Other than the British Grand Prix, today sees the men's final at Wimbledon, and that can only mean one thing… rain, and lot's of it.

Yes, as predicted, the rain gods have been busy in Northamptonshire, and pretty much elsewhere in the UK. This morning's GP2 race was held in atrocious conditions, with Bruno Senna taking a dominant win which will surely lead to endless comparisons with his Uncle, while this afternoon we can expect much more of the same, with rain and strong winds battering the track and the hardy souls in the grandstands and public enclosures.

Consequently, the form book goes out of the window, and while we might well have expected to see Heikki Kovalainen or even Mark Webber take a maiden GP win, today's conditions could even see Jenson Button or Giancarlo Fisichella return to the top step of the podium.

With forty-five minutes to go before the start, the rain has stopped, but the ominous clouds that surround the circuit indicate that this is merely a temporary lull.

There is talk that Kovalainen is running heavier than his McLaren teammate, which puts yesterday's performance into perspective, while Webber is thought to have been running on fumes. However, as we've said before, once the heavens open up - and they will - all the previous planning and strategy means little, especially if one or two drivers get a little over-enthusiastic at Copse and end up bringing out the safety car.

Alonso is one of the first drivers to come out for an installation lap, the Renault throwing up the familiar rooster tail. Full wets would appear to be the order of the day, however, many appear to have opted for inters, since the rain has now stopped.

As he makes his way to the grid, the front of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari twitches, the Finn we be eager, once the race gets underway, to make a move on Webber and Kovalainen, whilst keeping a watching eye on Hamilton and the rest of the guys behind him.

Nico Rosberg, who had a dreadful qualifying session, complaining that his car was "dancing" in every corner, is starting from the pitlane, his team having worked on his suspension overnight.

The air temperature is 16 degrees C, while the track temperature is 17 degrees, almost chilly. The wind speed is 6.9 mps.

Looking down the grid, as the field prepares to head off for the warm up lap, everyone appears to be on standard wets. They head off, Kovalainen leading the way, everyone taking it very cautiously. After all, who will forget Alain Prost's off at Imola all those years ago? Even the best can get caught out.

They're away, and it's a poor tart from Webber, but a superb start from Hamilton, who almost takes the lead through Copse, but Kovalainen is having none of it. The Finn appearing to touch his English teammate's car as they battle for the lead. As the field heads off into the distance, Webber spins, a disaster for the Australian who drops to last. Further on around the lap, Massa spins as does Nakajima, while Coulthard and Vettel go off into the gravel. It's mayhem for some but not for others.

At the end of the first lap, Hamilton prepares to make a move on Kovalainen, but then falls back. There's still a long, long way to go.

Kovalainen, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Heidfeld, Alonso, Piquet, Trulli, Kubica, Glock and Barrichello. We've lost Vettel and Coulthard.