It should have been the thrilling launch to the new season. The F1 battle recommences in Melbourne this weekend but as usual there’s a whole bunch of commercial strife and petty politics threatening to overshadow what could be an incredible and historic main event.
Before winter testing got underway many were predicting that the grid would not be as tight as it was in 2008 and there would be some real winners and real losers with the new-spec cars. Designing from a blank sheet of paper means that teams cannot copy the obvious innovations of other teams and that gives a much broader range of lap times.
However when Toyota, Ferrari and BMW tested together in Bahrain they were invariably separated by just fractions of a second. Renault were also fast when Alonso got behind the wheel and then the newly-emerged Brawn team joined the party late on and trumped them all.
McLaren started off slow, identified a performance shortfall, then got a little bit quicker at the last moment when none of their serious competitors were around and Williams ended up faster than anyone at the final Jerez test day.
The sum total of all this is that Renault, Brawn, Ferrari, Toyota, BMW, McLaren or even Williams could win the Melbourne GP. So what a pity that the FIA won’t get involved and make a definitive ruling over the rear diffusers of the Toyota, Brawn and Williams cars.
Leaving it up to the stewards at the event not only means that there will be rows and arguments this weekend, but it has given no time for the teams to make alternative arrangements. It’s been reported that at least one of the teams is so confident that their rear diffuser is legal that they have taken no alternative rear wing to Australia.
In the grand scheme of things, this is yet another element in the yawnsome power play between the sports’ governing body, the FIA, and the teams’ organisation FOTA. Some believe that Max Mosley doesn’t like the unanimity and the power that FOTA can wield and so having the teams protest and argue amongst themselves is all grist to the mill.
If the FIA really wanted a smooth-running event, then they should have made a ruling on the cars some time ago. That way, the media interest will all be on the racing – which should be fantastic – and not the politics.
A separate diversion is the argument stoked by Bernie Ecclestone who allegedly hasn’t paid TV money owed to Renault and McLaren. That just seems like more fuel on the divide-and-rule fire.
Providing that the Brawn team can pass scrutineering they are the hot favourites to take a maiden win in their first race, the first time that will have been done since the Wolf Team triumphed in 1977. To do so in 2009 is an ocean harder than Walter ever had it. Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello have all the qualities needed to succeed on a street circuit.
Jarno Trulli is a great qualifier at Monaco and Melbourne and if the Toyota lives up to the pre-season hype, the Roman could be battling for a podium. As for the rest – well, it could be anyone except the two Force Indias and Nelson Piquet.
The over-riding reaction to this new season of F1 will be the look of the cars and their rear wings resembling something designed by a Year 7 Technology class, plus the cumbersome front wings – many of which might bite the dust at Turn 1. It will be interesting to see who heads back to the pits first, but our money’s on Nakajima.
With a new season in prospect the results of practice on Friday and Saturday will come under almost as much scrutiny as qualifying and the race. The covers are about to be lifted and a new season begun. It could be another epic.
Previw By- Andrew Davies, Credit- Planet F1
