Mega Melbourne

Wow, what a brilliant race we've had this weekend! There were plenty of great performances from a whole host of drivers and teams which made for a really exciting race, though I'll admit Vettel was extremely lucky with that safety car. Well done to Button for a great win, hard luck Lewis, but I'm sure he'll bounce back. Onwards with #FanFormula!

Q1) Williams appear to have come back strong with a great battle between Maldonado and Alonso. But what did you make of the 'midfield' teams today battling against the like of Ferrari and Mercedes?

A: I thought it was absolutely brilliant. It was great to see Williams fighting for those points after such a torrid couple of seasons and I was genuinely gutted for Maldonado when he had his hefty shunt, despite some questionable moves earlier on in the race. Watching the 'midfield' teams mixing it up with the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes was so exciting to watch; Sauber's tussles with the likes of Kimi Raikkonen and Nico Rosberg made up half the action that went on in the race, and it was so wonderful to see them have a really good go at getting some points. The battle between Alonso and Maldonado was gripping too, kudos to Fernando for managing to stave off Pastor in the end, as it was no mean feat with that extra DRS zone this year. All in all it was just such an exciting first race, helped a lot by Ferrari and Mercedes' performances seemingly becoming the opposite of their qualifying pace.

Q2) What do you make of the rule that lets back-markers unlap themselves under the safety car? Does it just prolong the safety car period, or is it fairer on those that would be out of place due to lapped cars?

A: Let me start by saying that knowing Hamilton would be pushing for Vettel, unhindered, after that safety car today was a quite a nerve-wracking thought! It certainly makes for a much more exciting spectacle for the fans, but for sure it prolongs the safety car period by quite a distance. I'm sure I wasn't the only one thinking 'just get on with it' by the fourth lap under it, but I think it'll be something we'll get used to eventually. Given more time, the positive of drivers being able to have clear runs at each other on the restart will outweigh the negative of waiting longer to see it happen.


Q3) If you watched via Sky what is your overall opinion of the new team and coverage? If you watched via BBC, how did you find watching the highlights show rather than live coverage? Did it lack the excitement knowing that the race was already over?

A: I watched both the Sky and BBC coverage as I'm still in two minds as to which provider I'm going to stick with this season.

Sky Sports F1

Sky need to be given some space for the first few races, as they're new to covering the sport and the team will need time to gel and properly understand how they'll work together. A lot of people have argued that Simon Lazenby seems to be a little 'wooden' and lacking some knowledge and charisma, but the guy is relatively new to Formula 1 and I imagine must have been quite nervous (it's shown, with him sometimes interrupting Martin Brundle and/or Damon Hill in full flow to get a word in), so I'll be giving him the benefit of the doubt for now. Getting Ted Kravitz as part of the team has been a major coup, because the money Sky have to invest in technology has allowed him to really delve deep into the technical side of the sport; I've really enjoyed him explaining about the new innovations with the SkyPad, particularly Mercedes' rear-wing 'F-duct' and the different solutions teams have come up with in trying to cope with the double diffuser ban. In the commentary box David Croft and Martin Brundle seem to be a great pairing, you can tell they get on well and both have a raft of knowledge - Crofty made a few mistakes today but it was a pretty hectic race, and you can't deny that the guy has passion.

Having said all that, up to now I've been a little disappointed with build-up and post quali/race round-ups. This may just be because I have a short attention span, but 30 minutes build-up for practice and 90 minutes for the race seems much too long, so much so that at some points Simon seemed to struggle to think of what to bring up for Martin and Damon to discuss. Keep in mind that this is being written prior to the airing of the F1 magazine show, but I can't see what Georgie Thompson is bringing to the coverage up to now, apart from being something pretty to look at. When she's presented analysis on the SkyPad it's been clear that she doesn't really understand what Anthony Davidson is saying. Again, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt, but I'm sure she knows that she'll need to do her homework to keep up to speed. Overall I think Sky have made a very promising start and that given time, they'll improve even more.

BBC F1

Watching extended highlights will of course never be the same as watching a race live, but the BBC seem to have coped incredibly well with the budget cuts imposed on them. I wasn't too keen on the idea of Ben Edwards taking the lead comms helm but I take it back now - he may get a bit over-excited, but him and David Coulthard have already established a good rapport and were pretty much flawless during the race. Gary Anderson's technical input has also been a very interesting addition, while the camaraderie between Jake, DC and Eddie Jordan is still great to watch despite the shirt jokes being very old now. It's this in particular that gives the BBC a much more casual feel, which is perfect for them as the casual F1 fan is their target audience after all. It's not to everyone's taste, but they're doing a good job and I'll look forward to watching their live race coverage.


BONUS) What was your favourite moment of the weekend?

