The wind caused a couple of drivers problems in practice and qualifying, will it have a part to play in today's race? The national flags above the stands are fluttering as the grid slowly starts to clear.

Allan McNish
BBC Radio 5 live analyst

"We have a battle at the front between the two Mercedes but also between the Williamses and the Ferraris.

"I think this race weekend is a good one for Ferrari so far. They will want to get one over on Williams.

"I think [Sebastian] Vettel can get a podium over Felipe [Massa]."

Image source, Lotus

Lotus:, external 10 minutes to go and more plane action from the Australian Grand Prix.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Melbourne

"This city has a reputation for capricious weather. And, even if the people who complain about it clearly haven't spent long in Britain, you can see their point. It was blue skies and 28C on Saturday, rained during the evening, was cool and cloudy on Sunday morning but sunny again by lunchtime - albeit a good 10C cooler than on Saturday. All of which means Albert Park is a completely different place for the drivers this afternoon. Whatever the effects, anticipation is high for a good race, even if that race is in two parts - one for Mercedes and one for the rest."

Just 15 cars lined up to start this race then:

1) Hamilton 2) Rosberg 3) Massa 4) Vettel 5) Raikkonen 6) Ricciardo 7) Sainz 8) Grosjean 9) Maldonado 10) Nasr

11) Verstappen 12) Hulkenberg 13) Perez 14) Ericsson 15) Button.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is too cool for shoes as he lines up alongside some dignitaries in front of the drivers on the grid for the Australian national anthem. He's opted for the black suit, blue trainers combo. Smooth.

Jeremiah Kariuki: What a shame that Bottas has to miss the #AusGP! Hope Massa will go ahead to make the Williams proud.

Alison Birch: Turning into #USAGP all over again down to 15 cars before the race start #ThanksBernie

Michael Powell: Are any cars actually planning on starting this race?

Allan McNish
BBC Radio 5 live analyst

"Kevin Magnussen is not a surprise because they have had a dreadful run of things in the McLaren-Honda. Daniil Kvyat is in the Red Bull and you don't expect them to have so many problems."

Image source, McLaren

McLaren:, external Jenson heads out to the line up on the grid..

Maybe best not mention what happened to Kevin Magnussen to him guys...

Former F1 driver Australian Mark Webber, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live: "It [the Australian GP] the only bloody podium I couldn't get on. It's a big build-up but you have to be careful of your energy levels.

"The Mercedes is on another level. It will not be pretty in terms of cumulative times."

BBC Radio 5 live

You can listen to BBC Radio 5 live commentary as they build up to the race, if we have any cars left, on the radio and on this very page.

The lowest starter to win in Australia was Eddie Irvine, when he secured victory from 11th in 1999.

Image source, Getty Images

Daily Mirror F1 journalist Byron Young:, external A late application not to race from Kvyat. Stalled at Turn 14, 15 cars............

Allan McNish
BBC Radio 5 live analyst

"Daniel Ricciardo already had to change one of his four engines for the entire season on Friday, the drivers talked about drivability being impossible, the radio messages have been very curt from the drivers too. We expected a bit of improvement over the winter but it appears they have gone backwards relative to the competition."

More pre-race drama! This time Daniil Kvyat takes a trip into the gravel on his reconnaissance lap. He limps the Red Bull on to the circuit and tries to nurse it back but has to pull over and come to a stop.

Nearby, spectators race down the stairs at the stand to catch a view of the stricken Red Bull.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"A big cloud of blue smoke. Kevin Magnussen stops between Turns Five and Six on his first lap out of the pits to the grid. It goes from bad to worse for McLaren-Honda."

Thought qualifying at the back of the grid was bad? It looks to have just got a whole lot worse for McLaren.

Kevin Magnussen doesn't even make it round his first lap out on the grid before a huge plume of smoke pours out of the back of his car, bits of the power unit scattered all over the track.

The Typewriter: Barring a major disaster mid-race, Lewis Hamilton looks a shoo-in to win the #AustralianGP with Rosberg 2nd.

Dave Mangham: Beautiful sunny afternoon here after a cold & cloudy start to the day. Got my 65k bike ride in, now settled in for a cracking GP!

Pamah Jackson: Hamilton will definitely draw the first blood.

Image source, Mercedes/Twitter

The Australian Grand Prix is understandably big news in Australia, and this is the cover of the Sunday Age. Here are a few other stories that are filling column inches:

Red Bull chief technical officer Adrian Newey says it may take years for his team to challenge for the title again as there "no light at the end of the tunnel" with engine supplier Renault. Full story: Sunday Telegraph, external

Lewis Hamilton admits he is coming round to the idea of being regarded as a legend alongside the likes of golf's Tiger Woods. Full story: The Sun (subscription required), external

Jenson Button has warned Hamilton to be wary of a Nico Rosberg revenge mission after beating his Mercedes' team-mate to last year's world title. Full story: Sunday Mirror, external