We're going to go out on a limb here and predict that - providing a cooler cover isn't left off one of his radiators - Jenson Button will win today's race.

As with most races today could be decided at the first corner, however, Monaco - as with most everything that happens here - is just that little bit special. If it isn't Ste Devote that catches you out it could be Casino Square, the Hairpin, the Nouvelle Chicane, the Swimming Pool or Rascasse. So many ways to trip up, so many rivals to assist you.

Thankfully, on this, the shortest of F1 tracks, pit stop activity will not be as manic as witnessed in recent events with Pirelli predicting a maximum of two stops. Indeed, the Italian manufacturer believes that some drivers will stop just once.

The difference between the two tyres - soft (prime) and supersoft (option) - is around 1.2s - 1.4s, Pirelli claiming that the prime are "good for 30 laps".

Of course, the big story remains Sergio Perez' horrific crash yesterday, everyone astounded that the Mexican youngster escaped relatively unscathed. However, nobody is forgetting what happened just a few hours earlier when Nico Rosberg used up several of his nine lives when he narrowly avoided crashing at the exact same spot.

Whilst we do not pretend to be experts, surely the best solution would be to angle the barrier where Perez crashed to a sort of 'pint' that deflects the car to the left or right rather than allowing it to slam full on. But what do we know?

A number of drivers are complaining about the various bumps here. However, this isn't Silverstone, Bernie cannot just click his fingers, threaten to take the race elsewhere and the job gets done. Not only do people live here, very, very rich people live here. They are wiling to let their town be taken over for one week but they will not sit idly by while the Principality is dug up and moved around in the name of sport. Many of the bumps were here before F1 existed and will be there long after Bernie has gone to that great paddock in the sky.

Now while we've picked Button as our winner, let's not get carried away, Sebastian Vettel comes here having won four of this year's five races. Indeed, he won seven of the previous nine races.

Monaco is one win that every driver wants on his CV and having lost out to teammate Mark Webber last year the German will be keen to make amends. That said, having failed to open his win account so far this season what better time for the Australian to open his 2011 account.

Fernando Alonso has looked good for much of the weekend, even if he's been pushing the Ferrari way beyond its limit. Massa has been pushing equally hard but without the results. Being almost a home race for the Scuderia - and Monaco being a great leveller - what better time for the team to make up for the misery of last weekend.

Starting from fifth, this could be Schumacher's best chance for s podium to date, what's more there are no Petrovs, Kobayashis or Alguersuaris to tangle with - at least on the first lap surely. Showing no signs of his horrendous accident yesterday, Nico Rosberg will be keen to turn the limitations of Monaco to his advantage.

Maldonado starts in the Top Ten for the second successive week, the Venezuelan suddenly beginning to discover some self belief. Sadly, Williams teammate Rubens Barrichello had been plagued by various problems all weekend.

While McLaren looked the most likely threat to Red Bull, it's hopes took a knock when Lewis Hamilton only managed to qualify seventh, the result of an unusually poor strategic call - given the circuit. To add to Hamilton's frustration, the stewards subsequently eliminated his Q3 time after ruling that he jumped the chicane on his sole flying lap. He should be starting from tenth but gains a place due to the fact that Perez is not racing today.

Renault describes its own performance thus far this weekend as "lacklustre", and given the nature of the Monaco track we don't expect any significant improvements today.

Starting from thirteenth, and with his team's hopes resting entirely on his shoulders, Kamui Kobayashi should be well worth watching today, the Japanese driver no respecter of reputations - be they drivers' or circuits'.

Force India, like Renault, has been disappointing, and the best the Silverstone outfit can surely hope for today is a couple of points courtesy of the elimination of rivals.