Ahead of today's sole practice session the air temperature is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 41 degrees. It is bright and sunny.

The big news is that at Haas, Esteban Ocon has been dropped for the remainder of the weekend in favour of Rio Hirakawa... but why?

While at Red Bull, Isack Hadjar has been given a formal warning following an altercation with a 'fan' in the paddock.

Leclerc was quickest in both sessions yesterday, but that was the case last weekend so let's not read too mu8ch into it, especially following his teammate's engine issue.

Mercedes was very much up there, especially Russell, while Norris and, inevitably Verstappen were also looking good.

The Dutchman was hampered by car damage as a result of a clash with Lawson, for which bother drivers received a one-place grid drop.

Lindblad was at the forefront of the midfield, along with Gasly, while Alonso was looking impressive.

Bortoleto is first out, followed by Hirakawa, Colapinto and Hulkenberg.

"There is something wrong with my engine," says Bortoleto, who had issues yesterday also.

Talking of issues, there is no live timing. Nothing.

Hulkenberg posts a benchmark 20.572, as Gasly goes second and Colapinto third.

Hulkenberg improves to 19.874.

OK, we have live timing, Gasly is quickest (19.304), ahead of Lindblad, Hulkenberg, Stroll and Colapinto.

It's a mixture of mediums and softs, the two quickest times thus far on the yellow-banded rubber.

Antonelli is the first of the big guns to heads out, followed by Norris, Russell and Piastri.

Quickest in all three sectors, Antonelli (mediums) goes top with an 18.754.

Alonso goes fifth with a 19.898, as an 18.982 puts Russell (mediums) second, ahead of Piastri (19.072).

The Ferrari pair head out, both on mediums, followed by the Red Bulls who are similarly shod.

Hamilton goes third (19.006), the Briton quickest in S2. However, moments later Leclerc responds with an 18.720.

Despite his car looking hard to handle, Norris goes third with an 18.917, as teammate Piastri goes fifth.

"No power into Turn 1, down shifts don't work," reports Alonso.

Hirakawa is currently 15th, 1.512s off the pace.

Quickest in the final sector, Hamilton goes top with an 18.268, 0.307s up on his teammate.

Twenty-five minutes in and everyone has been out, but still no times from Perez or Bortoleto, who both have issues with their cars.

Sainz improves to sixteenth with a 20.124, teammate Albon is currently eighteenth.

As Piastri goes third (18.575), Leclerc reclaims the top spot with an 18.185.

Antonelli subsequently leapfrogs Piastri with an 18.413.

The Ferrari pair continue to swap places, Hamilton stopping the clock at 18.162.

Hulkenberg runs wide at Turn 12 as drivers continue to have times deleted.

"Oh my God, this is the worst car I have driven this weekend," declares Hadjar.

Piastri pits for a front wing change, while the rear torsion bar on Norris's car is tweaked.

Hirakawa is now fourteenth (on softs) while Bearman is nineteenth, the Briton also on the red-banded rubber, but having completed 10 fewer laps.

As Hadjar improves to fourth, Norris runs wide in Turn 12.

Hamilton and Verstappen are in their respective garages, their cars getting a lot of attention, especially the Dutchman's where the engine cover is off.

In the Cadillac garage the car is up on its stand with the driver nowhere to be seen. It is understood his engine is being changed.

Back on track, Verstappen improves to seventh, 0.531s off the pace.

As Sainz takes to the grass, Stroll is told that he has an issue and must pit.

With 17 minutes remaining, Russell is the first of the big guns to switch to the softs, at McLaren, Piastri follows suit.

Russell opts for two prep laps, as his teammate heads out on the red-banded rubber.

"I think we should have tried first lap," reports Russell, "maybe try that with Kimi."

Nonetheless, he goes quickest in S1. He posts a PB in S2, crossing the line at 18.107 to go top by 0.045s.

Bearman runs wide at Turn 6, as Antonelli opts for a second prep lap.

Norris goes quickest in the first two sectors, stopping the clock at 17.873.

Hulkenberg goes ninth with an 18.715.

Piastri goes second (18.052) but is demoted when Antonelli posts a 17.601.

Leclerc aborts his lap in the second sector having shaken his fillings with a bumpy ride over the kerbs.

Verstappen goes third, 0.350s off the pace, the Dutchman quickest in S3.

"Who was the Red Bull," snaps Antonelli. "Think that was Max," he is told.

Alonso goes eleventh with a 19.054, as Hulkenberg improves to ninth.

Norris improves to 17.767, but remains 0.166s off the pace.

Leclerc can only manage sixth, the Monegasque clearly happier with the mediums than the softs.

Having gone quickest in S1, Russell subsequently aborts, as teammate Antonelli goes purple in the opening sector. A poor second sector means the Italian also fails to improve.

Piastri goes third with a 17.795., 0.194s down on Antonelli.

Like his teammate, Hamilton is struggling on the softs and can only manage seventh, 0.561s off the pace.

That said, Leclerc goes second with a 17.752, the Monegasque quickest in S3.

Hamilton, despite a poor S3, improves to sixth with an 18.069.

"Brakes are not working," says Verstappen as he runs wide, following excursions for Gasly and Hamilton also.

Lindblad improves to eighth, only to be demoted when his teammate posts an 18.113, and Norris goes top with a 17.600, 0.001s up on Antonelli.

Hadjar can only manage eighth, like his teammate he is unhappy with his car.

Leclerc improves but remains third.

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

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

Another of those sessions that posed more questions than it answered, what with Norris outpacing everyone, the erratic form of the Ferraris, especially on the softs, the obvious struggles of Red Bull and Russell once again unable to match his teammate's pace.

Not that we're complaining, for it's been a fascinating weekend thus far, what with the general increased pace and the obvious 'nervousness' of the cars.

Qualifying should be fun.