As ever, the big question mark hanging over today's race is strategy. Thanks to the difficult conditions in qualifying we now have a fairly muddled grid, however, it's only in the opening laps that of the race that we'll get to see who was on what strategy. Add to this the fact that many of the drivers have yet to run a lap on dry tyres this weekend.

It was predicted that there would be rain before - and even during - the race, however, as the cars take their places on the grid, the sky is blue and the sun is shining. It looks as though the forecasters may have got it wrong.

Although Michael Schumacher looks to be back on form, as does brother Ralf, the main focus of the race is going to be the battle for runner-up spot in the constructors' championship between BAR and Renault. Many are predicting that Jenson Button could score his first win today, while others believe that local hero Takuma Sato could spring a surprise. It is also going to be worth watching the progress of Raikkonen.

The air temperature is 27 degrees, while the track temperature is 33 degrees.

Zsolt Baumgartner has opted to start from the pitlane.

At 14:30 precisely, Michael Schumacher leads the field away on the warm-up lap.

A strong start by Michael Schumacher and his brother, while Webber loses a couple of positions. Meanwhile Button slots into third ahead of teammate Sato. Panis, starting his last Grand Prix, also has a poor start.

At the end of the first lap, Michael leads his brother by 1.1s, followed by Button, Sato, Trulli, Webber, Coulthard, Villeneuve, Fisichella and Alonso.

By the end of the second lap, Michael leads Ralf by 1.6, while Fisichella is all over Villeneuve, the Italian out running the Renault on the run to the first corner.

The Schumacher brothers are forcing a tremendous pace, third placed Button 4.6s behind Ralf.

The BARs are running nose to tail, while Webber has Coulthard and Fisichella all over him, and Villeneuve is attempting to hold off a whole gaggle of cars including Alonso, Raikkonen, Montoya, Panis and Barrichello.

At the end of lap 5, Michael's lead over Button (third) has stretched to 9.1s, as Barrichello passes Panis to take thirteenth.

Massa is running in fifteenth and closing on Panis, who is having a miserable last GP. Meanwhile, teammate Jarno Trulli is in fifth, 3.1s behind Sato.

Sato gets past Button (team orders?) and sets off after Ralf Schumacher, the Japanese driver's last lap was a 1:35.2, while Button's was 1:37.4. elsewhere, Villeneuve is still locked in battle with Montoya, Raikkonen and Barrichello for tenth.

At the ends of lap 9, Michael leads Ralf by 9.0s, as the WilliamsF1 driver dives into the pits, promoting Sato to second. Panis also pits.