It was go, go, go, for the new Formula One season on Sunday, or should that be slow, slow, slow? Despite the hype, the promises and the big names we got another procession - this was more M4 gridlock than Grand Prix. Oh dear.
As expected, Ferrari stole the show in Bahrain, the Scuderia looking like they are the quickest by some distance, and now there is the worrying prospect that they will dominate the whole season. Fernando Alonso looks like he is back to being a contender, but the Spaniard can count himself lucky to get the win as Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel was nailed on for three-quarters of the race. Unfortunately the German’s chances of victory were curtailed by some engine troubles that slowed him right down and allowed Alonso, then Filipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton to zip past.
The big problem appeared to be the new full-tank at the start then no re-fuelling rule. It was a bit like taking Paula Radcliffe off for an all-you-can-eat curry, then unleashing her on the London Marathon. All the cars had full bellies and so went slowly plodding off - with none of them on fuel strategies it meant no one could pull away from the pack and although they got faster as the race continued it made over-taking practically impossible. Also, with only one pit-stop available per driver they are not pushing their cars too hard because it would risk ruining their tyres and their chances.
On paper it looked like this season could be a classic but it’s in danger of becoming the most boring ever. Annoyingly it’s all down to the rules, another example of governing sports bodies interfering and messing around with regulations when there is no need to. They have basically forced all the teams to race on the same strategy, killing the competitive element. What on earth were they thinking?
All eyes were on Michael Schumacher and the returning seven-time ex-champion spent the whole race around sixth place, which is where he eventually finished. Not even a driver of Schumacher’s legendary ability could do anything in this drab affair, and he was comprehensively beaten by teammate Nico Rosberg as Mercedes flattered to deceive on their debut.
Elsewhere the two British hopes, Hamilton and champion Jenson Button went about their business in a quiet and unspectacular fashion. Hamilton nicked third place from the wounded Vettel, while Button didn’t do much at all and finished seventh. It looks like it could be a long season for the Somerset-born McLaren driver, who really has his work cut out if he wants a repeat of 2009.
There has to be some positivity in the opening race somewhere and the plus points go to Vettel, who once again showed why he is going to dominate this sport for years to come. He looks the real deal and proved that he is the successor to Schumacher, suggesting that bringing the retired warhorse back could well be an exercise in futility. Red Bull again surprised everyone and look set to be competitive once more. The team do wonders with that car and they continue to surpass expectations.
Realistically if things carry on the same way then Ferrari are going to run away with it. They are the fastest car on the grid by some distance, although Vettel, Hamilton and Schumacher could all be in with a shot if it wasn’t for these d**n rules. A lack of over-taking is eventually going to play right into the Italian giant’s hands and they will keep clocking up results until they are out of sight.
Other than that, every single driver probably did the best they could, but until the FIA have a rethink it’s going to be a boring season. It’s such a shame because it was shaping up so well in testing.
The next race is going to be in Australia and so will be on at silly o’clock in the morning. The only people in the country who will be able to watch another snoozefest at that hour without dropping off to sleep are called insomniacs, and even they will struggle to keep their eyes open.
Tags: