Ahead of today's sole practice session, the air temperature is 21 degrees C, while the track temperature is 39 degrees. It is bright and sunny.

In terms of updates, McLaren has a new Front Corner and Floor Furniture. The new front brake duct design is introduced at this event will result in improved flow conditioning and gain in aerodynamic load, while the floor board and various elements of the floor furniture have been revised, resulting in an improvement of flow physics and gain in overall efficiency.

Red Bull has a new Rear Corner. Inboard of the rear rims and as part of the rear wheel bodywork assembly, the cascade wings have been revised by changing the number of elements to improve the load characteristics and stability.

Ferrari also has a new Rear Corner. The update has two main objectives: corner cooling via increased inlet/outlet sections, and local loading via lower deflector redesign and winglet loading optimisation, maximizing aerodynamic efficiency.

Williams has a new Front Wing featuring new geometry with updated profiles and endplate surfaces. The wing assembly has been developed with the aim of generating an increase in local loading combined with an improved flow field interaction with downstream components.

Racing Bulls have a new Floor Edge and Diffuser and Rear Corner. The combined updates to the floor edge and diffuser optimise the flow around the rear floor, allowing it to generate more load and provide increased performance. In combination with this, the new deflector targets an improvement in local flow conditioning and improved floor performance.

Haas has a new Rear Wing and Rear Wing Endplate. The rear wing profiles have been comprehensively revised, with particular emphasis placed on the optimisation of flap geometry, leading to an increase in aerodynamic load while preserving a high level of overall efficiency across the operating range. The endplates were refined through the introduction of localized protrusions aimed at promoting upwash, contributing to the increase of load of this assembly.

These are the only updates this weekend.

Ahead of the green light Hamilton is already waiting at the end of the pitlane, the Briton a nine-time winner here.

He heads out, followed by Hulkenberg, Lindblad, Colapinto and Bortoleto.

As more drivers head out, all are on hards.

Hamilton posts a benchmark 34.696, but Hulkenberg responds with a 34.395.

Of the first wave, Antonelli is quickest (32.579), ahead of Piastri, Hadjar, Norris and Lawson.

No sooner has Russell posted a 32.539 than Hamilton responds with a 31.877.

Verstappen's first lap sees the Dutchman go fourth with a 32.653.

Norris goes off at Turn 15, Sainz at Turn 3 and Colapinto Turn 13 in quick succession.

A 31.819 sees Piastri go top, only for Hadjar to raise the ante with a 31.692.

Quickest in the opening two sectors, Antonelli can only manage second as he stops the clock at 31.806.

Williams are running their new front wings back to back, Sainz running the new version.

Verstappen goes top with a 32.277 as Hamilton goes second (31.434).

Norris continues to have times deleted and consequently has yet to post a competitive time.

Hadjar retakes the top spot with a 30.969 as Piastri goes third with a 31.314.

Antonelli improves to second with a 30.976.

The top nine are covered by 0.853, but from there on the gap widens with the Cadillacs and Aston Martins over 4s behind.

Norris posts a 31.595 to go seventh.

Finally Leclerc posts a competitive time, the Monegasque going sixth with a 31.327.

A 30.777 from Antonelli.

Norris continues to have problems keeping his car on the black stuff, as Turns 3, 13 and 9 are proving difficult for a number of drivers.

Hamilton retakes the top spot with a 30.521, as with 25 minutes remaining, Alonso is the first driver to switch to softs. The Spaniard is currently 18th, 2.683s off the pace.

"Tyre are dead now," says Piastri after spinning off at Becketts. He subsequently pits.

Stroll and Perez switch to softs.

"The car is very unpredictable, I'm not liking this," says Gasly.

Perez improves to 14th with a 32.951 on the softs, as Lawson fits the mediums.

Verstappen has been noted for a yellow flag infringement.

Hulkenberg and Lawson almost touch, as the RB driver is about to overtake on a flying lap. "What the f*** was that," asks the kiwi.

As Lawson goes third (30.850), Russell, Antonelli and Piastri switch to the softs.

Sainz asks how much time drivers are finding on the softs. "One second," he is told.

Piastri goes top with a 30.147, the Australian quickest in S2.

However, Russell responds with a 29.938 and Antonelli a 29.473, the Italian 0.465s up on his teammate.

Leclerc goes third with a 30.039, the Ferrari still not looking entirely comfortable.

Quickest in the final sector, Hamilton goes top with a 29.260, 0.213s up on Antonelli.

Leclerc improves to third with a 38.859, while Verstappen can only manage sixth, 0.980s off the pace.

Gasly is clearly struggling with the Alpine, the Frenchman taking a rough ride over the kerbs.

Another off for Norris, this time at Turn 15. The Briton is currently seventh, his teammate fifth.

Verstappen improves but remains 0.980s off the pace.

"Something doesn't sound very nice on the rear," reports Lindblad.

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

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

An interesting session, but one which is difficult to read, while Hamilton clearly had pace, certainly better than expected, the timing of his run - he came out later - will have worked in his favour.

Clearly McLaren has work to do, while Leclerc and Russell are both over 0.5s off the pace, and Verstappen almost a second.