No better place to start the Formula One Grand Prix season than Melbourne. Still enough heat in the day to warm the cockles as the teams emerge from the European winter, and a great ambiance in the Albert Park paddock.

The introduction of a new tyre supplier, Pirelli, throws in a welcome variable that might yet do the job of Bernie's sprinklers. The drivers expect rapid degradation, which will put a premium on strategy and could see cars diving back to the pits three or four times a race.

The addition of the moveable rear wing, operational in a sector of the track just before the cars hit the final turn, is another fun characteristic that might make a difference. Let us hope Jenson Button is right and the changes produce more overtaking.

Last season went to the wire. Red Bull racing have been relatively modest in revealing what they are bringing to the opening race, which suggests confidence that they retain enough of last season's supremacy to begin the defence of their F1 title with a win.

Ferrari have posted vibrant numbers throughout the winter, putting in some impressive long runs and quick single laps. If the Prancing horse is a match for the Red Bull then Fernando Alonso will have the backing of most to claim a third Formula 1 world championship.

It was clear from last season's dynamic that Ferrari's strategy is built firmly around Alonso and not Felipe Massa, thus avoiding the trap into which McLaren fell when the Spaniard was paired with Lewis Hamilton in 2007.

Will Sebastian Vettel make it two world titles in a row? Has his Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber learned from the mistakes of last year? And what of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button at McLaren? The English thoroughbred had shaped more like a donkey on Blackpool beach in winter testing. McLaren have gone for broke with upgrades straight off the computer screen for Melbourne. We'll find out Sunday if that radical move was justified.