The predicted rainfall hasn't appeared, and it looks as though this afternoon's race will enjoy bright sunshine throughout.

All eyes are on the front of the grid, where Renault's Fernando Alonso starts ahead of Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard and Jenson Button. Behind these 'scrappers', we have Trulli, Montoya, Sato, Gene, Raikkonen and Barrichello, a sizzling combination.

It's unlikely that the race will be decided at the first corner however, instead it's pit stop strategy that should be the deciding factor.

While Jarno Trulli has that tremendous Monaco win to his credit, Alonso has had a 'difficult' season and desperately needs a good result today. Although the new McLaren MP4-19B shows pace and promise, there is a massive question mark over it's reliability, don't forget, most of the changes are on the outside. As for BAR, they've been a little off-colour this weekend, and therefore a surprise win seems unlikely.

That said, this is F1, and going by the way the rest of events have unfolded this weekend, anything could happen… and probably will.

As the cars wait on the grid, ahead of the warm-up lap, the ambient temperature is 28 degrees C, while the track temperature is 43 degrees.

The cars line up on the grid, all eyes on Alonso and his Renault, known for its lightning starts. However, Schumacher and the F2004 is no slouch.

It's a clean start everyone gets away cleanly, Alonso hold position ahead of Michael as Trulli moves up to third.

Alonso and Schumacher pull away from Trulli who has Button all over him, as Coulthard watches. Montoya is up to sixth ahead of Raikkonen, Sato, Barrichello and Webber.

By the end of lap 2, Alonso is 1.2s ahead of Schumacher who is 1.1s ahead of Trulli. Button, Coulthard, Montoya, Raikkonen, Sato, Barrichello, Webber, Gene and da Matta are running nose-to-tail.

Schumacher posts the fastest lap (lap 3) as Trulli falls behind, the Italian under serious pressure from Button.

Alonso hits back with a new fastest lap, increasing his lead to 1.4s, meanwhile Panis and Heidfeld are scrapping for eighteenth.

Alonso posts another fastest lap as Schumacher remains in his mirrors, meanwhile Trulli is now 2.2s behind the Ferrari as Button and Montoya also drop back. The Colombian is under heavy pressure from Raikkonen and Barrichello, who has got past Sato. So far so good for the MP4-19B.

Michael and Fernando are lapping with three-thousandths of a second of one another, as Trulli falls to 3.9s behind.

Schumacher continues to apply the pressure, and Alonso appears (at times) to wilt, looking a little untidy. The two of them trade fastest lap, as their rivals fight for the scraps.

The Ferrari closes to within 0.564s of the Renault, these two clearly in a league of their own.

Montoya seems to have dropped Raikkonen, who is now under pressure from Barrichello, while Gene is all over Webber for tenth.

At the end of lap 11, Schumacher pits, as does Raikkonen, da Matta and Gene. The Ferrari is stationary for 7.4s, rejoining in eighth.

Next time around, Coulthard and Barrichello pit, the Scot slightly overshooting his pit.

It's a Renault 1-2, with Alonso leading Trulli, Button is third ahead of Montoya.

At the end of lap 13, Trulli is the first of the Renault drivers to pit, promoting Button to second. Montoya also pits, as does Pantano.

Next time around it's the race leader that pits, the Spaniard stationary for 7.6s, though he's held up for a fraction of a second by Button who has also pitted.

Therefore it's Takuma Sato that leads, though the BAR star has yet to stop.

As the dust settles, Alonso still leads from Michael Schumacher, as Sato and Webber pit. Trulli is running third ahead of Button, Klien, Coulthard, Montoya and Barrichello.

Interestingly, the two Saubers appear to be on two-stoppers, neither of them have pitted.

More disappointment for Sato whose engine gives up, the Japanese driver suffering his umpteenth failure of the season. He's the first retirement this afternoon.