Sebastian Vettel, by the way, set that time on the soft tyres, with the Ferrari man one of a number of drivers to make the switch to the faster compound. Max Verstappen, currently second fastest, and Fernando Alonso, ninth fastest, are two of the others to do so.

Image source, EPA

Yellow flagpublished at 16:34

16:34

All change at the top as Sebastian Vettel goes fastest of all with 1:21.871, putting him half a second clear of the rest. Max Verstappen then bumps Daniel Ricciardo down to a third. 

There's the briefest of flutters of the yellow flags as Daniil Kvyat spins 180 degrees. No drama though as he gets himself back up and running.

Lewis Hamilton gets held up by Alexander Rossi on the latter stages of his lap and he loses a bit of time, clocking 1:22.504. He would have gone fastest but for hitting that bit of traffic because his time is just 0.002s off Daniel Ricciardo's leading effort.

Lewis Hamilton's initial effort is just good enough for 17th fastest, but he was weaving on that lap to get temperature into his tyres. This next one should offer a more representative time.

Image source, Getty Images

The camera picks out four people in the stands wearing t-shirts spelling out CHECO. One of them has the letters H and E on the one shirt, couldn't they find a fifth friend?

The only man left to set a timed lap is Lewis Hamilton, but he is coming round for one now.

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Daniel Ricciardo has left it quite late into the session to post his first timed lap but he does so now and goes fastest of all with 1:22.909, just 0.046s faster than his Red Bull team-mate Daniil Kvyat's effort.

Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas reports that grip is better than yesterday but that "we're still sliding a bit".

Image source, Reuters

Back to matters on the circuit and times keep on tumbling as Daniil Kvyat goes fastest, sticking a 1:23.029 on the board. 

Lewis Hamilton has yet to embark on his first timed effort, having spent the first 20 minutes doing some practice starts, but Nico Rosberg is up and running with 1:23.322, putting him into P2.

Here's Kimi's radio exchange before he came to a stop: "I had some issue with the engine. I don't have the power. I had some vibration and there's some smoke. Do I stop or not?" 

"Switch off Kimi switch off."

Kimi Raikkonen brought his Ferrari to a stop at Turn 10, smoke coming from the rear. He climbs out before walking round to inspect the back of his car.

Yellow flagpublished at 16:13

16:13

Yellow flags just after Nico Hulkenberg goes fastest. Kimi Raikkonen is pulling off the circuit...

Image source, EPA

Everyone is out on medium tyres bar Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Daniil Kvyat. Felipe Massa goes fastest now with 1:23.803, putting him ahead of Sergio Perez, Nico Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso.

Perez, meanwhile, reports that grip levels are still low, an issue that troubles all the drivers throughout yesterday.

Image source, Reuters