Vettel's pass on Rosberg in the first couple of laps was sublime, it was very brave of him to try that on the outside of a corner and it payed off beautifully. And who said he couldn't overtake?

When I get that feeling...

The wait is almost over everyone, tomorrow morning we get to see our first Formula 1 race of the year! We've all been whetting our appetites in different ways, whether it's been watching the 2011 season review DVD on loop, playing F1 video games endlessly, or entertaining ourselves with the stream of funny photoshops on the Autosport forums. Indeed seeing the first promos on TV is that long-awaited sign that, finally, what's felt like a very long winter is close to ending. And it will have been very hard to avoid them, especially Sky's offerings as they seek to convince us to part with our hard-earned money to get in on the experience.

There was, however, one trailer that caught my attention like nothing else:

© Sky Sports F1™

For me it's a brilliant example of how editing can create such a sense of atmosphere and anticipation. The hive of activity in the pits, the crowd on their feet to cheer their beloved drivers, all accompanied by that ever-growing undercurrent of engine revs and drum beats into a great crescendo. Then silence, as everyone anticipates the arrival of the five red lights.


It's at this particular moment when I was watching it, that 'the feeling' started to build up.


'The feeling' is a phenomenon that many can never convey. Not in any certain concrete terms, anyway. Some describe a it as a slight fizzing sensation in the pit of their stomach, while others (me included) can end up having to take very deep breaths to try and control the shivers that race through their body. And it almost always occurs when we experience a very exciting or nervous moment in our lives, as it's our body's way of preparing us for the stress that it's about to undergo. It's no wonder that the often stressful nature of following sport is such a sure-fire way of getting these experiences to surface.

But the wonderful thing about 'the feeling' is that although it's an intensely personal experience for each of us, every single human being can experience it. Everyone can feel the rush - waiting for a crucial penalty kick in a football match, waiting for the 100m runners to rise from their starting blocks in the Olympics final, waiting for those five red lights to come on and then disappear on a Grand Prix raceday. For those few agonising seconds every single person watching that moment, no matter what their allegiance, is engrossed in their anticipation to witness some of the greatest athletes in the world perform at the highest level. I don't know about anyone else, but witnessing such achievement gives me a great sense of pride in humanity and really enforces the notion that if we can set our minds on something, and be as committed and passionate as the athletes we idolise, we can do whatever we've dreamed to do. You hear so much about the negative aspects of following sport and indeed there are plenty, but every sports fan is fundamentally united in their devotion and passion for it. It's a bond between all of us that can never, ever be broken.

© www.grandprixweekly.com

So however you're watching the Grand Prix tomorrow and at every other race thereafter, remember that when those five red lights are coming on, there'll be millions of other people around the world feeling exactly the same emotions as you. And for once rivalries and controversies won't matter, because for those few seconds we'll all be united in our passion, in our love, for our sport.

And it'll be absolutely brilliant.

To 2012 And Beyond

Only 2 days to get ready for FP1 at Melbourne and I'm woefully under-prepared this year. Not even decided what's going into the midnight snackbox of chocolatey goodness yet. No matter, it's time for #FanFormula again, albeit a bit later than usual.

Q1) HRT and Marussia, with only days remaining until the F1 returns, have passed the final FIA crash tests. What do you make of their delayed start to the season and will this have an effect on 2012 and future seasons for the teams?

A: It's never nice to see teams struggling, no matter who you support. The new rules requiring teams to pass all 18 FIA crash tests have obviously taken a big toll on HRT and Marussia's pre-season programme, so much so that it will be extremely difficult for them to improve their performances from last year. Yes, the tyre data both teams collected with their 2011-spec cars will be of some help, but they can't even begin to think of moving up the order if they can't get their cars ready for testing. It's just too crucial an event to miss now that in-season testing is banned, and it's plain to see that the very modest budgets of HRT and Marussia just can't deliver at the moment. Unless they see a substantial amount of investment in the future, I wouldn't be surprised if both teams pulled out of Formula 1 in a couple of years time.


Q2) With several teams completing several 'filming days' before the season begins, should this be allowed or is it just a way for the teams to get a few sneaky test laps in without being at a test session?

A: I'm a firm believer of 'filming days' being another term for private test days! But I don't think they're a bad thing, I imagine it's good for the teams to get some mileage away from the prying eyes of their competitors. It would be nice if they had a set number of filming days in a season, to do shakedowns of new parts and give third drivers some running time. But with in-season testing banned and Formula 1 trying to cut down on costs, that won't be happening anytime soon.

Q3) 2012 is rumoured to be the last year that both Catalunya and Valencia feature in the race calendar; what is your view on this and will this bring the end of the European GP?

