Ahead of today's qualifying session, the air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 44 degrees. It remains bright and sunny, but is still quite windy.
In all honesty, with tomorrow's race likely to be a repeat, albeit extended version, of the Sprint, what happens over the next hour probably doesn't really matter.
Indeed, what will keep the fans screaming, TV pundits telling us it's the best racing they've ever seen and endless more millions pouring into the sport's coffers, will be another travesty that passes for F1 2026 as yo-yoing sees the order turned on its head and then back again.
No longer are we told that the king of the late brakers just did it again or that we've just witnessed another magnificent pass around the outside in a corner no other would even think about, now we are told that so and so is clearly storing his energy, that so and so is releasing theirs and that so and so has so many kilojoules still at his disposal.
Ye Gods, what has happened to our sport, no wonder it had to sign up a comedian - and a not very good one - as its official friend, for F1 is rapidly turning into Billy Nomates.
Lessons will have been learned from yesterday's Shootout and again from this morning's Sprint. Interestingly, yesterday and this morning we saw teams finishing 'Noah's Ark' style, two by two, and this could well continue.
One lesson that needs to be learned is at Red Bull, where Hadjar has been fiercely critical of the starts. Having dropped a number of positions earlier, during the break he commented: "We just can't get off the line properly, and we have absolutely no idea why. It really makes no sense to go racing if you already know you're going to lose four positions at the start! In my case, it was even more than that, but yeah, it's just a shock, every single time.
"If I knew what was causing it, we wouldn't still have the problem," he added. "Last year, all 24 starts out of 24 were good, but with these new regulations and the new engines, we just seem to completely not understand it. Even the Racing Bulls are doing better than us in that regard, so it's just very strange."
Green light, and Bottas leads the way, followed by Perez, Sainz, Ocon and Bearman.
The Ferraris are the first of the big guns to head out, both on used softs.
"It's very gusty on the start finish line," warns Bortoleto as Sainz locks-up and runs wide.
Perez posts a benchmark 32.199, however Bearman responds with a 31.315.
Hamilton complains of "massive vibrations" under braking.
Leclerc posts a 29.534, and Hamilton a 29.644.
Hulkenberg, on mediums, goes fourth with a 31.508.
Norris goes third with a 30.186, 0.652s off the pace, while Verstappen can only manage a 30.219.
Oh dear, Russell is off at Luffield, as Piastri goes sixth and Antonelli third (29.719).
Russell is able to get going again, he heads back to the pits with his front wing askew.
Replay shows him locking-up and effectively being a passenger after his car understeered him on his way towards the barrier.
"That was very weird," he says, "I've never locked-up there in my whole career."
Gasly goes eighth, as Hadjar goes sixth.
Lindblad goes fourth on fresh softs.
Perez goes 16th, as, with 6:40 remaining, Russell and Bortoleto have yet to post a time.
Lawson goes fifth, also on fresh softs.
Russell heads out again with 5:40 remaining.
Gasly has been noted for impeding.
Antonelli heads out again, as does Piastri and the Red Bull pair.
With 3:15 remaining, Bortoleto heads out.
A 29.985 sees Russell go fifth. However, he is instantly demoted by Piastri who posts a 29.971.
Quickest in S2, Hadjar goes top with a 29.276, just moments after his teammate had taken second with a 29.549.
Colapinto has gone off at Becketts, bouncing sideways over the kitty litter, as his teammate goes twelfth with a 3.345. The Argentine is able to get going again.
Norris aborts after a dreadful S2, as Lindblad goes fifth and Lawson second!
Hulkenberg goes fourth and Bortoleto twelfth.
Quickest is Hadjar, ahead of Lawson, Leclerc, Hulkenberg, Verstappen, Hamilton, Lindblad, Antonelli, Piastri and Russell.
We lose Ocon, Bottas, Colapinto, Perez, Stroll and Alonso.
Gasly will be investigated after qualifying for impeding Stroll.
Q2 is delayed as marshals sweep debris from the track.
Perez has his time reinstated but still fails to make the cut.
Green light and Verstappen leads his teammate out into the sunshine. They are eventually joined by the Williams pair and Leclerc.
"The engine is not responding as normal," says Verstappen.
Verstappen posts a 29.308 and his teammate a 29.183, both are on used softs.
Sainz goes third (30.825), but is demoted when Leclerc posts a 29.069 and Hamilton a 28.864.
Lindblad goes fifth and his teammate sixth.
Piastri can only manage seventh, but is demoted by the Audi pair.
Russell splits the Ferraris with a 28.920, while Norris can only manage eighth, 0.993s off the pace.
Antonelli aborts following a mistake in Village. Nonetheless, rather than pit he continues and next time around goes third with a 29.043.
Hulkenberg has his time deleted for a track limits violation at Turn 13, consequently he has yet to post a time.
The Bulls head out again, followed by the McLaren pair.
Verstappen improves to fifth, but is demoted by his teammate who stops the clock at 29.069.
"This is a disaster," says Verstappen.
Piastri goes seventh, Norris ninth and Leclerc top, the Monegasque posting a 28.626.
Hamilton remains second, as Bortoleto fails to make the cut.
A 28.493 puts Antonelli top, while Gasly fails to improve on twelfth. Norris makes the cut by the skin of his teeth.
Quickest is Antonelli, ahead of Leclerc, Hamilton, Russell, Hadjar, Verstappen, Piastri, Lindblad, Norris and Lawson.
We lose Bortoleto, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Bearman, Sainz and Albon.
"Sorry team," Bortoleto apologises to his team, despite a brave effort.
No further investigation of the alleged weaving incident involving Gasly.
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