Sadly, thanks to the new regulations, we have been deprived of a thrilling head-to-head into Copse today, with Kimi Raikkonen, who qualified second, demoted to twelfth spot on the grid.

Nonetheless, bearing in mind his performance in France last week, not to mention the fact that teammate Juan Pablo Montoya is starting from third, and could therefore help the Finn's cause, we could still be in for a thrilling afternoon.

Of course, the smart money is on Alonso taking his sixth win of the season, however, don't rule out the Colombian finally coming good in the McLaren.

Jarno Trulli looked good in qualifying, but, as ever, it is the Toyota's race pace - or lack of it - that causes concern. Jenson Button is probably as surprised as anyone to be this far up the grid, however a podium is possible, especially with the benefit of a partisan crowd.

Barring a freak incident, such as a Priest running on to the track, or Ferrari finding a Shaman who can successfully organise a rainstorm, the winner is likely to either be driving a silver and black car or a blue and yellow one.

However, there are several candidates for a points finish, if not a spot on the podium. Michael, Ralf, Fisichella, Sato, Coulthard, Barrichello and Villeneuve spring to mind.

As we look forward to (hopefully) a great afternoon's entertainment, it is only right that we think of those poor people who lost their lives, or were injured, in the terror campaign in London on Thursday.

At present it is known that more than 50 died and around 700 were injured. No matter how seriously we take our sport, it must be remembered that this is all it is, a sport. The horrors of London, and of course all the other atrocities carried out in the name of God in recent years put the pathetic political battles within the F1 paddock firmly in perspective.

Before today's race, the drivers will hold a one-minute silence, out of respect to the victims of Thursday's horror. It goes without saying that Pitpass, which is a London based website, joins them in their tribute and remembers Thursday's victims, just as it remembers all victims of terror.

Later this afternoon, Britain will hold a two-minute silence in memory of those who died in World War 2. Sixty years on and the madness continues.

Anyway, lets hope that F1 will give us a boost this afternoon, we certainly need it.

Sadly, the minute silence was as shambolic as pretty much everything else in F1 these days, with most of those involved clearly confused as to when it began and when it finished. Indeed, Bernie Ecclestone looked angry when an engine was fired up.

As the prepare for the warm up lap, its sunny with hardly a cloud in the sky. The air temperature is 28 degrees C, with the track temperature 45 degrees.

They head off on the warm up lap, Alonso controlling the pace perfectly.

Sato stops on track, failing to take his place on the grid.