Hi folks...
We are one race in now and I think it is clear from Australia that we are facing a Kimi Raikkonen-
Fernando Alonso, Ferrari-
McLaren, battle for the drivers’ and constructors’ titles this season.
Melbourne definitely showed that those two drivers and those two teams will be at the front this year, at least at the beginning, and that shouldn’t change in Malaysia.
Well done to
Lewis Hamilton as well. His form at Albert Park was simply sensational and it really was a ten out ten type of drive. He did make the odd error in the race but, still, to bring it home third in his first ever
F1 race really was just fantastic. It was a fairytale start and, while he will have tough times ahead, there is no doubt about it, he has set the bar very high. We must all remember though that he is a rookie and not expect too much too soon.
Since Oz, we have had three-week gap and while a two-week break is the norm, I don’t think any of the teams further back – such as
BMW Sauber or
Renault - will have made any great strides during the 'break'.
Considering Sepang is a flyaway, it makes it even tougher to make substantial progress, just due to all the logistical issues it creates in terms of getting new parts out, trying them, fine tuning and so on.
Of course, all the teams - or virtually all - tested at the Sepang International Circuit last week - but whether that will turn out to be a good thing for the race remains to be seen. Sometimes, and we have seen this with Barcelona and the Spanish Grand Prix in the past, when there is a test so close to the actual event, it doesn’t have a good effect and we end up seeing everyone line-up two-by-two on the grid. I just hope that doesn’t happen this weekend. I really want to see a good grand prix.
One thing the test should have done is allow all the drivers to get used to the heat and humidity there, because that is one of the main things about this event. It is tough on them, the car and the whole team, just because the temperatures and humidity are so high. It is very, very draining.
