Ahead of this afternoon's all-important qualifying session for the final round of the 2006 Formula One World Championship, the air temperature is 21 degrees C, while the track temperature is 38 degrees. It's still unusually cool, though the sun is finally shining.

Other than Robert Doornbos, who had his engine changed after a failure in yesterday's second session, nobody is facing a grid penalty. Yet!

The lights go green, and first out, after a brief pause, is Sakon Yamamoto. As the Super Aguri driver comes to the end of his out lap, Tiago Monteiro leaves the pits, followed by Trulli and Albers.

In the Ferrari garage the crew is working frantically on Felipe Massa's car, the Brazilian appearing to having a new gearbox fitted. Out on track, Sato posts 15.244, the first time of the afternoon, as Monteiro spins off. For a while it looks as though the Portuguese driver might get going again, however, his session is over, he's out. Not the sort of thing you want to do when you don't have a drive for 2007.

Trulli goes quickest (12.719), ahead of Doornbos and Albers, however moments later it is Ralf who goes second.

As Button goes fourth (13.145), Michael Schumacher heads down the pitlane.

As Barrichello locks-up, Doornbos goes second, splitting the two Toyotas.

Rosberg goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 1:12.690. however, Michael is now on his first flying lap.

Webber makes it a WilliamsF1 1-2, but both Michael and Raikkonen are on flying laps. The Finn goes quickest (12.035), but is immediately beaten by Michael, who posts 11.565.

Massa leaves the pits with just over five minutes remaining, followed by Alonso and Fisichella. Moments later, Kubica heads down the pitlane, followed by his BMW teammate.

Massa goes quickest in the first sector, and again in the second. At the line it's 1:10.643, an unbelievable lap.

Alonso goes third with a 11.791, ahead of Kimi and Fisichella, though moments later the Italian is nudged down to sixth by Kubica.

With just over a minute remaining, Coulthard is still in the danger zone, as Ralf goes third, and de la Rosa fifth and Trulli sixth.

Coulthard crosses the line before the chequered flag comes out, but it's not looking good for the Scots veteran. Liuzzi is also in danger of falling at the first hurdle.

The first phase ends and Doornbos makes the cut at the last moment, which is bad news for Speed, who along with Albers, Coulthard, Sato, Yamamoto and Monteiro, will play no further part in the session.

Quickest was Massa, ahead of Michael, Ralf, Alonso, de la Rosa, Trulli, Webber, Rosberg, Barrichello and Raikkonen.

The second phase gets underway, almost ninety second later, Jarno Trulli heads down the pitlane, the first driver to make an appearance. Moments later, he's followed by his Toyota teammate.