Even if today's race were to produce one of the finest in the history of the sport, there can be no doubt that the event will forever be remembered for reasons other than sport.

A couple of hours before the race is due to start there is the usual knot in the stomach. However, this time it's not in fear of weather conditions, the destiny of the title(s) or the prospect of a major incident at the first corner, it's about something happening entirely unrelated to the sport but which needs the sport. Something given the global audience looking on, that might gain strength from the oxygen of publicity on offer here today.

As ever, as we look ahead to the race we think about tyres, tactics, headwinds and strategy, but what's really playing on everyone's mind is whether there is going to be an incident, an attempt to (further) use this sport and thereby drag it further into the mire.

According to our sources, all sensible people have left Bahrain for the weekend, most of them heading to Dubai. Therefore, assuming FOM gives us a glimpse of the grandstands - and of course the Force Indias - we wonder who will fill the thousands seats that have been empty for much of the weekend. Our sources tell us to expect far more schoolchildren than are usually witnessed at such an event, though the vast army of ex-pats, public sector workers and indeed, the army, are sure to help out, much like extras in a movie.

As for the race itself, and this is, so we are told, the reason we are here, being that it will unite the people of Bahrain, the big topic is tyres. Some are saying that tyres are more important here than at any previous race, then again those within the F1 paddock do have a reputation for hyperbole.

Pirelli says the difference between the medium (prime) and soft (option) can be as much as 0.8s, but this varies from team to team, even driver to driver. Furthermore, as we have seen throughout the weekend thus far, the track is constantly evolving. Furthermore, let's not forget that this race starts an hour later than any of the previous sessions this weekend.

All weekend Red Bull have looked to be in better shape than in China, and though they've had just a few days since the team clearly has taken a step forward, Sebastian Vettel's excellent pole lap sort of proving the point. And with Mark Webber starting third, one has to wonder whether, following the early season blip, the Red Bull juggernaut is back on track.

While McLaren have taken second and fourth on the grid, there is a general feeling that the Woking team has been a little erratic this weekend. Lewis Hamilton certainly looks confident, however, if this race really is about tyres we'd better not discount Jenson Button.