Rumblings in Bahrain.

So Force India chose not to run in FP2, and who can say they wouldn't make the same decision if they had been caught up in a petrol bomb incident?  Formula 1 fans obviously want the race to go ahead, we had to wait an extra two weeks last year due to it being cancelled, and there is the feeling that the unrest in Bahrain shouldn't be stopping the sport from continuing as usual.  However it does give the anti government groups a stage and audience for intensified protests.  I suspect there is no right answer...

Force India team leave before nightfall on Friday.

Pressure in the pits

Well, dodgy pit stops were responsible for the rotten result in China.    Again Schumacher's race was scuppered through no fault of his own, and just as the excitement was building about the possibility of a Button win, poor pitstops struck again.  Although Rosberg drove a great qualifying lap and finally showed he can follow it up a race, it put an end to the fairytale dream of Michael being the first to win for Mercedes.

Front right tyre wasn't secured properly.

Profession of doom...

In a recent interview, when asked about his thoughts on whether there would ever be another French Grand Prix, Alain Prost said he thought France was now too environmentally aware to play host to a very 'ungreen' sport.  This fills me with impending gloom, considering we are already losing so many European races in favour of the fly away races.  As Europe becomes more committed to saving the planet, the same cannot be said of the more recently developed nations.  Ultimately those countries will seem like a more lucrative option.  What a loss it would be if the likes of Spa, Monza, Monaco and the Hungaroring dropped off the calendar. 

  



Are we going to lose the magic of Eau Rouge at Spa...

In favour of horrorshows like South Korea?

           


The delusion of Rosberg

As part of race build up for Malaysia, it was put to Rosberg that he didn't work long into the night like Sebastial Vettel does.  His answer was that some drivers have natural talent and some have to work harder at it.  Am I making the wrong inference or does he seem to think he possesses more natural talent than Vettel?  What an outrageously egotistical, and completely deluded thing to say!  I have always seen Rosberg as being a little boy playing at racing because 'Daddy' did it, and this has done nothing to change that view.

Nico Rosberg with 'Daddy'. Keke Rosberg won the world championship in 1982

F1 on the BBC

Following on from my post about F1 on Sky, I have just started to watch the highlights on the BBC to make comparisons.  Not only is it great to hear Fleetwood Mac opening the program but this was preceeded by ACDC!  What could be better.  Come on Sky, you need to sort out your music choice for the opening title.  'Just Drive' by Alistair Griffin just doesn't build the tension like 'The Chain'. 

I'm sad, nothing more to say.  Silver lining - Rosberg didn't get any points either.  Oh, and well done to Button.  I had such high hopes though...

Excitement ahead.

Am still happy after qualifying.  Schumi in 4th with Rosberg only managing 7th.  While an 8th world championship for Michael would be the most amazing thing ever, I would settle for him outperforming his team mate over the course of the season.

I have been very much amused by the accusations by Red Bull and Lotus that Mercedes have illegal technology on their car.  Red Bull stamping their feet because they are not the best anymore and Lotus wanting to be the top team outside the big 3 (or big 2 because Ferrari are nowhere.)  Still I'm sure Ross Brawn can cope with the moans, after all, he put up with it when Benetton were winning in 1994 and 95, and then during the Schumacher/Ferrari years.  Every year accusations fly about one team or another and I'm quite excited about it being about Mercedes this year.  It looks like its going to be a closely fought, exciting season.

New Mercedes WO3.  Full of secrets...