A: It's a shame but it's the right thing to do. We all know that Spain has suffered quite badly from the Eurozone economic crisis and hosting two Grands Prix each year just doesn't seem to make sense right now, when they have much more important issues to deal with. And let's be honest, Catalunya and Valencia are two of the more processional races on the calendar, so having one less boring race each year is a good thing! As for the future of the European Grand Prix, it's looking a little bleak. There are plenty of tracks to choose from that could host the Grand Prix on a rotation basis, but it's a question of whether they can afford the huge costs of hosting a race, which in the current economic climate seems unlikely.

BONUS) Now that all of the liveries have been revealed, which is your favourite and which one do you like the least?

A: It's been a real mix with liveries this year. The McLarens always look nice in chrome but it's starting to get really boring now, and it's the same story with the Red Bulls and Toro Rossos.

The worst though, by far, is Sauber's offering:

As they don't have many sponsors you'd be inclined to feel a bit of sympathy for them. But, like last year, it feels like they haven't even tried. In fact it looks like they cobbled it together on Microsoft Paint as an afterthought, and as such it looks a complete mess. The new addition of the black nose-cone also accentuates how blunt their interpretation of the stepped nose is, making it one of the ugliest of the 2012 cars. If only they went back to one of their earlier designs...

As for the best, Lotus' livery is just scrumptious. Despite being sponsored by a deodorant company this year and the red end-plates spoiling things slightly, the black-and-beige (doesn't look gold to me!) JPS homage has looked every bit as gorgeous on track as it did in the launch photos. Under the floodlights of Singapore and Abu Dhabi, it'll be heavenly!

© Getty Images

F1 doesn't do football chants...

... but if it did, they'd be the best in the world. Right?

While watching the Queens Park Rangers documentary The Four Year Plan the other night (which is a brilliant watch, thoroughly recommend it), a lot of the chants directed at the then chairman, ex-Renault boss Flavio Briatore, were amusing to say the least. But chants and songs are something you don't really see in Formula 1, which is no surprise seeing as at a race they wouldn't be able to be heard over the sound of the engines. Anything we do get arrives much later in the form of Youtube videos, of which there are a couple of gems:

 

So yesterday I asked Twitter to come up with some F1-style football chants and songs, mainly to see how they'd work, but more so that we could all have a laugh and make these last few days pass more quickly. The best (read: cleanest) ones are below, but you can find more on Twitter under the hashtag #F1DoesFootballChants. Feel free to comment below and on Twitter with your own suggestions, enjoy.


@hedgeryhoops: "we made your car for you! We made your car for you! (Ferrari fans to McLaren fans after spygate!)"


@domcovkid: "'you're getting sacked in the morning!' Can be used sparingly for Massa and also for STR drivers :)"


@I_am_Jamm: "the chrome, car 3, his hair is dandruff free, Jenson Button!" and "you're not going to make 107% in the morning!"


@BenF1_: "Michael Schumacher, he gets old when he wants"


@AilishCatherine: "And it's Red Bull, Red Bull Racing. We are by far the greatest team, the world has ever seen ;)"


@LHCollision: "He's short, he's red, he'll move if he's ahead, Felipe Massa!"


@Magnificent_Geof: "Chim-chiminy chim-chiminy chim chim cheroo - our cars produce much more downforce than you!"

Your Formula!

Hi everyone, hope you all had a good week because it's time for #FanFormula again. I'm writing this week's answers up just as pre-season testing has ended, with a less-than-ideal day for the Red Bull boys - Seb Vettel only got 23 laps of running, after front wing damage and a gearbox problem hindered the team's plans. A resounding 'boooooo!' from here. Still, it's best that these problems happen in testing than in FP1 in Melbourne, which is only 12 days away now. To know that this time in two weeks we'll know our first Grand Prix winner of the season... exciting times indeed.


Q1) What is it about F1 as a sport that you love and what do you hope this season will bring?

A: There's two things that make me love Formula 1 as I do. Firstly, the rate of technological advancement in the sport is just phenomenal. Even though I'm not a sciency person at all, it's hard not to appreciate the creativity, hard work and dedication each team member puts into making each hand-made car as perfect as possible, and it's great to know that some of these innovations are being applied outside the track to make a difference for those less fortunate.

The main thing that makes me love the sport so much is that no matter who you support we're all here to appreciate these drivers and team personnel, who are potentially putting themselves in great danger, to entertain us. The sport has its fanboys and fangirls of course, but the vast majority of fans treat each other with the upmost respect and can have a laugh with each other. Unlike with some sections of other sports, it's extremely rare to see drivers/teams and fans being abused for their views and performances, with any criticisms largely being conveyed in a thoughtful manner or as cheeky banter. It's this mutual respect between us that I think makes Formula 1 different from other sports and which makes it such a pleasure to be involved in. As @AilishCatherine* once said, "we're all one big, happy family united by our love for Formula 1" and it couldn't be more true.

