The balance of power in the world championship is delicately poised as Formula 1 gears up for its annual encounter with the jet set at the Monaco Grand Prix.

After Michael Schumacher confirmed Ferrari’s credentials as a serious title contender with wins at Imola and the Nurburgring, Fernando Alonso turned the tables with a devastating display of Renault/Michelin superiority at Barcelona.

The duel between these two – and their respective teams and tyre manufacturers – has been the story of the season so far, consigning the likes of Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button to bit parts.

Read the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix preview at http://www.itv-f1.com/Feature.aspx?Type=General&PO_ID=36026.