You might not be aware, but following today's race, on a specially constructed stage between turns 11 and 12, Elton John will be performing with his band.
Far be it from us to ask; haven't these poor people already suffered enough?
Anyway, this having been the weekend from hell, certainly as far as the weather has been concerned, we go into today's race like a step into the unknown.
FP2 never took place, nor did FP3, while this morning's qualifying session was abandoned after Q2.
Earlier in the week we ran a story predicting that this weekend would involve a "major rain event" and so it proved to be.
Although conditions are not as bad as at some stages this weekend, they appear to be forever changing.
A historic race for two teams today, Red Bull is making its 200th appearance whilst Sauber is celebrating 400 Grands Prix.
As start time approaches the rain has stopped but the track remains very wet. That said, twenty F1 cars should soon help shift some of the water.
After what they've had to put up with for the last couple of days, the fans deserve better than the race starting behind the Safety Car, surely one of the biggest anti-climaxes in sport.
As we await the opening of the pitlane not only has the rain stopped, there are breaks in the cloud with patches of blue behind them. Though Inters will be the order of the day as the drivers make their way to the grid we could well see drivers start on slicks... the first time they've used them this weekend.
Tyres are medium (prime) and soft (option). The teams have not had any chance to formulate the ideal slick tyre strategy for the 56-lap race. However, theoretical calculations would indicate that a two-stop strategy is best, as was also the case last year. At the moment, it's hard to predict the timing of the pit stops as wear and degradation rates are unclear.
The sizeable rooster tails suggest we will see the race get underway on Inters.
The Ferrari duo, who qualified fifth (Vettel) and eighth (Raikkonen) were both hit with 10-place penalties after the team changed their engines, whilst Stevens was hit with a 20-place penalty. Following qualifying however, Williams changed the gearbox on Bottas' car, thereby dropping the Finn 5-places.
Speaking on the grid, Ricciardo says we "should see slicks by the end of the race".
Rosberg is unhappy with his tyres, complaining that he "can't get them to work" and that "there is something wrong with the front tyres" which are "juddering". "Nico, it sounds like they're cold," is the weary response.
Button says it is "a lot wetter than it looks".
Aon the grid, the national anthem having been sung, Rosberg doesn't look happy. Meanwhile, red, white and blue smoke envelops the grid.
With all the uncertainty, re tyres, set-up and just how wet it really is, one phrase springs to mind; the race cannot be won in Turn 1 but it can be lost.
As they prepare to head off on the warm-up lap, all the drivers are on inters. Air temperature is 17 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 19 degrees. Other than cool and damp it is quite blustery.
"Drying out really quickly," says Hamilton as he follows teammate Rosberg on the warm-up lap. Indeed, there does appear to be a distinct dry line.
They're away. It's 2014 all over again as Hamilton gets the better start and forces Rosberg wide in T1, the German losing positions to Kvyat, Ricciardo and Perez as he struggles to rejoin the track. Indeed, the Red Bull duo are all over Hamilton.
Rosberg passes Perez and closes in on Ricciardo with Hulkenberg sixth ahead of Vettel, Verstappen, Button and Raikkonen.
Bottas pits for a new nose as Alonso is told he has a rear-left puncture following a clash with Massa that sends both in to a spin. Grosjean also complains of a puncture after being "hit from behind", the Lotus having been shunted up the rear at the first corner. Meanwhile the two Saubers clash in T1, Ericsson running over Nasr's front wing and leaving debris all over the track. Massa, running behind the Sauber duo runs over the debris.
Grosjean, Rossi, Alonso and Stevens all pit. Massa meanwhile has run over the debris, which looks to be part of Nasr's front wing. The Sauber driver subsequently pits. Stevens appears to have retired having not left the pits.
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