Ahead of today's much-anticipated qualifying session the air temperature is 21 degrees C, while the track temperature is 38 degrees.
We appear to have been served a number of red herrings thus far, not only in the preceding practice session but in Bahrain also.
We were always highly sceptical when Toto and his boys, a club that includes not only his drivers but all those powered by Mercedes, when they pointed to Red Bull, and to an extent Ferrari, as the benchmark. This morning we finally got to see what the W17 can do, and it has stunned a lot of people into silence.
The late red flag following Antonelli's crash caused a certain amount of confusion, but surely nobody was expecting Russell to outpace his closest rival (Hamilton) by 0.6s, with Piastri and Verstappen over a second off the pace.
It's early days, but if the Mercedes is as good as it looks, it is the fight for best of the rest that we shall have to watch.
Norris has struggled in all three session, as has Verstappen to a certain extent, while the Ferraris look strong.
Hadjar has impressed from the outset, as has Lindblad, while Audi and Haas look strong and Williams is struggling, likewise Cadillac and poor old Aston Martin.
It remains to be seen whether Antonelli's car will be repaired in time, the youngster simply having taken too much kerb earlier in what he admits was a state of over confidence.
Two minutes until the lights go green and Toto Wolff is standing outside the garage watching the work on Antonelli's car.
There is also doubt over Sainz' participation, the Spaniard having suffered an electrics issue.
Hulkenberg leads the way, followed by Albon, Ocon, Bearman and Colapinto.
The McLaren pair are the first of the big guns to emerge.
As more drivers head out, softs are the order of the day, though Hamilton is on mediums.
Albon posts a benchmark 21.802, but Bearman responds with a 21.408.
A 21.008 puts Lindblad top as teammate Lawson goes second.
Hulkenberg splits the RBs with a 21.232 but Piastri stops the clock at 20.552.
Hamiton goes second with a 20.852, but is demoted when Bortoleto goes top with a 20.495.
Leclerc heads out on the mediums.
A mistake in Turn 3 means Norris can only manage sixth (21.232).
Quickest in the first and final sectors, Russell goes top, 0.655s clear of Bortoleto.
Alonso goes thirteenth as Antonelli waits beside his car.
Hadjar goers second with a 20.445 as Leclerc goes fifth with a 20.712.
Quickest in S2, Lindblad goes second as Gasly goes thirteenth.
Hamilton improves to third with a 20.421 but is demoted when Piastri goes second with a 20.272, 0.432s off Russell's pace.
Verstappen is off and in the barrier at Turn 1. The session is red-flagged.
The four-time world champion climbs from his car, as the replay suggests an error from the car not the driver.
Indeed, "the car just locked on the rear axles," he reports.
It was a violent crash, Verstappen a passenger as his car skated over the gravel and sideways into the barrier
In the pitlane, ahead of the restart, Antonelli is trying to find a way into the queue.
In all the excitement we missed Leclerc going second with a 20.226, 0.386s off Russell's best.
As the session resumes, Norris leads the way, followed by Lindblad, Lawson, Piastri and Russell. The Ferraris are sticking with mediums - no pun intended.
On used mediums Hamilton goes quickest in S1. Lawson goes ninth, Ocon tenth and Hamilton top, the Briton crossing the line at 19.811.
Antonelli goes third with a 20.120, a superb effort from the youngster.
No sooner has Piastri gone top (19.664) than Russell responds with a 19.507.
Norris improves to fourth as Alonso remains sixteenth.
Lindblad improves to seventh.
Hadjar goes fifth as Alonso improves but remains sixteenth.
Albon goes thirteenth and Bearman fourteenth.
Oh dear, Alonso appeared to have made the cut but a late improvement saw him demoted by Colapinto.
Russell is quickest, ahead of Piastri, Hamilton, Norris, Hadjar, Antonelli, Leclerc, Lindblad, Lawson and Bortoleto.
We lose Alonso, Perez, Bottas, Verstappen, Sainz and Stroll.
Hamilton leads the way as Q2 gets the green light. He is followed by Leclerc, Ocon, Bearman, Albon and Norris.
Hamilton backs off and allows his teammate through to post a 20.088.
Albon goes second with a 21.975 while Norris can only manage fifth.
Hamilton and Russell both run wide in Turn 9 as Antonelli goes top with a 19.604.
An 18.934 sees Russell go top, as Ocon and Bearman go fifth and sixth.
Norris goes third but is 0.948s off Russell's pace.
Hadjar goes third, Lawson seventh and Gasly tenth.
Piastri goes second with a 19.582 as Hamilton is told to pit despite being quickest in S1.
A poor final sector sees Leclerc fail to improve on seventh whilst Hamilton remains sixteenth.
Albon can only manage thirteenth, 2.007s off the pace.
With 5 minutes remaining, Gasly, Bearman, Albon, Hulkenberg, Colapinto and Hamilton comprise the drop zone.
PBs in all three sectors see Hulkenberg improve to ninth. He's safe, but only just.
Hamilton goes sixth with a 19.921 as Antonelli goes second with a 19.435.
Norris remains fifth, 0.948s off the pace, as Leclerc fails to improve on eighth.
PBs in all three sectors see Leclerc go third, albeit 0.423s off the pace.
Hadjar remains fifth while Colapinto remains sixteenth despite improving his time.
Bortoleto improves to tenth but in the process demotes his Audi teammate, while an off wrecks any hope of a late improvement from Albon.
Quickest is Russell, ahead of Leclerc, Antonelli, Piastri, Hadjar, Norris, Hamilton, Lindblad, Lawson and Bortoleto.
We lose Hulkenberg, Bearman, Ocon, Gasly, Albon and Colapinto.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Melbourne here.
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