Ahead of today's Sprint the air temperature is 29 degrees C, while the track temperature is 42 degrees. Humidity is 61%, though it is quite windy.
In many ways the 100km dash offers insight into what we might witness tomorrow, what with Verstappen starting ahead of the two McLarens. But added to the mix we have Hulkenberg and Alonso, not to mention Russell and the Williams pair mixing it with the Ferraris.
Being a Sprint there are just 8 points available to the winner, and while those 8 points would help close the gap to the leaders, the likes of Piastri and Norris cannot afford to lose out heavily tomorrow due to something that goes wrong today.
Therefore, as crucial as each point is, the 'big guns' cannot afford to take risks, and in some ways it will be better to yield to the likes of the Sauber or Aston Martin than to risk an incident that could impact qualifying this afternoon and thereby the race.
It was a difficult day for Ferrari yesterday, with both drivers getting into Q3 by the skin of their teeth, however there was also that 0.380s gap between Verstappen and Piastri, after all let's not forget that McLaren hasn't won since Zandvoort.
As ever, much will depend on the first corner and Turn 1 here has history. If he gets the jump on the McLarens there is every possibility that Verstappen will disappear into the distance, however as they jostle for position those infamous "consequences" will no doubt be weighing heavily on Mr Norris, who, of course, will recall last year's nightmare when lost out to the charging Dutchman.
Indeed, when the pitlane opens Verstappen is first out, followed by Tsunoda, Ocon, Hulkenberg and Bortoleto.
The performance gap between medium and soft is slightly bigger than predicted, but that's not unusual during a sprint weekend, with the teams having limited time to optimise car set-up and maximise overall performance. The big question is however, can the softs last 19 laps.
Ahead of the formation lap all are starting on mediums, all bar Russell, Hamilton, Leclerc, Antonelli, Hadjar, Stroll and Lawson on fresh rubber.
Verstappen leads the field away on the formation lap. All get away.
The grid forms slowly, as Verstappen takes his place on pole Bortoleto is still at Turn 17.
They're away! And it's disaster...
Verstappen gets away well, unlike Norris, indeed going into Turn 1 the McLarens are side-by-side. However, the Australian appears to yield to his teammate who is on the inside, but this puts him into the past of Hulkenberg and Alonso who are sneaking up on the inside.
The right-front of the Sauber hits the left rear of Piastri’s car sending him airborn and into his teammate who spins out. As Alonso is also involved in the carnage that ensues, clouted by the spinning Sauber, somehow Hamilton weaves his way through the mayhem, despite being tapped by his Ferrari teammate.
The Safety Car is deployed as Verstappen leads Russell, Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton, Albon, Tsunoda, Bearman, Gasly and Antonelli.
While Norris has stopped at Turn 1, Alonso stops at Turn 6 and Piastri at Turn 9, the Australian suffering suspension damage.
"Massive sandwich," says Hulkenberg.
Under the Safety Car, Hulkenberg and Stroll both pit at the end of Lap 1.
"That was terrible," says Zak Brown, "neither of our drivers to blame. Amateur hour. Nico drove into Oscar."
"There's bits of debris all over the track... it's everywhere," reports Hamilton. Indeed, Colapinto has picked up a puncture and has to pit.
The Safety Car is withdrawn at the end of Lap 5.
Ahead of the restart Russell is all over the leader. Verstappen lets loose, with Russell in hot pursuit.
There will be no further investigation of the Turn 1 incident.
Hamilton is hard on the heels of his Ferrari teammate.
That first lap sees Verstappen post a 36.703 as Russell is just 0.6s behind.
Antonelli makes a move on Gasly but to no avail.
On successive laps Verstappen suffers oversteer in the final corner.
Leclerc has been noted for a Safety Car infringement.
Russell makes a move on Verstappen in Turn 12 and both run wide in the process, maintaining position.
Hamilton takes advantage of a mistake by Leclerc which clearly rattled the Monegasque. Elbows out stuff from the seven-time world champion.
Russell has been noted for forcing Verstappen off track. The Mercedes driver has dropped 1.8s behind the Red Bull.
In quick succession Antonelli and Lawson pass a struggling Gasly.
No further investigation of the Russell incident.
"The ride is completely **** from the rear," complains Verstappen.
As Hamilton closes on Sainz, Leclerc drops 1.6s behind.
Russell has dropped 2.3s behind Verstappen.
"We have 2 strikes both at Turn 12," Russell is warned re track limits.
Antonelli and Bearman are having a great scrap for 8tgh - the final point - and in the process the Haas driver runs wide but maintains position.
No further action over Leclerc's Safety Car infringement.
Bearman has been noted for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Ocon and Stroll tangle as the Aston Martin driver spears the Frenchman. The Haas is out on the spot while the Canadian continues with just three wheels... much like another Canadian all those years ago.
The Safety Car is deployed again.
Bearman gets a 10s penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. "What the hell?" says the Haas driver.
Sadly, the race finishes under the Safety Car. Verstappen takes the flag, ahead of Russell, Sainz, Hamilton, Leclerc, Albon, Tsunoda and Bearman, though the Briton will actually drop to last.
Consequently Antonelli is eighth, ahead of Lawson, Gasly, Bortoleto, Hadjar, Hulkenberg, Colapinto and Bearman.
"We definitely had a solid race with solid pace," says Sainz. "The Ferraris were quick behind but we kept them at bay.
"I've had this pace all year," he adds, "I just wasn't able to show it and prove it. I am doing everything I was doing in the first half of the season but things are just clicking."
"I knew you don't get many opportunities with Max so I sent it, and P2 was better than we could have expected," adds Russell. "I was on the outside at the (re)start and fully sent it, and then I realised everyone on the inside fully sent it as well! Looked like three cars into one..."
"Start was good, then there was the Safety Car," says Verstappen. "It took a few laps after the Safety Car to have decent pace so we need to figure out what was going on there.
"We do need to be more decent in race trim tomorrow to fight the McLarens," he admits. "We'll have a look, we have some ideas of what we can do."
The result means that while Verstappen is 55 points down on Piastri, he is just 33 behind Norris.
A nightmare for McLaren, but a scenario which only adds to the anticipation of the remaining races.
Check out our Saturday gallery from COTA here.
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