In this piece, I will be assessing ten key features from each Grand Prix weekend from the 2010 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. Seconds out, round two then, as the 2010 Australian Grand Prix is examined more in-depth. After all the caution and lack of action in Bahrain, Melbourne reminded of how much we love F1, as it produced another belter of a Grand Prix. So, this is the round-up of the second weekend as Formula 1 went Down Under.
Proof that F1 Can Still Be Entertaining At Times
Formula One’s reputation took a significant battering, with its lack of action and creativity in Bahrain. Many, including myself called for instant changes, otherwise all the promise that 2010 had, would be washed away by a lack of racing. However, for anyone who set the alarm clocks for 7am to tune into the Australian Grand Prix, they got nearly 100 minutes of captivating drama and proof that F1 can still be entertaining at times. Let’s not get too carried away, as the early Safety Car and the inclement weather certainly did its bit to shake up the order. We probably need another bone-dry race to realise where we stand on the show and how good it really is, but creditability has been well and truly restored. So, hats off to all the competitors and the weather gods for giving us such a brilliant spectacle.
Jenson’s Gamble Pays off, with Maximum Results
Having started an encouraging 4th, Jenson Button’s start was bad, and then he clobbered Fernando Alonso, and following the Safety Car, was relegated to 7th by Lewis Hamilton. Jenson was in trouble, really struggling with the balance of his car, as the intermediate tyres clearly did not suit the McLaren, or his driving style. Consequently, the world champion made a brave and decisive gamble, by being the first to try the slick tyres. At the time, it looked like a mad, even a decision on borderline stupid, especially when he visited the gravel at Turn three on his outlap. However, he soon triggered everyone else to pit, with purple sector times and a gigantic leap up to 2nd spot. True, he earned some luck from Vettel’s DNF, but he deserved that luck. It was his call and it paid off, with maximum results. Button has silenced his critics and in stunning style, can he keep it up as the momentum in McLaren has totally swayed, heading for Kuala Lumpur.
McLaren: It Is Not A One-Man Team!
For years, Lewis Hamilton has had it his way at McLaren, as Fernando Alonso found out to his expensive cost in their stormy 2007 partnership. Heikki Kovalainen was no match for Hamilton, but Jenson Button has come into the team, been given equal status and shown that McLaren is not a one-man team. Hamilton may have edged him easily in Bahrain, but for the second successive year in Australia, he had a weekend to forget. A retirement quirky comment, aimed at Mark Webber backfired and then, followed the infamous incident with the Australian police on Friday night, skidding his wheels on a public road! Saturday’s qualifying turned into a nightmare, with Lewis failing to make Q3 and although his endeavour and aggression shone through yesterday, the strategy went against him. To such an extent, he questioned it and started losing his cool over the radio, broadcast to millions of TV viewers across the world. Hamilton is a rattled person, Button has the measure and Lewis doesn’t like it. Now, he needs to rise above this threat, in what could well be the biggest challenge of his dramatic F1 career so far. Have cracks already appeared in this burdening relationship….
Red Bull Racing – A Story of Frustration and Failure
On Saturday afternoon, Red Bull Racing showed they have the quickest car in F1 and by some margin. Adrian Newey has built a monster of a car, and everything seems to be place for the Milton Keynes based team to hit the jackpot in 2010…or will they? Having destroyed the competition in qualifying, to get a front row, a solitary 9th placed finish for Mark Webber highlights a day full of frustration and failure. Webber has a very scrappy day, possibly the occasion of his home Grand Prix got to him. He wasn’t helped by a late switch to dry tyres, which put him on the back foot, and despite some bold passing, he looked like he was an accident just waiting to happen. True enough, with three laps to go, he misjudged his braking point, smashed into the back of Hamilton, and needed repairs. A reprimand from stewards was a fair call; Mark will need to curb his aggression if he wants to be successful. For Sebastian Vettel, what does he have to do to change his fortunes? A stunning pole position and though Button kept him honest, he had him comfortably covered, until a front brake disc failure sent him spinning into the kitty litter at half distance. He hid his frustration fairly well, but he only has 12 points, when he should have 50 from the opening outings. Once again, dire reliability could well shoot down Red Bull’s championship challenge.
Kobayashi, Buemi & Hulkenberg Have a Lucky Escape – Safety Rules!
