posts a benchmark 18.914.

Hamilton posts an exploratory 57.340... that' very exploratory. He subsequently locks-up and runs wide, the Briton clearly struggling, subsequently impeding Gasly.

Despite an obvious flat-spot Hamilton continues.

Bortoleto goes top with an 18.783, as Colapinto goes third ahead of Hulkenberg.

Hamilton posts an 18.730 but Leclerc responds with an 18.729 and Verstappen an 18.051.

As Hulkenberg heads out there appears to be smoke coming from the rear of his car.

Sainz (softs) posts an 18.028 having been quickest in the final two sectors.

Running a slightly different rear wing to hi teammate, Tsunoda goes third with an 18.490.

Piastri, one of four drivers yet to post a time, finally heads out with 43 minutes remaining. Albon and the Mercedes pair are the other no shows.

Lawson goes fourth, ahead of Leclerc, Hamilton, Bortoleto and Bearman.

A puff of smoke as Norris locks-up and runs wide, causing Hamilton to use the escape road in sympathy.

Leclerc improves to third with an 18.351.

Norris goes third with an 18.065 as Piastri responds with a 19.003.

"Mate, that McLaren was in the middle of the track," declares Hadjar of Norris. "Idiot!"

Ocon improves to eighth and Bearman twelfth.

With 37 minutes remaining the Mercedes pair head out.

Quickest in S2, Lawson (softs) goes fourth with an 18.270.

Antonelli's first lap sees the youngster go twelfth while teammate Russell goes sixteenth.

An 18.015 sees Norris go top on the mediums as Piastri improves to eighth.

"Just not getting this medium tyre working," says Russell, "sliding all over the place." He remains 17th, just behind his teammate.

An 18.197 puts Albon fifth.

Despite his issues Russell hoes third with an 18.028, exactly the same time as Sainz.

At half-time, the Top Ten are covered by 0.255s.

Leclerc goes quickest in S2 but a mistake in the final sector means he fails to improve.

The Alpine pair remain rooted to the foot of the timesheet.

On the mediums, Hamilton improves to tenth, as Piastri remains thirteenth.

Hadjar (softs) goes fifth with an 18.080.

Russell goes quickest in S2, crossing the line at 17.892 to go top.

With 20 minutes remaining Albon is among the first to fit (fresh) softs for the qualifying sims.

The Thai driver goes quickest in S1. He maintains the pace in S2 but subsequently locks-up at Turn 14 and runs wide. That's twice he's locked-up at the same corner.

As Albon pits more drivers head out on the red-banded rubber.

Quickest in S2, Hadjar goes top with a 17.396, 0.496s up on Russell's best.

Stroll goes second (17.598) but is demoted when Tsunoda bangs in a 17.415.

A 17.315 from Piastri, 0.081s up on Hadjar.

Russell goes third (17.408), but Leclerc responds with a 17.306, 0.009s up on Piastri.

Antonelli goes top with a 17.253, as Verstappen begins his first flyer.

Quickest in S2, Verstappen stops the clock at 17.317 to go fourth, albeit 0.064s off Antonelli's pace and 0.002s off Piastri's.

A 16.978 for Hamilton who goes top by 0.275s.

Quickest in all three sectors, Norris goes top with a 16.633, 0.345s up on Hamilton.

Another off for Albon, this time at Turn 4. "This feels weird," says the Williams driver.

Piastri improves to third with a 17.232 as Alonso watches on as mechanics work on his car. The Spaniard is currently 18th, almost 2s off the pace.

Bortoleto goes tenth with a 17.526.

"Pierre, come on, get out of the ******* way, idiot," says Hadjar of a driver seemingly called Pierre.

"Something wrong with the engine, I've got no power," says Albon.

Verstappen improves slightly, going sixth with a 17.272. "No grip, front and rear," he complains.

Gasly improves to eighteenth, thereby demoting Alonso.

Lawson improves to twelfth.

The session ends. Norris is quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Russell, Leclerc, Piastri, Verstappen, Antonelli, Hadjar, Tsunoda and Bortoleto.

Lawson is eleventh, ahead of Ocon, Stroll, Hulkenberg, Sainz, Albon, Bearman, Gasly, Colapinto and Alonso.

Clearly a number of drivers are still struggling, most notably Verstappen, while Norris will take great comfort from that 0.6s gap to his teammate and the Dutchman.