My Motorsport Blog

As a F1 fan I am never nervous before the start of a Grand Prix because it is time the beer and snacks are seen to and my domain (the lounge and TV) secured against intrusion. I must add that this Sunday was no exception but I did feel a tinge of nerves (and no beer) and a wish for the Brawn GP Team to finish on the podium. Just to prove all the “Experts” wrong. You see I hoped for one of the new Brawn GP cars to cross the line in any of the first three places. I did hope that the Fairy Tale (not tail) would come true and Brawn GP takes 1st and 2nd.

This wish was shattered when Rubens Barrichello had such a bad start and then used his new car in a destruction derby on the first lap. To my amazement the car did not disintegrate as expected but kept going and did quite well. With confidence regained I had another glimmer hope but in the dying stages of the race Robert Kubica with his BMW became a threat and I did think a second or third place would be the end result for Jenson Button . But then Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel decided to have a little business meeting on the track while discussing the second position that they were contesting.

Not wishing others harm but I did have a smile. Rubens and the other Brawn GP car inherited second place. The lottery escaped me but the Fairy Tale ended as this writer had hoped.

On the 4th July 1954 Mercedes-Benz returned to Formula One racing with a one-two win at the French Grand Prix with the Mercedes -Benz W196. Since 1954 no other team achieved this but on the 29th March 2009 Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello repeated history and a new team with a new car had a one-two finish in a Formula One Grand Prix.

Now just for some fun are you a F1 driver…..check your reaction times against what Shell recons it should be. After that, can you refuel your car like this?

Ferrari, McLaren and BMW drivers have resorted to wearing “cloaking devices” at the race track looking at Massa’s “beardy” it would seem. Could this be due to the the first practice rounds that we have had? What a surprise to see dark horses Williams, Brawn, Toyota and Red Bull “hogging” the front row and making life difficult for the high budget front runners of the past.

The cars look cleaner and I am glad to see the return of slick tyres to the formula. The “hype” about KERS and the concerns about the “reg” changes will be exposed this weekend and it is time fans agree we need a change to the sport that suit us and the spectators.

There are questions asked about the continuity of the Brawn car and I think we should accept the fact that Ross is not an idiot and has the knowledge and experience on how to run a team. To question his business acumen at this stage will be the same as to doubt his racing abilities,  which,  Mercedes Benz have already shown is in no doubt with their agreement to supply engines to the team. I think Mercedes after the practise rounds must be in no doubt that they have made the right decision.

The only aspect of the sponsorship to Ross Brawn’s team which I believe might come from Virgin and Richard Branson I do not like, is that he, Richard, sat on the fence waiting to see if Brawn GP were going to be succesful with the car specs, and if the appeals against the diffusers will be acceptable. I appreciate that this would have been a business decision but it is not a sport in which a sponsor can sit on the fence and wait to see which way a decision will go.

Once again Ross, well done and I believe you will be there for years to come. If I did not know better I would say get Rory and Michael together and go out there, chew bubblegum and kick some ass.

At this stage I have to say that most of the focus has been on the Brawn car but the threat is not just from that quarter and we have to keep eyes on Williams and Toyota who have something to prove. I really wish the FIA and the proposed or anticipated appeal against these guys are not successful and we can get racing.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!!!

So the real good news is that Ross Brawn GP is progressing well at Jerez and times are favourable with that of Renault and Fernando Alonso. For the first “Official Test” in 2009 this is not bad going. I believe Honda made the right decision in selling out to Ross Brawn because he has the experience to run a F1 team at the highest level. Michael Schumacher stated that Ross Brawn at Ferrari were “very logical and well organised and have a flair to keep the structure and correct people in place”.

His drivers have all the experience to develop and ensure progression and development and his senior management team is still in place. Work never stopped even in the face of impending closure by Honda but I believe it was Ross Brawn that managed to keep a potentially great team intact. I believe Brawn GP have the right to be on the grid at Melbourne and it would be good to see them do well in the first race. Even though Ross thanked Honda for closing a deal with him I believe most F1 enthusiasts felt a sense of relief that Honda did not sell out to USF1 or even Virgin. Had this happened we would not have seen the team at the Melbourne starting grid.

The fact that Mercedes Benz have closed a deal in supplying engines to the Brawn GP Team would be another feather in the cap of Ross and a indication of how others value his contribution to this sport. I look forward to the first race at Melbourne and how this team will perform.