The Bahrain Aftermath - Dramatics in F1

>The Bahrain Grand Prix was one of the most lacklustre starts to a Formula One season expected to be one of the most exciting in many years. With so many world class drivers lining up on the starting grid, there was absolutely no question that the race would be tough. However, the race was only tough on the spectators with the drivers finding it difficult to lose position more than anything else.

Here are some of the highlights that rose after the first raceday of the season:

1. Rule Changes: A “rule change row” kicked off after the newly imposed re-fueling ban and better tyres ensured that teams didn’t require more than one pitstop. There was absolutely no hope for those stuck behind a Felipe Massa or a Fernando Alonso to go past them.

In Formula One, the excitement of varied team strategies and technology levels is the essence of the entire competition. With teams stuck in a deadlock after similar strategies and an almost similar running format, a second pit-stop was required to pump life into the race. However, Bernie Ecclestone, the supreme leader of Formula One, has asked teams to be patient.

Bernie asked teams to wait for the “flyway”-like circuits at Australia, Malaysia and China before judging whether these rule changes are for the better or not. He also went as far as suggesting about “short cuts” along the track to enable drivers to get past even when they are stuck behind someone.

While these short cuts may still be a long way away, a couple of pitstops per race may be made mandatory if teams agree unanimously.

Discontent over the race formats was also expressed by Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button while Mark Webber> also complained about staring at the gearboxes of these two world champions for 48 laps in the race. “I tried everything - different lines, pressure, everything. But they’re both good drivers and neither of them made a mistake”, said Webber.

A procession, rather than a race, the Bahrain Grand Prix saw teams turn out with standardized engines and gearboxes, engines limited to 18,000 revs as well as a single tyre manufacturer. The race ended up being more about driver & vehicle reliability, concentration and fitness of man & machine, rather than anything else.

1. Two Stop Strategy Tabled Again: it was only in last December that the mandatory two-stop strategy was said to have been placed in front of all Formula One teams, by the FIA. Some teams, who felt that their cars would not be as harsh on the tyres as others, refused to sign up for this deal. The greater good of the sport was put firmly aside when it came up against the competitive nature of the engineers on the grid.

When the topic comes up for debate again, those teams will also be a part of the discussion especially considering that there is a lot of hatred for the new FIA regulations amongst all team principals and drivers.

>3. Sauber on their Own: At the end of the 2009 Formula One season, BMW left Peter Sauber in the lurch, pulling out of the 2010 season. Peter Sauber decided to buy his team back and that meant that the “BMW” from BMW-Sauber would have to be dropped. However, Peter didn’t apply for this when BMW made their annoucement.

He has applied for it now although finding large sponsors may be slightly difficult for him at this point in the season. The team does not have a title sponsor at the moment and that makes everything harder for the team principal who has conceded that he has already begun looking for 2011 sponsors, something that seems a bit more hopeful.

1. Diffuser Again: First there was the issue of some cars lining up with two diffusers at the 2009 Australian Grand Prix. The new design surely gave Brawn GP, Williams and Toyota F1 a clear advantage over their rivals but soon enough, everyone came to the party and the dual-diffuser setup was aped by the entire Formula One field.

This year, that advancement has taken a new turn. Instead of just two diffuser panels, there are two independent diffusers with the second one fitting where the external engine starter goes into the car.

The holes on the diffusers have allowed the starter to still go into place, but this bending of rules needs to be sorted out in two weeks time with Charlie Whitling, the FIA’s technical director, himself going around the pits to examine the cars. The row will be settled as the FIA has already, in all likelihood, reached a decision however what that decision is, is something we won’t know as of now.

>5. Paid Seat: There is a tradition in Indian educational institutes that anyone willing to make it in, but unable to do so due to poor qualifying marks, can simply pay their way into the classroom. Not only does this payment ensure a seat, it can also ensure a certain level of marks, depending on the ethical integrity of the professors involved.

Karun Chandok seems to have brought this matter into the Formula One world. According to sources, Chandok’s sponsors paid $5 million to Hispania racing in order to allow the Indian to get behind the wheels of a Formula One car. One was wondering what this man would have to do get a drive in Formula One despite a pathetic display of form and skill up until 2009.

With no laps in practice, 7 in qualifying and just 2 in the race on Sunday, you have to wonder what the sponsors were thinking when they put that kind of money behind an unproven, ridiculously useless, driver who clearly doesn’t have the mettle to make it in GP2, let alone Formula One.

But then, the boy must have some talent after all, he did manage to hit a “bump” which all the other skilled Formula One drivers managed to miss.