Ahead of today's sole practice session the air temperature is 31 degrees C, while the track temperature is 49 degrees.

Antonelli was quickest in both sessions yesterday, and it is clear that the Mercedes has a clear pace advantage, indeed it is understood the both McLaren and Ferrari are actually losing on the straights. However, while the McLaren is strong out of corners the Ferrari is losing out everywhere. Or is the Italian team sandbagging?

The Maranello outfit has brought a raft of updates, as has Red Bull and Cadillac, and while we wait to see if Ferrari's upgraded engine finally gets to show what it can do, neither of the two other teams got to fully try their upgrades.

Among the upgrades McLaren brought was its version of the Macarena wing, but it opted not to use it.

The heat means that tyre deg is going to be an issue, and, as in Barcelona, this could play into Ferrari's hands.

As it stands, Mercedes has to be favourite, however McLaren looks likely to give the German team a run for its money. Red Bull and Ferrari are next up, ahead of the Racing Bulls, Alpines, Adis and Haas'.

Mercedes broke the curfew last night, as did Audi. For the Silver Arrows this was the first occurrence this year, for its German rival the second.

Green light, and Perez, who had a pretty dreadful time yesterday, stopping in both sessions, is first out. He is on mediums.

As he begins his first lap proper he still has the track to himself.

He posts a benchmark 11.437.

Eight minutes in and Perez still has the track to himself, in the Mercedes garage Antonelli is chatting to his father.

As Perez improves to 10.944, he is joined by Colapinto and Hulkenberg, who are both on softs. Hadjar follows, on hards.

Colapinto posts a 9.829 but Hulkenberg responds with a 9.684.

Despite being on the hards, Hadjar raises the benchmark to 9.230, 0.454s up on Hulkenberg.

Having pitted, Perez is back on track again. He is followed by the Aston Martin pair and Norris.

Hamilton is next out, followed by Russell.

Alonso goes fifth (11.704) but is demoted when Bottas posts an 11.269.

Quickest in all three sectors, Norris crosses the line at 7.832.

Hamilton, quickest in the final sector, crosses the line 0.345s down on Norris.

Russell goes third with an 8.332, 0.500s down on Norris.

Leclerc goes fifth (8.635), ahead of Bortoleto, Lindblad, Sainz and Hulkenberg.

"The left mirror is completely broken," reports Norris.

Piastri goes second with a 7.881, 0.049s down on his teammate as Antonelli begins his first flyer.

The Italian teenager stops the clock at 7.533, 0.299s up on Norris, and 0.8s up on his Mercedes teammate.

As Verstapepn goes second with a 7.804, Verstappen complains of "interference". "I need to change my ear plugs and balaclava as it's putting me off," he says.

Russell improves to second with a 7.706 and Hamilton to 7.790.

Sainz gets the black and white for driving unnecessarily slowly.

A 7.746 sees Verstappen improve to fourth, the Red Bull driver quickest in S2.

Quickest in S3, Russell goes second with a 7.550, 0.17s down on his teammate.

"Really bad straight-line braking on the front axle," reports Russell.

Gasly goes eighth with an 8.373.

Despite a snap in Turn 4, Norris improves to third with a 7.681.

Leclerc improves to third with a 7.558 and Verstappen fourth with a 7.607.

However, Antonelli consolidates his top spot with a 7.134, putting 0.416s of daylight between him and his teammate.

While there is a 0.416s gap between the Mercedes pair, Russell, Leclerc, Verstappen, Piastri, Norris and Hamilton are covered by just 0.240s.

There is a lull ahead of the qualifying sims, just Alonso, Sainz and Bottas are on track.

"I cannot turn the car, there is something wrong at the front," reports Alonso, as the big guns head out.

Though he improves in S2, Antonelli fails to improve his overall time.

However, Norris and Hamilton are on hot laps.

Norris goes second with a 7.360, but Hamilton responds with a 7.211, 0.077s down on Antonelli.

Russell goes third (7.326), 0.192s down on Antonelli.

Hulkenberg runs wide in Turn 9 kicking up a great cloud of dust.

Piastri can only manage sixth (7.553), as Verstappen still has issues with his radio.

On softs for the first time today, Hadjar runs wide in Turn 3.

Leclerc has been off, he is currently seventh, 0.424s off the pace.

"I'm really struggling with confidence with these brakes," admits Lindblad.

Bortoleto improves to eleventh with an 8.311.

Antonelli heads out on the same set of tyres he used before.

Piastri improves to fourth with a 7.344.

Hadjar goes ninth, splitting the RBs.

Antonelli fails to improve in S1, as Hulkenberg goes twelfth.

The softs are clearly only good enough for one hot lap.

Bearman improves to fourteenth and his teammate fifteenth.

Quickest in the final sector, Russell goes top with a 7.096. He is 0.038s up his teammate on used rubber.

"What's happening in in turn 1 and Turn 3," asks Hadjar. "And don't say I'm braking too hard!"

"I locked up in Turn 3, locked the rears," reports Hamilton.

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

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

Whatever adjustments they made to Russell's car appear to have worked, while Ferrari has clearly turned the wick up, though Leclerc has yet to reap the benefit.

The McLaren pair are in the mix, as is Verstappen, but in all honesty the Mercedes pair appear to be in a league of their own.