Ahead of today's sole practice session, the air temperature is 32 degrees C, while the track temperature is 55 degrees. It is bright and hot, while humidity is at 53%.

Unhappy with its pace, and tyre deg in FP1, Mercedes went its own way in FP2, but remained unhappy, and while Ferrari's Leclerc set the pace in FP2 the German team was more concerned at the threat from Red Bull.

At Red Bull, Verstappen had his own programme and was the only driver not to use the softs, while the hards never made an appearance in either session.

Mercedes has brought its much-anticipated upgrade here, and despite the claim that it is taking time to get the most from it, one gets the feeling, based on experience, that its concern is more about being performative than performance.

Nonetheless, the Ferraris look good, as do the McLarens, and along with Alpine, the Racing Bulls and Audi look set to head the midfield. However, it is the Red Bull that have the real pace.

It wasn't only Mercedes affected by tyre deg, it's just that the German team appeared to suffer the most, however, what Pirelli had originally predicted to be a one-stop race is now looking to be a two or even three stopper.

Another plus for fans is that a short battle between Lindblad and Colapinto over the course of a couple of laps showed that there is potential for some real battles here this weekend.

Green light, but there is no queue in the pitlane, instead, after a minute or so, Perez heads out, followed by Colapinto and Lawson. All three are on softs.

Other than his grid penalty for the Baku clash, Colapinto drops another 10 places tomorrow after taking on extra engine components. Hadjar gets a 5-place drop and Lindblad a 30-place drop.

Audi was the only team to break the curfew last night.

Perez posts a benchmark 41.252, but Colapinto responds with a 39.417.

Gasly and Lindblad are next to head out.

A number of drivers were noted yesterday for not following the Race Director's instructions in terms of the bollard at the final corner after running wide. The rule was that if a driver went the wrong side of it, they had to head into the pit lane. The bollard has now been moved a little wider following complaints from the drivers.

Gasly raises the bar with a 38.241., as Leclerc is the first of the big guns to head out, along with the Audis. Interestingly, the Monegasque is the first driver to run the white-banded rubber this weekend.

Leclerc goes top with a 37.772, as Norris heads out, followed by his McLaren teammate and the Williams pair. Both the Woking drivers are on the mediums.

Norris goes top with a 37.161 with Piastri slotting into second with a 37.483.

Ocon goes fifth and Bearman sixth.

Twenty minutes in and Hadjar heads out on mediums, along with Alonso as Albon goes eighth and Sainz eleventh.

Red Flag. Seemingly there is some debris on the track at Turn 10. It appears to have come from Bearman's Haas.

"The low-speed performance wasn't great yesterday and that's been a strength all year," Bradley Lord tells Sky, revealing that back in the UK simulator work was going on until 04.30.

"We got a good amount of low running in on both tyre compounds," he adds, "so really this session is about one-lap pace."

The session resumes at 12:59. Lindblad is first out, followed by Bottas, Antonelli, Russell and Ocon.

Piastri has been noted for crossing the line at the pit entry.

Verstappen and Hamilton head out, the Dutchman still sticking with mediums, while the Ferrari driver and Mercedes pair are on softs.

Antonelli goes top with a 36.924, as Russell responds with a 37.053, and Verstappen a 37.207, despite losing time behind another car in the final sector.

Yesterday, Hamilton got a warning for impeding Bortoleto, today the Briton is being impeded by Lindblad.

Having had to abort his first flyer, the seven-time world champion posts a 38.160 to go eighth, 1.2s down on Antonelli.

Hadjar complains that his car is "unpredictable".

Alonso goes tenth with a 38.301, as Hamilton says there is something wrong with his mirror.

A 37.920 puts Colapinto eighth, the Argentine another driver who ran his own programme yesterday.

Lawson has been noted for impeding Sainz in Turn 1.

It is becoming clear that the softs are only good for one serious flyer, which is going to make qualifying exciting, not to mention tomorrow's race.

Piastri fails to improve on fifth, 0.442s off the pace, despite switching to softs.

Stroll, who has yet to post a time, heads out on softs, the Canadian posting a 38.811 to go fourteenth.

A poor final sector sees Gasly remain tenth. In the Alpine garage, Briatore is not impressed.

Leclerc heads out on softs as Hulkenberg improves to twelfth.

Alonso goes eleventh, as Leclerc improves to second, 0.092s off Antonelli's pace.

Quickest in S2, Antonelli, on fresh softs, retakes the top spot with a 36.302, moments after being leapfrogged by Hadjar and Russell.

A 36.580 puts Verstappen, finally on softs, second, 0.278s off Antonelli's pace, as Hamilton goes sixth with a 37.041.

Lawson really struggling for grip in Turn 11.

"It felt like a pretty decent lap, considering the tyres were not great," says Hamilton.

The session ends as Verstappen gets a black and white flag for crossing the line at the pit entry.

Antonelli is quickest, ahead of Verstappen, Hadjar, Russell, Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris, Piastri, Colapinto and Lindblad.

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

So, was Mercedes sandbagging? Well the German team certainly has form, but then again what is that 0.6s difference between Antonelli and Russell all about. And then there's the McLaren pair, both over 0.8s off the pace.

An interesting session that sets us up nicely, even if it has posed a few more questions than it has answered.