Ahead of today's sole practice session the air temperature is 31 degrees C, while the track temperature is 50 degrees. Once again it is overcast, and while there is a 30% chance of rain, it is widely anticipated that qualifying will be affected.

Antonelli set the pace yesterday after noon, narrowly edging out Norris, Verstappen, Russell and Piastri, the 2025 world champion having been quickest in the morning.

However, unhappy with his car Verstappen ended his session early, and following a complete engine change he will now start from the back of the grid while Hamilton, who was sixth quickest in FP2, will also take a penalty, as will best buddy Leclerc, both having taken on a new ICE. Russell was already set for a 5-place drop.

Green light, but despite the threat of rain, there is not a queue in the pitlane. Eventually, Hulkenberg heads out, the German having missed out on FP2 due to an electrical issue encountered in FP1 when Slater was at the wheel.

He is subsequently joined by Perez and Russell.

As more drivers head out, all on mediums, Hulkenberg posts a benchmark 14.933 as Antonelli complains of a loose steering wheel. Adding that there is also an issue with the upshift he is told to pit.

Russell posts a 13.307 but Lindblad responds with a 13.281 and Norris a 13.064.

"You want to hear something funny?" asks Verstappen. "The steering is pulling to the right," he adds, yesterday it was to the left.

Leclerc posts a 12.723 but Antonelli responds with a 12.497.

Despite his issue, Verstappen goes second with a 12.639 as Piastri goes fourth.

After 12 minutes, Hamilton and Bottas have yet to post times.

"Wow, it's so hard to drive everywhere," complains Hadjar as Hamilton goes sixth with a 12.833.

Leclerc goes top with a 12.439, and Russell seventh, 0.480s off the pace.

Camara is among the first to have his time deleted, the Haas driver, like so many yesterday, caught out at Turn 1.

"We expect tiny drops in three minutes, arriving in Turn 1," Leclerc. When he asks if it will get worse, he is told that potentially it could increase to Class 2.

Verstappen goes top with a 12.284 as Lawson goes fourth (12.708).

Antonelli posts a 12.214 while Norris goes sixth, 0.549s off the pace.

"Let's box this lap, we can have a set-up change for these new conditions," Hadjar is told. His car "undrivable", the Frenchman is happy to oblige.

Russell improves to fourth with a 12.700.

Stroll's session is over his car having suffered an issue with its ERS.

After 25 minutes of running all the drivers are still on the mediums.

Hamilton is told to pit after reporting that he could feel vibrations from the engine. Clearly they were not good vibrations.

Verstappen runs wide in Turn 4, like his teammate he is clearly having a problem getting his car to do what he wants it to do.

"He just steered to the right, dangerous," says Verstappen of Gasly, the Dutchman subsequently suffering yet another snap.

"I've got smoke in the cockpit, I'm coming in," says Hamilton, the onboard sounding like he has a metal box filled with screws and nails. Back in the pits he climbs from his car.

While the rain never materialised, not even those "tiny drops" Ferrari promised, neither have the red-banded tyres, as yet.

Ah ha, with 18 minutes remaining, Russell and Piastri head down the pitlane on softs. Norris, Verstappen, Leclerc and Antonelli follow suit.

With the floor removed from his car it is unlikely that we will see Hamilton again this session.

Russell crosses the line at 11.806 while Piastri responds with an 11.935.

Norris stops the clock at 11.753, but Antonelli has an 11.647 up his sleeve.

An 11.622 puts Albon top while Albon goes tenth with a 13.147.

Camara goes tenth with a 12.981, as Sainz goes thirteenth (13.303).

Onboard showing Antonelli having a wild snap in Turn 1.

Alonso goes thirteenth while Hadjar can only manage seventh, 0.628s off the pace.

Lindblad goes seventh (12.060), and teammate Lawson eighth, while Bearman can only manage thirteenth, behind his rookie teammate.

Hulkenberg goes twelfth, as Colapinto goes thirteenth.

Gasly goes eleventh, having posted exactly the same time as Bortoleto.

Yesterday the softs were good for two flying laps, but the warmer temperatures this afternoon mean that this is no longer the case.

That said, a number of drivers have clearly settled for their original times.

Perez is to be investigated for "unsafe condition" at Turn 8, the Mexican appearing to have thrown something out of his cockpit.

With less than two minutes remaining, Verstappen heads out again, just a big, thick cloud rolls over the track.

All bar Hamilton and Stroll head out for the practice starts.

Asked what he threw out of his cockpit, Perez says it was a little box... much like our regular Amazon delivery guy.

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

Gasly is eleventh, ahead of Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Camara, Bearman, Albon, Alonso, Sainz, Perez, Bottas and Stroll.

This, under normal circumstances, would set us up perfectly for qualifying, however those grid penalties and the uncertain weather are going to have a serious impact going into Sunday.