FORMULA 1 - BAHRAIN GP

So, one of the most eagerly awaited formula 1 season has finally begun. And what a start! The new qualifying format has certainly mixed things up, though personally I think the one lap format was better as there was less confusion. But at least now the drivers can get a second chance. Speaking of second chances, they don’t seem to apply for Kimi Raikkonen (he leaves no room for that, regardless of the format). The (un)reliability issues of last season have started to haunt him right from the first qualifying (talk about being jinxed!). But can anyone solve the mystery that why does only he get affected by these sudden failures and not his maverick team-mate? Anyway, like last season, McLaren had a single stop strategy for Kimi and the Finn duly obliged by driving the wheels off the car to finish 3rd in the race. He seems to be getting pretty consistent, from the back of the grid to podium’ and maybe sometime with just a little luck (Kimi and luck!!!) he might become the first driver to win starting last, though one wonders if he still remembers what it is like to start from the front.

Anyway enough on Kimi (you gotta give some extra attention to ur favourite). Alonso and Renault showed that they are as strong as last season, though the electronic failure suffered by Fisichella is unlike Renault. FERRARI ARE BACK. First they get a 1-2 in qualifying and then Michael does what he hardly did in 2005, lead a race! In the end however the dream start became a bit sour when Massa spun out of a possible podium finish and Schumi was beaten by Alonso to the finish due to some good pit work by the Renault crew. Nevertheless a foot ahead for them compared to the last season.

All three Jap teams (Honda, Toyota and Super Aguri) were disappointing, both due to driver errors (read Jenson Button) and mechanical problems (read Barrichello and Yuji Ide). The surprise packages were Williams and Red Bull Racing teams. Nico Rosberg (Williams) finished a strong 7th on his debut (guess what he wud have finished but for that unfortunate spin early in the race) and his team-mate a place above him, making Williams the only team other than Mclaren to have both its drivers scoring points. Meanwhile Christian Klien got the last point for Red Bull. Midland and Scuderia Toro Rosso had an average race (nothing much was expected from them also) and the same cud be said for Sauber BMW.

So the initial signals are here and it seems this time the fight is between Alonso/Kimi/Michael and their respective teams (though much closer than even last year).

Next race: Petronas Malaysian GP, Kuala Lumpur, 17 March

Results of Bahrain GP:
1. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Renault
2. Michael Schumacher (GER) Ferrari
3. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) McLaren-Mercedes