On the F1 paddock cards for all VIP’s and members, there is a message on them saying ‘F1 is dangerous.’ This was highlighted again yesterday, with an accident that had chilling reminders of Nick Heidfeld and Takuma Sato’s shocking 2002 Austrian Grand Prix smash. Kamur Kobayashi, Sebastian Buemi and Nico Hulkenberg all had a real lucky escape, as the safety of modern-day cars and technologies prevented themselves from worse injuries. Approaching turn six on the opening cricuit, Kobayashi’s front wing failed, and this was the 3rd time this incident struck him this weekend, and with no control, the Japanese driver hurled across the grass, launched off a kerb and t-boned into Buemi and Hulkenberg. Kobayashi’s chassis was ruined, his Sauber almost completely squashed between the Toro Rosso and the Williams. Formula 1 had a lucky escape, and questions must be asked at Sauber to why they have three front wing failures on the same weekend!
Michael Schumacher – Still Struggling With the New Formula
Initially, Michael Schumacher looked in far better shape at Albert Park, more than matching Nico Rosberg, after being soundly beaten by Rosberg in Bahrain. However, he was outqualified again and despite a positive start, became a victim of the Button/Alonso incident at Turn One, meaning he required a new front wing. After that, we barely saw Schumacher, as he struggled to get the better of Virgin’s Lucas di Grassi, and then spent most of the rest of the race bottled up behind the Toro Rosso of Jaime Alguesuari. His race pace wasn’t great, nowhere near Rosberg and only a couple of late moves on Alguesuari and Pedro de la Rosa earned him a solitary championship point. Nevertheless, he still enjoyed the fight, but it is clear that the seven-time world champion is still struggling with the new formula, and he probably needs a strong result in either Malaysia or China, otherwise some may get onto his back for regular poor performances.
Virgin Racing – How to Design A Fuel Tank, The Shortcut Route!
Alarming news came out of the paddock on Friday night, when Virgin Racing admitted they didn’t have a chassis that held a big enough fuel tank to get to the end of races. Technical director Nick Wirth indicated the blame came on the constant FIA regulation changes, when development had already begun, but why have Lotus and Hispania got it right then? A new chassis is being designed, ready for Barcelona in May, following permission from the other teams, but shortcuts have been made, lessons needed on how to design a big enough fuel tanks required. In the end, neither Timo Glock, nor Lucas di Grassi made the chequered flag, but it will be interesting to see if they get into a tricky situation with a finish in the next couple of races. This is an embarrassing own goal from the new team, the FIA should give them a slapping for this.
Robert Kubica – Proof of His World-Class Talent
Robert Kubica had to put up with a stinker of a car in 2009, and I felt really sorry with him, considering that BMW Sauber abandoned his 2008 championship ambitions to concentrate on building such a pathetic and haplessly slow car. At times, he didn’t seem too interested last year, but the move to Renault has done him wonders. The Pole has rekindled his 2008 form and at Albert Park, lifted the spirits of the Renault team by producing a stunning drive to 2nd spot. It was his first finish in Melbourne, at the fourth attempt, deserved payback for last year’s cruel late shunt with Vettel, which cost him a possible victory. Renault has said they have been very impressed with Kubica’s commitment to the cause, and with his world-class talent at the wheel, Robert has the ability to put the cat amongst the pigeons on many occasions this season.
Overtaking Ideas – We Don’t Need Any, There’s An Obvious Solution!
There have been numerous calls in recent weeks for how F1 can improve the show. A reintroduction of refuelling and KERS look unlikely, the most popular suggestion is a switch to a mandatory two-stop rule in races. Williams’s technical director Sam Michael has suggested the driver having a rear wing adjustable flap, in effort to cut down on the aerodynamic effect. However, there is an obvious solution to this argument, even though it is so not practical. Every track to have random sprinklers to be set off during the Grand Prix which would even turn the European Grand Prix at the Valencia Street Circuit into a worthwhile sporting occasion, rather than a Tesco car park event!
Vitantonio Liuzzi & Rubens Barrichello – Going About Their Efforts with Minimum Fuss
Lastly, congratulations to Force India’s Vitantonio Liuzzi and Rubens Barrichello from Williams. They have been barely mentioned so far in 2010, but both are putting in consistent and strong efforts with minimum fuss. Liuzzi, under pressure to deliver on a career that hasn’t been very successful, is giving Adrian Sutil more headaches than he would have liked, and by staying out of trouble, unlike his crash-hobbled team-mate, is picking up the points for Force India. As for Barrichello, the Williams are underperforming badly at the moment, but he is getting no sleepless nights from Hulkenberg and his Saturday qualifying effort was class. An unspectacular race drive followed, but the Brazilian still bought his car home in 8th spot, for more points, showing the guile and experience the veteran brings to the Grove outfit. If both keep their performances up, they may get more of a deserved mention very soon.
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