It's all very well X, Y and Z claiming that they are targeting a win today or aiming to spoil Sebastian Vettel's party, but let's consider some facts.

The German, who starting from pole position for the eleventh time this season, has won 8 of this season's 13 Grands Prix. Only once has he failed to make it the podium, and even then he finished fourth, while of the 325 points on offer so far this year he has taken 284, that around 87%.

Therefore, it's not really about what X, Y or Z might do, it's more about what Vettel fails to do.

Today, not only can the German become the youngest F1 driver to win two world championship titles, he can join that elite list of drivers - the others being Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jack Brabham, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen and Fernando Alonso - to win back-to-back titles. Fact is, whether he does it today or not, it's going to happen.

With an all Red Bull front row Vettel will be feeling pretty confident, and while Mark Webber would very much like to take his first win of the year, and maybe take just a little shine off the German's achievements, it really looks as though today's race is Seb's to lose.

Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, other than wanting to spoil the party, and maybe help McLaren close in on its Austrian rival in the Constructors' Championship, are locked in their own in-house battle, with the 2009 champ appearing to have the edge of late. Still smarting from recent media criticism, continued attention from the stewards and a frustrating outings in Belgium and Italy, Hamilton has a lot of ground to make up. Yesterday's cock-up in Q3, which saw him miss the chance of a final run due to a refuelling error, will have done little to lighten his mood, while we should not forget what happened here last year. Therefore, ignoring the battle with the Red Bulls, keep an eye on the Woking wonders' in-house due this afternoon.

No such problems at Ferrari where Fernando clearly rules the roost, however, with so much expected of the red cars this weekend, can the Maranello outfit salvage something today following a disappointing qualifying performance.

As ever, the behind Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari, the Mercedes have been the 'best of the rest' this weekend, however, never before has the gap to the leading six been quite so vivid, the German cars consistently well over a second off the pace.

That said, Nico Rosberg, following a frustrating outing in Italy will be further motivated by his teammate's ever improving form while Schumacher is clearly having the time of his life.

There will be added pressure on the Mercedes duo today from their rivals at Force India, both Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta - frustratingly for the fans - sitting out Q3 in order to save some fresh rubber for today's race.

Things were looking quite good for Sauber yesterday until Kamui Kobayashi's disagreement with the notorious kerbs at the chicane. Though the Swiss outfit appears to be following BMW's example and failing to continue development in the closing stages of the season, it could do well here, especially with tyre strategy such a serious consideration.

No doubt Sam Michael would dearly love to bring his career with Williams to a close with a handful of points however, barring a major shock, this is highly unlikely.

There's motivation for the Toro Rosso duo today not only in terms of retaining their seats for 2012 but also the opportunity to take points from Sauber, the Swiss outfit just 6 points ahead of its Italian rivals.

Renault has had the weekend from hell. Having scrapped its new bodywork package after Friday's sessions, the Enstone outfit was left further frustrated yesterday when Bruno Senna's late charge, which saw the Brazilian make it through to Q2, saw his teammate drop into the danger zone and thereby eliminate at the first hurdle. Both drivers are talking up their hopes of a points finish but this is highly unlikely.

Having announced that it is to extend its contract with Renault, not to mention finally getting KERS, Lotus will simply have to bide its time and look forward to the new season.

Virgin, like its rivals at HRT, will be merely happy to get both its cars home in one piece, like Lotus, the Russian outfit hoping that planned changes for 2012 will result in a marked improvement.