Ahead of today's sole practice session the air temperature is 32 degrees C, while the track temperature is 47 degrees. It is bright, sunny and hot.

McLaren looked strong yesterday afternoon, in terms of flat-out and cornering speeds. Mercedes was up there, as was Leclerc and Lindblad, while Verstappen struggled.

Tyre deg is clearly going to be an issue, and Pirelli is expecting "at least" two pit stops tomorrow, which is all the better for us. Despite the rules overhaul and all the promises, not for nothing was this track often referred to as Borecelona.

While on-board coverage revealed excessive wear to the left-front - particularly on Antonelli's car - the rears were where the real pain was being felt.

Following his adventures in Canada and Monaco, Russell will be looking for a strong weekend here, and yesterday was a positive start, finishing just 0.009s off Norris' pace. However, teammate Antonelli is clearly on a roll and it is going to be fascinating to see his this plays out.

Despite having third place in Monaco rescinded, it is looking to be a tough weekend for Gasly, with both Alpines over 1.5s off the pace yesterday. Williams also had a tough day.

Interestingly, despite yesterday's promise, McLaren broke the curfew last night as they made changes to their cars. Likewise Alpine and Cadillac. This was the second time - of the permitted four - that all three teams broke the curfew. It's understood that Alpine changes Gasly's chassis.

Green light, and Bottas leads the way, followed by teammate Perez. Bottas is on softs and Perez mediums, and as they begin their first flyer they still have the track to themselves.

Bottas posts a 19.998 and Perez a 20.111.

In the McLaren garage Norris is chatting to his engineers, indeed a lot of drivers show no sign of going out any time soon.

As the Cadillac pair pit the track falls silent. Consequently they head out again.

With 49 minutes remaining Hulkenberg joins them, as Perez runs wide in Turn 9.

As Bottas improves to 19.962, Hulkenberg responds with an 18.477.

Sainz heads out followed by his Williams teammate, the bug guns clearly determined to conserve their tyres.

The Haas pair head out, like Williams, they are on softs, as are the Astons.

With 40 minutes remaining, Norris is the first of the big guns to head down the pitlane, the 2025 world champion on softs.

Hulkenberg raises the benchmark with an 18.255 as Leclerc heads out.

Bortoleto posts a 17.581, but Norris responds with a 16.609.

Sainz goes fourth with an 18.384, as Leclerc goes quickest in S2. At the line the Monegasque posts a 16.685 to go second.

Lindblad goes third (17.435), but is demoted when Piastri stops the clock at 17.281.

Antonelli and Hamilton are the last to appear.

"It was like the front wing was broken," reports Piastri as Verstappen goes quickest in S1. Hadjar goes fifth (17.482), but is demoted when a 16.855 puts his teammate third.

Russell goes top with a 16.258, with teammate Antonelli slotting into second with a 16.500, 0.242s down.

Hamilton opts for a double warm-up, ass Gasly remains the only driver still to post a time.

The seven-time world champion posts a 17.131 to go sixth.

Though he posts a PB in S1, Leclerc's pace subsequently drops off, his front left showing clear signs of deg.

Gasly finally posts a time but it is deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 13.

Oh dear, Bottas is off and in the kitty litter at Turn 10. "I lost my brake pedal," he reports. "It's gone," he adds, I was very lucky there."

The session is red-flagged as replay shows the Finn having a wobble out of Turn 9 and then heading into the gravel in a bid to slow the car.

Green light and this time there is no hanging about as Piastri leads Antonelli, Verstappen, Lindblad and Leclerc back on to the track.

Perez wants to know what happened to his teammate. "We're looking into it," he is told.

Hadjar remains ninth and Hamilton seventh.

"The dust is in my eyes every time I brake," says Lawson.

As most drivers head back to the pits, it appears that we are in for some banzai laps in the final moments in preparation for qualifying, deg concerns leaving them no option but to limit their running.

Russell, Antonelli and Norris head out on fresh softs, as does Piastri.

Quickest in S3, on fresh softs, Hulkenberg improves to seventh with a 16.961.

Quickest in the final two sectors, Russell consolidates his top spot with a 15.679.

Norris goes quickest in S1, as Piastri goes second overall with a 15.893.

Norris goes third with a 15.925, 0.246s down on Russell.

Colapinto improves to fifteenth.

Lindblad goes eighth (17.020) but is demoted when Hamilton goes fourth with a 16.381.

Verstappen goes fifth, stopping the clock at 16.434.

"Oh my God, Stroll, as always," says Antonelli as he runs into traffic. He subsequently aborts. "Oh my God, mate, it's unbelievable, I'm gonna box."

Back in the pits, he asks: "Why do I always get traffic?"

Leclerc improves to third with a 15.922, as Antonelli has been noted for driving erratically.

Complaining that he encountered four drivers in the first corner, the teenager is told: "Sorry, mate, I don't release the other cars."