Well the Formula 1 season got off to a rocky but exciting start with only seven of the twenty-two cars finishing when the checkered flag fell. Lewis Hamilton showed why he has to be considered the front runner for the championship as his McClaren Mercedes was by far the class of the field as he won the race handily over Nick Heidfeld and Nico Rosberg.
The Ferrari's had trouble from the start with Kimi Raikkonen starting 15th on the grid and finding trouble twice during the race only to stop with five laps to go with a mechanical failure. Felipe Massa found trouble also as his Prancing Horse did not finish, probably as a result with his accident with the Dinosaur of F1, David Coultard. Time to hang it up David or stop getting in the way of quicker cars.
On balance I enjoyed the fact that the safety car came out a few times to bunch the cars up and we actually had some good old fashion racing. With an inferior Renault, Fernando Alonso showed some fight with his duel with Heikki Kovalainen at the end to take fourth at the finish. It seemed to me that Kovalainen thought the race was over after he passed Alonso for fourth place, only to get re-passed on the front straight. Wake up Heikki, you just lost a point that could be important come season's end.
Surprises were a plenty at this Australian GP and I only hope that the excitement of this race carries over to the races that follow. I think the reduction in drivers aides such as traction control and engine braking will bring the field closer together and we will see what we saw today, RACING! Keep the faith, we all want to see a battle, even though I think it will be from second place back.
The Ferrari's had trouble from the start with Kimi Raikkonen starting 15th on the grid and finding trouble twice during the race only to stop with five laps to go with a mechanical failure. Felipe Massa found trouble also as his Prancing Horse did not finish, probably as a result with his accident with the Dinosaur of F1, David Coultard. Time to hang it up David or stop getting in the way of quicker cars.
On balance I enjoyed the fact that the safety car came out a few times to bunch the cars up and we actually had some good old fashion racing. With an inferior Renault, Fernando Alonso showed some fight with his duel with Heikki Kovalainen at the end to take fourth at the finish. It seemed to me that Kovalainen thought the race was over after he passed Alonso for fourth place, only to get re-passed on the front straight. Wake up Heikki, you just lost a point that could be important come season's end.
Surprises were a plenty at this Australian GP and I only hope that the excitement of this race carries over to the races that follow. I think the reduction in drivers aides such as traction control and engine braking will bring the field closer together and we will see what we saw today, RACING! Keep the faith, we all want to see a battle, even though I think it will be from second place back.
Formula 1
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