When The Lights Go Out Its..........

GO, GO, GO!!!!!

Tension - Its Palpable!!!!



Its, nearly time! And unlike the last few years, its back at what is generally agreed to the rightful home of the start of the Formula 1 season, Albert Park, Melbourne.

Don't get me wrong, if the opener HAD been Bahrain, then that would have been a good thing considering the state of affairs there at the moment. I don't think the misery and suffering of a people is really as important as Formula 1, so lets just get that and any potential comments about being insensitive out of the way shall we??!!

However, I am sure that for many, myself obviously included, the starting of a season at any other circuit just doesn't QUITE have the same impact, the same tension and excitement that it does when Melbourne is the return of the greatest motorsport around.

Alarming??

Just what is it about the start of the season in Melbourne though that get me all excited?? I think partially its the time difference.

I know its a worldwide sport and that some races have changed their start times to appeal to the European audience (another sign of the might of Bernard!!!), but I love the early morning start to Qualifying and the Race, even if Sky+ has enabled just a few more winks before the pitlane opens for business. Even though there are other Race Weekends that have times offset from GMT, to me its the start of the season and the early start that, well, just "does it" for me.

Like A Huge Sheet Of Crumpled Paper

How will the season unfold? Without going into the different drivers, technical regulation changes and should Bernie use fake rain, I think the last few seasons have been some of the best in the 15 or so years I have been watching the sport. Yes, its a very technical sport, and with all the rule changes the casual follower can sometimes struggle to keep up, but I think with the excellent BBC coverage and their attempt to demystify some of the more confusing elements (Computational Fluid Dynamics? Anyone??) its now returning to being more of a specticle and a good way to spend a few hours without having to consider physics and chemistry.

So, who will be crowned Champion??

Can't say I really have a clue. Nobody would have predicted Brawn and Button in 2009, and although Red Bull and Vettel was less of a gamble for the title, it was one hell of a race to the end. All I know is, Saturday and Sunday morning, the alarm will ring, the coffee will brew, and most importantly the lights will go out.

Then the fun will really begin

Ritchie