Let's get serious!!

The Big wigs

We’re yet another GP down and thankfully it was a ‘hot & dry’ one - so much so that the winner complained of ‘burnt’ buttocks and twin champ Alonso almost fainted post-race. However, unlike the previous two ‘wet’ races this dry one did everything but entertain the viewer.

Within minutes of a just-about crash-bang start the pecking order settled. Apart from a few over taking maneuvers at the front – the race settled into it’s own pace early enough for one to start making predictions. An early settling race also sometimes indicates a ‘boring’ one – unless of course the Safety Car is deployed to inject some dose of entertainment for the viewers.

Button, Vettel & Trulli ran their own unmatched pace with Lewis and Kimi taking over only when the others went about re-fuelling their machines. It was yet another GP where the champion teams of last year were left chasing their own tails. The fortunes of McLaren and Ferrari dwindled as they managed to finish only one of their cars in the points. The BMWs and Renaults had yet another miserable race with Alonso just about holding off a charging Nico Rosberg for the final point and both the BMWs finishing dead and last!

With seasoned teams struggling for pace against the new comers ever since the start of the season, experts have proclaimed setting of a new pecking order in Formula1. Many have already explicitly stated that the Brawns will run away with the Championships mid-way of this season. Some have been cautious and have given the seasoned teams some chance of getting stronger and faster as the season progresses. However, I wonder what an average F1 fan has to think about all of this. Is the new pecking order really good for the TV and stadium figures?

When Brawns struck and dominated Melbourne and Malaysia, there was an extreme wave of emotions that swept Formula1. Every person connected to F1 was happy not only with the survival of the Brawns but also with their dominance. Finally Jenson Button & Rubens Barrichello had got a car they have been waiting for their entire career. Finally Ross Brawn got a chance to give it back to his former Italian employers, Ferrari.

But 4 races into the season, the Brawns have had it all. Barring the drenched Chinese GP – they have won it all. The more their progress, the more the seasoned teams have suffered, most were there own doings. But after the Bahrain GP, one gets a feeling that it’s time to get serious.

Famous Ferrari Fumbles! Mclarens Murdered!

One doesn’t wonder if the fan is happy to see Brawns win, but the question is whether the fans are happy to see their favourite teams and drivers faltering at almost every race. I may sound like Briatore when he said that ‘no one wants to see Nakajima as the top 3 drivers with 60 points’ but the point that I am trying to drive here that – non-performance by the top teams & drivers might just drive away their fans.

Let’s face it – F1 is a worshipped sport, with drivers and teams having a strong fanatic group of fans. Thankfully, they haven’t resorted to hooliganism yet – but would these fans be happy to see their teams being beaten due to one silly rule at each race? Would these fans buy those expensive race tickets to watch their favourite drivers not win?

I think only time will tell – but the sooner the Ferraris, McLarens and the other top teams get their act in order and gain more pace – the better it will be for Formula1. Pretty ironic considering that 2002 was a ‘bore’ since Ferrari won almost ‘everything’ – but such are the ways of Formula1!