´óÏó´«Ã½

Cactus Jack: Think it's still too little too late for Albon. The drive is gone

This is the day Alexander Albon has been waiting for for a long time. He's back at the top, but only just, by the margin of 0.007 seconds.

It's a Red Bull one-two and a Ferrari three-four.

Mercedes, who have already clinched the constructors' title, are eighth and 11th with Hamilton ahead.

Simon Baker: I've got quite a few both realistic and not, Nurburgring, Mugello, Brands Hatch and 1985 layout of Kyalami.

Paulo Jacinto: Why not have 30 tracks where a race can take place. Then pick the traditional ones as permanent like Monaco and Silverstone etc, then pick the remaining at random? That would make it more interesting for sure.

My front right is ripping apart.

Alexander Albon, now also on the softs, moved to the top of the times, but before he can start celebrating that his lap is wiped out for exceeding track limits at Turn 1.

Charles Leclerc, on his graining tyres, moves to the top with a 1:30.751. That's one tenth clear of Alexander Albon.

On the soft tyres...

"They are graining so quickly"

1. Albon 1:30.872 (Red Bull, current tyres mediums)
2. Hamilton +0.636 (Mercedes, mediums)
3. Verstappen +0.642 (Red Bull, mediums)
4. Leclerc +0.668 (Ferrari, softs)
5. Bottas +1.24 (Mercedes, mediums)
6. Vettel +1.808 (Ferrari, softs)
7. Perez +2.959 (Racing Point, mediums)
8. Stroll +3.133 (Racing Point, mediums)
9. Raikkonen +3.214 (Alfa Romeo, softs)
10. Latifi +3.422 (Williams, softs)

A few drivers are going to try their luck on the softs. We may well see new leaders, or a few spinners, quite soon.

Matt Claypole: I'd love to see Zolder and Road America on the calendar. Zolder is a deceptively demanding and challenging track and Road America is legendary in its own way. Besides, RA's Turn 9/10 (Carousel corner) makes Istanbul's Turn 8 look like a walk in the park.

Juha Flythstrom: Sepang would be ideal replacement for Vietnam in 2021. IMO the best Tilke-Drome there is.

Alexander Albon, whose seat at Red Bull is very much under pressure after just the one podium finish in more than a year with the team, is currently the fastest on track thanks to a lap of 1:30.872.

That's six tenths better than Max Verstappen, who is second, but complaining of 'dead' tyres. Next is Charles Leclerc, then Valtteri Bottas, then Lewis Hamilton.

Sergio Perez, without a drive for 2021 and a potential replacement for Albon, is sixth.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Albon looking good and that could be at a good time for him. Maybe it's not too late for him.

My right front tyre is giving up a bit.

The first spinner of the afternoon session is Romain Grosjean at Turn Eight.

"I don't want to use those tyres again today," says the Frenchman.

Now we're getting going. It seems like almost everyone who is finishing a lap is moving to the top of the times. The Red Bull two, just as they were in the first session, are the current top two. Albon 1:31.916, with Verstappen nine tenths slower.

The mediums are the tyre of choice for all the rapid ones.

We didn't see much of Lewis Hamilton earlier on as he sat out the first hour. He jumps up to second but expect the times to tumble quickly.

Charles Leclerc then jumps to the top.

We've already got times from 12 of the 20, and it's still very slippery with times about 14 seconds slower than we were expecting.

Valtteri Bottas, needing full points to keep the title race alive, sets an early marker with a 1:35.107.

This track and these conditions seems to be playing into Ferrari's hands with Charles Leclerc second and Sebastian Vettel fourth after a good morning session.

Luke Tyson: Dream Calendar: Spain, Paul-Ricard, Singapore, Russia, Abu Dhabi OUT Malaysia Hockenheim Mugello IN.

Paulo Jacinto: Shame Portugal has been removed from the calendar. It's a cracking track, very different from flat pack normal ones.

Martin Jarvis: I would love to see f1 at Mount Panorama in Australia