Hello and welcome to Albert Park for the third and final practice session of the Australian Grand Prix.

After two exciting practice sessions yesterday, we can expect a few more thrills and spills today before we have a grid confirmed for Sunday's race.

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Plenty of gossip in the paddock today after Lewis Hamilton's exploits last night in a Mercedes road car.

We probably won't see any rain in this session but it is cloudy.

The man of the moment Lewis Hamilton is getting into his car.

He's not alone, plenty of drivers ready to get out on track.

The drivers head onto the track with Tonio Liuzzi leading the way from Trulli and Kovalainen in the Lotuses

John Travolta is one of the celebrities in the paddock this weekend.

Most drivers are completing installation laps, so no meaningful times yet.

Hamilton is out on track on hard tyres, as is Jenson Button.

And Lewis was doing some burnouts on his way doen the pit lane...

Fortunately it's all above board on the Albert Park track.

The two McLarens are pushed back into the pits.

The track has fallen silent, just both Mercedes, Webber and Senna yet to complete a lap.

As I type, Senna heads out in the HRT.

The HRTs looked horrible over the bumps yesterday, they'll be hoping to find a better set up today.

Senna is taking it fairly easy on his out lap.

And Senna returns to the pits.

Overnight update from Renault: "The car was reasonably stable at the rear yesterday with a bit of understeer, so we worked on the front end."

Vitaly Petrov is starting his first proper run of the day in the Renault.

He's out there on hard tyres and is building up speed as he goes across the line to start a flying lap.

Petrov's car looks lively but he's on top of it. But gets a massive slide on into the penultimate corner and just puts it on the grass.

No serious damage but a bit of grass on the tyres.

Massa is also starting his first run. The Ferrari is visibly more planted than the Renault but he's definitely pushing.

Massa sets the fastest lap yet with a 1:28.516.

Massa drops into his time to a 1:27.190. We can expect them to go a good two seconds faster than that in qualifying. Possibly even more.

All drivers are out on track now. It'll get very busy, but the drivers need to get used to it ahead of Q1.

Alonso gets stuck in traffic and almost stops on the apex of the penultimate corner to give himself some space.

Vettel fastest - 1:26.242

Petrov still stuggling to control the back of the car.

"Tell us you were kidding about the burnouts in pitlane by Hamilton! ;)" - a message from Ralph regarding Lewis.

I wasn't joking, he was warming his tyres. Someone in McLaren must have a sense of humour because Button wasn't told to do the same.

Hamilton sets the fastest time - 1:25.706

Alonso gets chopped up by one of the HRTs

Schumacher runs slightly wide. The track still looks quite slippery so we could have some mistakes in qualifying.

Schumacher's time is 0.377 off Hamilton's best.

Button enters turn one, the rear steps out and he has to get straight off the throttle. Lots of dramas out there.

Webber goes second fastest just 0.068 off Hamilton.

Senna chops up Barrichello and then the HRT pulls off. That's the end of his session.

Senna's car is stuck in gear and the neutral button on the top of car has to be pressed.

News from Virgin: "Timo happy with balance generally. So sticking to plan and changing tyres. The old set is finished with now and going back to bridgestone."

Fastest through the speed trap is Hamilton at 308 kph. Button next at 305 kph. That F-Duct is doing its job.

Massa and Alonso at 303 kph. in third and fourth.

The speed trap is located towards the end of the pit straight at Albert Park.

Just Alguersuari, Kovalainen, Alonso and de la Rosa out on track now.

As I type a whole load more head out. It's about to get busy again.

A lot of cars are going sideways through the first corner. It's great to watch. Hopefully more of that to come in qualifying and the race.

Nobody looks that quick at the moment. Maybe some heavier fuel loads in the cars now.

Alonso ruins that theory with a 1:25.559.

He was very fast in the final sector which has proved tricky this weekend.

None of the big names are out on soft tyres yet, so that will give them an extra bit of lap time later in the session.

Alonso has set the fastest first sector of all. Ferrari are now showing their hand. But he bails out of that lap and into the pits, it was set to be even quicker than his last.

The track is a bit dirty according to Renault - "Seems like track conditions are a bit different than yesterday, should improve though."

Schumacher goes fastest on a 1:25.494.

De la Rosa has a nasty moment in the Sauber, as the back snaps out into turn 13. He holds onto it though.

As the track conditions get better the drivers will have to adapt their set-up and style very slightly.

Webber now fastest with a 1:25.309 - still on hard tyres.

The top nine cars are separated by less than a second. Kubica is the man mixing it with the big four teams.

Hamilton is now the fastest through the speed trap at 311 kph. Petrov is the fastest non-McLaren with 303 kph.

Get ready for some quick times. Ferrari says - "Now everyone will go for the final run soft tyres"

Kobayashi is the first out on the softs. And he sets a 1:26.366 which is good enough for 11th fastest.

Alonso has left the pits for a quick lap.

Lotus and Trulli are running in circles according to Mike Gascoyne - "Jarno not happy with setup so went back to starting setup from yesterday and looks better on second run."

Hamilton and Button look fast through the first sector. But Button loses lots of time in the final sector, as does Hamilton. Watch out for that in qualifying.

Webber is now on a fast lap on the softs. Very quick through sector two. And sets the fastest lap with a 1:24.794.

Alonso just off the Red Bull with a 1:24.794. Buemi very nearly goes into the back of de la Rosa in the final corner. Traffic is still a big issue.

Vettel is 0.328 off his team-mate Webber. Scumacher is 0.422 off after losing time in the final sector.

Yellow flag with two minutes to go...

Webber goes quicker though with a 1:24.719.

Hamilton will miss out on a quali simulation as he's been called for weighing by the FIA. Chandhok caused the yellow with what looks like a mechanical fault.

Vettel fastest in the final sector but couldn't set a fast middle sector due to the yellows. His best is a 1:25.122.

Chequered flag is out and Webber's time looks safe.

That's it for free practice. Thank you for joining us. Qualifying is in two hours time, make sure you check back to see who lines up on pole.