Ahead of Sprint qualifying, the air temperature is 20 degrees C, while the track temperature is 34 degrees. Despite Race Control's claim that it is "raining trackside" it is actually bright and sunny.

Antonelli set the pace in practice earlier, edging out Norris, Russell, Hamilton and Leclerc, the five covered by just 0.289s.

While we clearly have a fight on our hands, we have already seen that traffic is going to be an issue - particularly in SQ1 - while a number of drivers made mistakes earlier.

The midfield battle looks set to be as tight as ever, with Audi looking strong, but Alpine also looking good, as Red Bull didn't quite live up to expectations.

Antonelli is first out, followed by Russell and Perez, with the Ferrari pair subsequently joining them.

Antonelli posts a 28.317 and Russell an equally exploratory 29.190.

Next time around the championship leader, having gone purple in the opening two sectors, runs wide on the banking and does well not to get stuck in the gravel... or worse. "I lost the rear very weirdly," he reports."

Meanwhile, Russell posts a 13.829.

Ocon goes second, ahead of Bearman and Perez, but they are demoted when Leclerc posts a 13.229 and Hamilton a 13.151.

A 13.071 for Norris as Lindblad goes fourth and Lawson fifth.

Verstappen goes fifth with a 13.851, but is demoted when Piastri goes second with a 13.126.

Bortoleto goes fifth, ahead of Russell, as Gasly goes eighth.

Lawson improves to sixth but is leapfrogged by Russell.

Alonso goes off at Turn 1 and with less than two minutes remaining has yet to post a time. A 16.014 puts the Spaniard twenty-first.

Ocon improves to fourteenth, just behind Tsunoda.

Verstappen improves to sixth as Hamilton aborts after going quickest in S1.

Quickest is Leclerc, ahead of Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, Russell, Lawson, Verstappen, Antonelli, Bortoleto and Gasly.

We lose Bearman, Sainz, Stroll, Bottas, Perez and Alonso.

Hulkenberg gets SQ2 underway, the German followed out by Ocon and Albon. Next out are the two McLaren drivers.

Ocon sets the initial pace with a 13.893, with Hulkenberg just 0.033s slower.

Norris posts an exploratory 23.793. Indeed, a number of drivers post exploratory times as they opt for two warm-up laps.

Norris crosses the line at 12.514, but his teammate responds with a 12.026.

Leclerc splits the McLarens with a 12.190, as a 12.445 puts Hamilton third.

Verstappen goes fifth and Colapinto sixth.

Aston Martin reports that the Straight-line mode on Alonso's car wasn't working earlier.

Russell goes third and Antonelli fifth.

Tsunoda can only manage thirteenth, while Bortoleto goes eighth.

Norris retakes second with a 12.189, while Gasly goes seventh with a 12.720.

Tsunoda improves to eleventh, while Lindblad goes ninth, thereby demoting Lawson to the drop zone.

Quickest is Piastri, ahead of Norris, Leclerc, Russell, Hamilton, Antonelli, Gasly, Verstappen, Lindblad and Bortoleto.

We lose Lawson, Tsunoda, Colapinto, Hulkenberg, Ocon and Albon.

SQ3 gets the green light but there is no immediate reaction from the drivers.

With 4:25 remaining, Norris breaks the deadlock, the world champion followed by the Mercedes pair, Leclerc, Piastri and Hamilton.

Again, despite the lack of time, most drivers appear to be opting for two warm-up laps.

Norris crosses the line at 19.191, then improves to 11.608.

Antonelli posts an 11.794 while his teammate stops the clock at 11.567 to claim provisional pole.

Leclerc goes third, Piastri fourth and Hamilton sixth.

Hamilton claim sixth from Hamilton, as Gasly goes eighth ahead of Bortoleto and Lindblad.

So, Russell will start the Sprint from pole, ahead of Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Antonelli, Verstappen, Hamilton, Gasly, Bortoleto and Lindblad.

Lawson will start eleventh ahead of Tsunoda, Colapinto, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Albon, Bearman, Sainz, Stroll, Bottas, Perez and Alonso.

Allowing for the usual caveat in terms of the 'big prize' being on Sunday, the Sprint has all the makings of being quite good, what with the fact that the leading four are covered by less than a second, the leading seven by just 0.6s and the tightness of the midfield pace.