Having broken Ayrton Senna's long-standing record of 65 pole positions, it remains to be seen if Michael Schumacher can today convert this into a victory, what would be his seventh win at Imola.

However, let's keep the Prosecco in the refrigerator just a little bit longer… there's a big race ahead.

First off, let's not write off the Honda driver, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, as the team finally appears to be getting to grips with the problems - mainly tyre related - that have plagued it in the first three races. In qualifying yesterday, both drivers looked very good, and we know that the Japanese team has been working flat out in recent weeks.

Michael will have able support from Felipe Massa, who is sure to be fired up by the local support. The Brazilian is blindingly fast, however, he is prone to overdrive the car, and Imola is a circuit where you pay for your mistakes. This will be particularly important on the first lap on that long, , long, but oh-so-fast, approach to Tamburello and then Villeneuve.

Although Fernando Alonso qualified fifth, write him off at your peril. That said, he knows that it isn't necessary to win races in order to win titles, therefore the Spaniard would most likely be happy to settle for a podium rather than take unnecessary risks.

McLaren however, has its work cut out. In 2005, it was the lead that Renault built in the early part of the season that was to cost the Woking team the title. In 2006 the French team already has a 19 point advantage, therefore Kimi and Juan Pablo are going to have risks.

Both Toyotas qualified in the top ten, clear proof that the team has put the Bahrain nightmare behind it. Although we don't expect the white and red cars to be challenging for the win, another podium, as in Melbourne, is not out of the question.

Thus far this weekend, we haven't witnessed the engine problems seen at some of the earlier races, indeed the cars line up on the grid in the same order they qualified. The big question today, other than tyres, is whether the brakes can withstand the punishment they will receive at a circuit, which, along with Montreal, is known as the brake-buster.

As the cars take their place on the grid, conditions are absolutely ideal, bright sunshine and clear blue skies. Air temperature is 27 degrees C, while the track temperature is 42 degrees. It's hot, very hot!

The cars head off on the parade lap, everyone getting away cleanly.

The grid forms… the crowd waits in anticipation, as do the 22 drivers.

Michael makes a great start ahead of Button, as Barrichello loses out to Massa and Alonso. However, further back Albers had a massive off, the car barrelling over the gravel at Turn 6 after being hit from behind by Yuji Ide's Super Aguri.

Sensibly, the safety car is brought out.

At the end of the first lap, Michael leads Button, Massa, Alonso, Barrichello, Ralf, Montoya, Trulli, Webber and Raikkonen. The Finn having already lost a place.