The last few years haven't quite been the ticket, as you know. First, after the scarlet team took absolute ownership of the sport, Max Mosley intervened with a million rule changes. Qualifying became increasingly peculiar, but the podium remained the same. Then this was coupled with the tyre changes, forcing the cars to conserve rubber and drive less intense laps. Finally, the Red Baron toppled, and boys a dozen years younger suddenly battled for the championship, outclassing his car by a mile. While the Spanish anthem might not have played as often in 2005 -- must you always move over for a devastating Finn? -- the Renault lad triumphed.
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Now, thankfully, sense has prevailed. It's about the racing again, and we can sense that you're glad at this marvellous stepping back towards status quo. And that isn't just because of the V8 engines. Drivers don't have to bother with nursing their slicks; they're allowed tyre changing again. Qualifying, after years in experimental wilderness, seems to have found its feet again, and while embellished by ridiculous, juvenile terms like 'knockout zone', the new format is certainly a return to the basics: a bunch of fast cars lapping constantly around a track, pushing harder to find their individual racing lines, with the shuffling timesheets egging them on. This against-all-odds racing produces what can truly be called a flying lap.
Anyway, on to the race. After a spectacular qualifying shunt, Raikonnen started from the back of the sandiest circuit in the world to claim the final step of the podium, with a perfectly executed one-stop strategy. If his car can hold together, this young man will make sure a nostalgic seven-time-World champion doesn't miss one-time qualifying nemesis, Mika Hakkinen. Kimi carved spectacularly through the grid, caring not about heavier fuel load, contemptuously passing drivers without risking a front wing. A one-stop strategy is a huge risk, as demonstrated by David Coulthard, who managed to take his Red Bull to tenth place, but didn't have enough fuel to complete the slowing down lap.
Bahrain also gave us a bunch of fresh faces, and while we didn't have enough time (a race leaving audiences breathless trying to keep up with the action is always a good sign) to look at the prowess made by Scott Speed, and young Yuji Ide made an inglorious mess of things, this circuit belonged to Nico Rosberg. Keke's 20-year-old son disdainfully stamped his authority as he drove a dream debut, more than living up to all expectations tagged on by his last name. Told on the team radio that he had a chance to score a point, not just did Nico fly past David Coulthard, but ended up in seventh place, scoring two. Oh, and he has the record for the fastest lap on the circuit now. Sensational.
Battles were the order of the day, and several commendable efforts -- Jacques Villeneuve, Christian Klien, Mark Webber -- made sure the action was on a constant high. Jenson Button went into the race desirous of his first win, but a disastrous start left him craving the podium; even as he treated us to two fabulous overtakes on none other than a helpless Juan Pablo Montoya, both drivers were left in the dust by the Colombian's McLaren-mate. (Aside: Do the other teams suddenly think that red paint will make their cars faster or more reliable?)
- 2006 Formula One season coverage
Speaking of battles, the race lead never came easy. Michael Schumacher, after qualifying pole on Saturday to equal Ayrton Senna's record of 65, might be 37, but the German maestro shrugged off the years as he peeled into the distance as the race began. Finding his line and pushing over it faultlessly, Michael gave more than adequate demonstration of what his wheels are capable of. If only Felipe hadn't spun, or if his rear-locked spin would have touched ends with the Renault behind him, we could even consider a Ferrari one-two.
As it were, things went well for the defending champ, enjoying a flawless run through the circuit to eventually win an extremely tight game of pit-stop poker. Fernando Alonso started fourth on the grid, stormed past a chaotic Massa soon enough, and superbly caught up with the Ferrari ahead of him.
Last year, their cars had allowed him to overtake Michael, but this year the difference is imperceptible: both cars qualified on a very similar fuel load, had near-identical strategies, and look very well matched indeed. Despite a disgruntled Giancarlo Fisichella describing his limping Renault as "****ing s**t" publicly on team radio, Michael's post-race description is a more accurate two-word summation: 'Equal car.'
At the season opener, Ferrari and Renault looked incredibly close, but the vital fact is that the McLaren wasn't far behind at all, and neither was the Honda. While Fernando showers his pitcrew with champagne, and the Tifosi take consolation in the fact that Alonso didn't overtake Schumacher on the track, this season promises to be a very tightly-contested one, with each race completely up for grabs. Fighting for the race lead, both drivers were well aware that this is going to be a season where consistency will pay off -- which is why Fernando didn't try an unrealistic overtake, and despite making the Spaniard shudder with a sudden look down his inside with four laps to go, neither did Michael.
Bahrain has given us so much to talk about that one piece does not suffice -- we have a BMW team and a Williams team; two teams with the hallowed word Ferrari in their name; a slew of young drivers; a possibly controversial decision hinted at subtly by Michael Schumacher -- but we will be talking about this race for weeks to come. Actually, unbelievably, let's make that one week.Sunday is for Sepang.
Anyway, Formula One, as I was saying: it's grand to have you back.
