Three is the number of choice in Formula 1: three races and three different winners. And this weekend in Malaysia that same number kept cropping up - it was third time lucky for Sebastian Vettel.
Already Bahrain seems a while ago, along with the panic which set in amongst the F1 fans. I said it at the time and will say it again: I agree that Bahrain was boring but if that race had been halfway through the season - and not the very first race of 2010 - then I believe not so much of a fuss would have been made.
Would people have been happier with a dull race with a fairytale ending, with Michael Schumacher winning? I do not think that would have been good for the sport - it would devalue everything that has happened in the last 3 years, since his retirement. It was heartbreaking for Vettel to have dropped back through the field in his Red Bull but it became Fernando Alonso and Ferrari's dream start to the season; Alonso is back in a winning car and is instantly back winning - throwing down the gauntlet in impressive style to team-mate Felipe Massa.
The hype surrounding this season is really at fever pitch and has been for months and I think for the fans, after Bahrain, the disappointment seemed worse - like we had all been cheated. But really it was one race, the first race. Little did we realise what Melbourne would have in store!
Albert Park brought drama, rain, crashes, reliability issues - I am sure you all watched and revelled in it but that race really boosted F1's credibility and silenced the doubters. The Australian Grand Prix is so much more than a race - it is an amazing event and puts many other races to shame. On the Thursday 42,000 people packed in, with 68,000 on the Friday and 120,000 on the Sunday. The fans who had packed in witnessed nerve-tingling air displays, pop concerts and high-class national races with noise from the track from 7am until 7pm! I doubt if Turkey has ever seen 42 thousand people since the race began there.
But the real golden moment from Melbourne was the amazing drive by Jenson Button on tyres which had done over 50 laps and still he took the chequered flag and gave his new team, McLaren, their first win of the season. The atmosphere in Camp Button was like Brazil 2009 all over again! Fernando had thrown it down to Felipe - and one race on and Jenson was doing the same to Lewis! This F1 business is so boring!
On to Sepang, with barely a day to get your bearings - the teams worked through the night to pack up after the race in Australia. We flew on the Monday to Malaysia and were back at the track on the Tuesday. I imagine it is easier when you are winning but for a team like Red Bull, who had just seen another pole position come to nothing for Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber not able to get the best out of his car, these days must seem longer and tougher - and spare a thought for the new teams who have barely come up for air since February testing!
On the Wednesday I went to interview the HRT drivers, Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna, who were also chilling out, wake boarding; excitement was high and Chandhok has since taken the chequered flag in Albert Park - a great result for a team which did a third of its total mileage so far in one race!
Sepang always promises rain and it wasn't until race day that we were left dry and disappointed. Not one drop of rain fell - and if you were annoyed at home, imagine how the Ferraris and McLarens felt at the back of the grid, who desperately wanted it in their bid battle back to the 'right end ' of the grid. As it happened, they didn't really need it at all.
Lewis Hamilton showed his flair and class cutting though the field, passing eight cars on the first lap. Webber was over-cautious in his start and Vettel made all from third to claim the spot of front-runner. I asked him after he had won the race if, when leading for the third time this season, he had any niggling doubts about reliability and he just joked - saying it did cross his mind a couple of times, especially on the long straights when you have time to think!
The ever-resilient Mark Webber just laughed and said he thought the same when I said to him it looked like the Red Bull on pole was never destined to win.
But it is quietly consistent Felipe Massa who is sitting at the top of the drivers' table; he has never had such a good start to the season - yes, okay, it is only three races and it took until Race 3 in 2009 for Vettel to score any points - his victory yesterday moved him to third.
And what about that man in car number 3, Michael Schumacher. Is he getting up to speed or is he a fallen star? And how much time do you give someone who has been out the sport for three years to get back to his best, even if he is a 7-time World Champion?
Schumacher is desperate to win - he is not designed to have a season-best result of sixth - even if he does say how good his team-mate is and how much he is enjoying himself. So maybe for Michael, if bad things come in threes, he could be back on for success in Shanghai next week.
Lee
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| 2010 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix | |||
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| 2010 Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix | |||
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