For what this season will bring, obviously I'd love Red Bull to get the World Drivers' Championship and Constructors for the third season in a row. Though I'd like the competition to be closer this time around, as even I was getting a bit bored of Seb running off into the distance by the end of the year. If that doesn't happen then Jenson Button winning another WDC would be brilliant, just so he could prove to everyone that 2009 wasn't a fluke.

(*Ailish is a regular #FanFormula contributor who's aspiring to work in Formula 1 as a PR consultant. She's had many lucky run-ins with drivers and teams, which include work experience with Force India and various invites to the Grand Prix Paddock and testing sessions, all of which she writes about in her blog. If you're interested in this part of the Formula 1 world then take a look, it's a great read!)

Q2) What team/driver do you support and why did you choose to support them?

A: I have mentioned this before, but for those of you who are new I'm a Red Bull fan, supporting both Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. Though I've been developing a soft spot for Jenson Button lately, because he seems like such a lovely guy and I like his smooth driving style. I was quite a big Jaguar fan when I was little, at first because I liked their livery (as you do when you're a kid), but being a British team and being British myself, there's just something about us that makes us want to support an underdog. As Mark drove for the team back then, and now that Jaguar are Red Bull Racing, it just seemed natural to continue supporting both of them. I've followed Sebastian Vettel since his drive back at Indianapolis 2007, because I felt I had to keep an eye on him after scoring points in his first ever race! Nearly five years down the line and it's been a good ride up to now. Not sure how I'd cope if he ever went to Ferrari though...

Q3) If you could be in charge of F1 for the day, what three rules would you put into the sport? (This can include the removal of any rules you dislike)

A: Ban team orders, unless a driver is mathematically out of the championship and his team-mate is still in contention - this might be a controversial opinion, especially with me being a Red Bull fan. In fact having our fair share of team orders and favouritism controversy is what really annoys me when supporting them! But the fact is that I've hated team orders ever since I watched Rubens Barrichello have to give up his win to Michael Schumacher, back at the 2002 Austrian Grand Prix. It was the first time that I'd ever gotten truly angry over a sporting moment and it's one that I don't think I'll ever forget. Everyone who I watched the race with just felt cheated out of seeing what would've been a great win for Rubens. Putting emotions to one side for a moment, however, Formula 1 is fundamentally a team sport and if there's a time when a driver has been mathematically ruled out of the championship, but his team-mate is still in contention, I don't have a problem with team orders then as it's for the greater good of the team. But only then.

Remove the rule making the top 10 start on their qualifying tyres - this is a particular gripe of mine. Not because of how it affects the race, but how it makes qualifying such an anti-climax for those of us watching. By definition the Q3 shoot-out should be just that - the best drivers on the day pushing everything to try and get the best out of their cars, until the chequered flag drops. As it is, too often we've seen a lot of them putting in one or two laps and then pitting to save their tyres. I can understand why the FIA brought the rule in and it does save rubber, but as a spectacle for the fans it's backfired badly! If money truly was no object I'd probably bring in special qualifying tyres, so that we could see what the cars were truly capable of and make Q3 the exciting, nerve-inducing finale it should be.

Bring back V10 engines - again, if money was no object, there'd be nothing better than hearing the V10 singing again. Here it is along with the current V8 to compare:

BONUS) If you were a team principal, which two drivers would you want to drive for you and why?

A: Wishful thinking, but if he ever got into the shape he was pre-crash Robert Kubica would definitely be in there. Despite the terrible bad luck Bobby K's had over the last few years he's shown that he's quick as well as consistent; he claimed a maiden win and fourth overall in the 2008 championship with a car that got gradually weaker as the season progressed, while he was regularly fighting for higher points and the odd podium with Renault in 2010. Here's hoping that his ongoing recovery is a speedy one and that if he ever gets back to full fitness, he gets to have a good shot at the championship one day.

The other driver I'd pick is Fernando Alonso. For those of you who know me on Twitter this may come as a shock! I do take the mick out of him a lot and I don't like the way he's gone about things in the past (qualifying at Hungary in 2007 comes to mind), but you can't deny that he's one of the best drivers on the grid at the moment. The results he achieved with Renault back in 2009 are proof of his talent, finishing in the points 8 times in a car that was nowhere near competitive, and he's achieved good results in his current stint at Ferrari despite them being off the pace compared to their rivals. How he'd cope with a fully-fit Kubica as a partner in a front-running team, however, would be interesting to see...

That's a wrap for this time, don't forget that you can always head over to the Fan Formula homepage if you're interested in getting involved. Hope anyone that comes across this has a lovely week as ever, and remember, just 12 more sleeps until Formula 1 is back. Until next Sunday, much love.