Over the years the Circuit de Catalunya has earned a reputation for producing snorefests, though this has had more to do with the teams' and drivers' familiarity with the track more than anything, what with the endless amount of testing that has been carried out here.

The new rules mean that there is less testing these days, while in recent years there has been a tendency to tinker with the layout.

Ahead of this weekend's big race, it was widely claimed that the track's reputation for producing dull non-events would be put to the test, perhaps even consigned to history, as the new rules and tyres promised overtaking aplenty and almost unlimited pit-stops.

However, as fans prepare to go see the new movie Senna, it is worth remembering that the Circuit de Catalunya produced one of the most iconic images of the modern era - we refer, of course, to the time the legendary Brazilian went head-to-head with Nigel Mansell in 1991 going into the first corner and essentially 'bottled it'.

Whether today's race will produce such a classic moment remains to be seen, however, in terms of strategy, a mixed up grid, tyres and even the threat of protests, we can expect some fun and games.

Pirelli has introduced a new hard compound here, and while far more durable than its predecessor it is around 2s a lap slower. In other words, if you're on the hards while your rival is on softs you'll be left for dead.

One of the men to watch this afternoon therefore will be Michael Schumacher. The German suffered a KERS failure in Q3 and was therefore unable to post a time. This mean that he is free to choose what tyres he starts the race on while the nine men in front of him will all be on worn softs. Indeed, Lewis Hamilton will be on a flat-spotted set of softs.

With tyre strategy so important here, perhaps Jim Casey has a point when he tips Jenson Button to take a surprise win however, we cannot help but feel that this will be another Red Bull walkover.

Mark Webber did well to take pole - albeit helped by his teammate suffering a KERS problem - and it would be good for everyone to see someone other that Sebastian Vettel on the top step of the podium later - no disrespect intended. Other than a major shock - and The Rapture has already passed us by - it is difficult to imagine anyone other than a Red Bull driver winning this afternoon.

Hamilton has given 100% for much of the weekend but clearly hates the new hard tyres, and it is clear that, in normal circumstances, the McLaren is no match for the Red Bull at present.

Having just signed a contract that commits him to Ferrari until the end of 2016, it's hard to believe that Fernando Alonso and the Italian outfit could get quite so excited about securing fourth place on the grid, however, that's a measure not only of the Spaniard's effort yesterday but, more importantly, the task they face in catching the Red Bulls far less beating them.