The Silly season is over. The practice is completed. Qualifying has come and gone. All that remains is the Grand Prix in Melbourne. Formula 1 has waited for months to prove that Lewis Hamilton didn't deserve to win the championship last year. How dare anyone not from Ferrari take home the World Driver's Championship. In fact, next year, Bernie Ecclestone is renaming the series "Ferrari 1 Everyone Else Can Bite Me."
But not so fast, you wacky Beatle-wannabe. Brawn GP is proving that with a little incentive anything is possible. They paced out into P1 and P2 to start the Aussie Grand Prix, and they were in the heaviest cars on the grid. Toyota both suffered wing infractions that are forcing them to the back of the pack, along with Title-defender Lewis Hamilton, who was forced to replace his gearbox.
The "Diffuser Three" (Williams, Brawn GP, and Toyota) have been at the forefront of action all weekend, thanks to the FIA deeming that the diffuser set-up they are running, which is vastly different from the other seven teams, is legal under the new regulations.
Sebastien Vettel continued his hot streak from last year, posting up to P3, and our pick to win the Grand Prix, Robert Kubica, is a respectable P4 to start the race.
While up late the other night watching some of the first practice, I noticed one of the graphics as they went to commercial was a koala bear, which got me to thinking, if they would let the bear race instead of Felipe Massa, it would probably be safer for all parties involved.
McLaren is struggling for pace, even though they have one of the better looking cars on the grid. Which goes to show you, a good looking car does not a winner make.
Jenson Button has already been declared, by the bookies and Felipe Massa, to be the Champion for this year. Massa has even stated that Brawn GP will lock up the point's title by June or July. And if Bernie gets his wish, which it looks like he will, the medals system will be in place for 2010. Regardless of team approval or team refusal, Ecclestone has been quoted as saying, "It won't be necessary to discuss it with anybody. Providing the regulations are out before they enter the championship, that's how it is."
Bernie "Fifth Beatle" Ecclestone also stated that there would be 26 cars on the grid by opening weekend 2010. USGPE (Formerly USF1) and two other teams will be joining the grid by March of next year, which should bring some excitement to the ranks.
But most fans are still troubled by the medal system, which would award the driver's championship to the winningest driver, which on paper doesn't sound bad, but if you consider that a driver can win three races, and if that hold out as the most wins on the season, he's the champion, regardless of if he even races the rest of the schedule.
Sunday looks to be an interesting day to say the least. Brawn is outpacing everyone. But speed only carries you so far. Driving talent is required as well. The Right Wing is still saying Kubica for the win, but Jenson Button might make for an exciting day.
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