The Qantas Australian Grand Prix 2010

After the procession that was Bahrain, the Australian Grand Prix was just what F1 needed.

Bernie should never have put Bahrain as the first race. It lacks the atmosphere of a season opener, and the races have rarely been exciting. In fact, 2006 was probably the best race in Bahrain, and even that was pretty dull.

Anyway, enough about Bahrain, Australia very rarely dull thanks to the narrow, bumpy, streets, close walls and gravel traps. Gravel traps punish mistakes, something that the new generation of safer Hermann Tilke tracks do not do. It’s great to see people go wide and lose time, instead of just keeping their foot stuck in and powering out.

The race was pretty much guaranteed some overtaking the moment Hamilton qualified 11th. It was a poor qualifying session for him. His mind may have been elsewhere, he was pulled over by the Victoria police for driving like a chav, but still more is expected of Hamilton.

God must have been itching for a good race too, as he blessed us with a light sprinkling of rain during the first few laps. So the entire grid started on intermediate tyres. I was expecting a huge pile up into the first corner, but all I got was Alonso spinning after he, Schumacher, and Button went three wide into turn 1. Alonso cut up Button, and Button spun him. Simple racing accident, but it still sent Schumacher to the pits for a new nose, and Alonso right at the back of the field.

The huge pile up I was expecting then occurred at turn 3. Kobayashi’s front wing failed, for the second time this weekend, and basically made him a passenger to his own car. He went over the inside curb and T-boned the two cars of Hulkenberg and Buemi. It was disappointing for Buemi as he could have secured some points today and for Hulkenberg as he hasn’t really impressed us with his debut. He has destroyed everyone in every feeder series he has been in, but so far, he has been off the pace in F1.

Button struggled to keep his team mate behind, and eventually was passed. However, he showed he is a Prost, rather than a Senna, with an superb call to put early for dry tyres. I admit, I laughed and pretty much called him a tit when I saw him sliding around, but then he pulled out the fastest lap of the race so far, which triggered a mad rush to the pits.

The inspired decision put Button in a good position, but Vettel was still in control. Until his brakes failed, and threw him into the gravel. Vettel has now lost 2 wins from two races. He should be in the lead with 50 points now, and he knows it. He is quickly becoming the Raikkonen of 2005, of 2010. He is beating Webber, but the car keeps failing him. Newey has always had a reputation of building fast, but fragile cars.

Speaking of Webber, he really was on form today. Webber has a habit of going to pieces when other drivers are around him. For example, German Grand Prix 2009, he swerves into Barrichello for no obvious reason, they into Hamilton. At Brazil 2009, he swerves into Raikkonen and destroys his wing. Today, he tried to overtake Massa and succeeded, but his exit was compromised to Hamilton made his move. He then out broke himself, and nearly took Hamilton off. Stupid, but it happens in racing. I remember Montoya doing the same to Schumacher in Austria 2003 (I think 2003). However, his second move was just dumb.

Most drivers in his situation, seeing two drivers up ahead battling, would hang back and make sure he nails the exit of the corner so he can get past. Webber decided to forget that plan, and break very late, and hit Hamilton. What was he thinking? He was not going to overtake Hamilton going into the corner. It makes no sense, everyone could see it. It’s so ironic that probably the whineiest driver on the grid, who is willing to whinge to the cameras if anyone does anything to him, can be so dangerous himself. He can’t handle the heat of being in a pack of drivers at all. I can understand mistakes, but some of his stuff just looks like a panic reaction, especially his random swerves when people get near him.

Hamilton himself was on fine form today, recovering from his bad qualifying position. He would have been second if not for a pitstop that was not needed. On the team radio his sounded extremely annoyed, something which he needs to control. Mclaren have made more good decisions that bad ones. Sometimes things don’t work out how they should. To have a go at the team, especially when your team mate is winning can lead to… Well ask Fernando Alonso what it can lead to.

As for Schumacher, his race was pretty much over after the first lap. When he came out, after changing his wing, he was stuck behind Alguersauri for much of the race. He still managed to pick a point, but he should have been somewhere near Rosberg in 4th, 5th or 6th place. Rosberg’s advantage over Schumacher has shrunk, and I think by the time we get to Europe, Schumacher will have moved ahead.

Now for probably the best drive of the afternoon. Kubica in the Renault really outperformed the car today. His start, 9th to 3rd, was breathtaking. His defensive driving was amazing, keeping much faster cars at bay. Overall it was a thoroughly deserved podium for him and the team.

Today’s race is what I expected of the new regulations; People mixing it up, and not relying on pit stops to overtake. I do fear it was cause of the rain, but I am optimistic that the next race is Malaysia will be just as good.