For the third time in his Formula One career, Jenson Button starts from pole position. Although the Englishman isn't famous for his superfast getaways from the grid, Renault is, therefore he will be under intense pressure to arrive at the first corner ahead of the two blue and yellow cars that are lined up right behind him.

Add to this the fact that both McLarens are also well and truly in the mix, and you have the prospect of a scintillating start to today's race.

Speaking after yesterday's qualifying session, both Renault drivers seemed highly confident, but so too did McLaren boss Ron Dennis.

Furthermore, whereas the McLaren and Renault drivers will be prepared to support their teammates, willing to ride shotgun if necessary, Button is on his own, for his teammate is starting from sixteenth on the grid.

Then again, there is the fact that in the two previous races the Honda has appeared to lack a strong race pace, while strategically the Brackley based outfit is not as strong as many of its rivals.

Behind Button, and the Renault and McLaren pairings, the other drivers to watch today will be Webber, Heidfeld and the Toyota duo, whose car appears to have improved considerably since Bahrain.

Michael Schumacher is also worth watching, as ever, but in all honesty the Ferrari hasn't looked that impressive this weekend, clearly struggling fro grip.

Unlike Sepang, there have been no major reshuffles to the grid following qualifying, indeed the only driver to have incurred a penalty is BMW's Jacques Villeneuve who starts nineteenth.

As the cars take their places on the grid, the air temperature is 20 degrees and the track temperature is 27 degrees. It is sunny, with no real sign of the rain showers that had been predicted. That said, it did rain overnight, which will have washed away some of the rubber already laid down, while the wind also remains a factor.

They head off on the parade lap, Button controlling the pace of the field that is snapping at his heels.

Hard to believe but Montoya has spun as he makes his way to the grid, leaving the field to wind its way past his car, which is facing the wrong way on the pit straight. That will definitely have wiped the smile off Ron Dennis' face.

Meanwhile Fisichella stalls on the grid, which means the field heads off on another parade lap, and that when the grid reforms, Raikkonen will have 'clear air' ahead of him.

Button makes a strong start, as does Alonso, while the McLarens are side by side. At the first corner Alonso makes his move but Button is having none of it. Further behind, there is an incident involving Klien, Massa and Rosberg and another incident involving Coulthard and Trulli, consequently the safety car is deployed.

Calamity for Ferrari and Toyota, as Massa and Trulli are already out, while Rosberg returns to the pits having lost his rear wing. To add to the drama, Fisichella has spun behind the safety car.