After two days of bright sunshine and glorious temperatures, today, as predicted, it is overcast. Following rain overnight there was a little more just ahead of the GP2 race but nothing significant.

However, it remains overcast and the general opinion is that there will be some heavy rain over the course of the afternoon. When it rain in Monza it really rains, and though this is one of the shortest - in terms of race length - races on the calendar, even a short downpour could turn the race on its head. After all, even when it has stopped raining the track remains damp courtesy of the oak trees overhanging the track and dripping rain water.

A change in the weather is the best hope that many have of stopping the Sebastian Vettel steamroller in its tracks, especially as we now head to a series of 'Red Bull friendly' tracks.

The British drivers, notably, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, will take heart from the fact that both the GP3 and GP2 events this morning were won by Britons, Jack Harvey in GP3 and Adrian Quaife-Hobbs in GP2.

Following yesterday's controversial qualifying session there was further controversy. Adrian Sutil was penalised for impeding Lewis Hamilton, who, in turned, said he drove like an idiot and apologised to his Mercedes team.

However, the big story was the question of whether Fernando Alonso called his team idiots or genius', the Spaniard insisting it was the latter.

With Ferrari already under intense scrutiny from the Italian media, and with Luca di Montezemolo and Piero Ferrari in attendance this is not what was needed, especially as the two drivers will start from fourth and fifth, the Spaniard out-qualified by his teammate.

Of course, Alonso has history, remember Hungary 2007 and what followed? With the Spaniard and his team still smarting from the spat over the summer break one has to wonder whether Kimi Raikkonen might be being lined up not to replace Massa but Alonso himself.

In another move that is sure to cause unrest, Red Bull has been allowed to change some of the gear ratios (5th, 6th and 7th) and associated dog rings, while Ferrari changed the 2nd gear ration on Massa's car.

However of more importance is the revelation that Red Bull is heading to Barcelona for a tyre test for Pirelli. The Austrian team will use its 2011 car which will be driven by Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastien Buemi.

Finally, ahead of today's race, Charlie Whiting has warned that any driver going straight on at the second chicane (who misses the black and yellow speed bump placed before the apex kerb of turn 5) must stay to the right of the red and white polystyrene block (or in its absence, the yellow line) and may re-join the track at the far end of the asphalt run-off area.

Forty-fine minutes before the start of the race, around fifteen before the pitlane opens, mechanics are working on Button's car, which is thought to have a fuel system related issue.

Meanwhile, rain has begun to fall, not a lot but enough for some in the crowd to raise their umbrellas.

Of course, if it continues, intensifies or, even better, stops and then starts again, it will indeed turn everything on its head.

Looking at the grid, the cynic in us feels that Hulkenberg's third in qualifying was a little smoke and mirrors. No disrespect to the talented German but something doesn't feel right. Then again, if it is wet, we know 'The Hulk' is superb in the wet.