That was an exciting race -- and
most agree -- but a start to an even more exciting era. Compared to the Schumacher era, almost anything is better. After Schumacher, F1 had some very good years seeing Alonso, Hamilton, Button and Raikkonen win Championships. After that, a kid named Sebasian Vettel won four in a row. Most people equate the Vettel years with boredom, but they were anything but to me. Ratings skyrocketed. Everyone knew Vettel was a prodigy and would win, but not because he was with the strongest team, etc.
There were battles everywhere people. Passing does not = battle. I can enjoy a "battle" as much or more even if there is no pass. I would think all of us can, having been there in virtual world. While the cars are awesome, the tires and extra fuel are the real key here. They both even things up more than the new design, since the DF+ cars of today are easier to drive with more talent and experience. The gap between drivers who should be in GP3 or F2 (e.g. 33% of the grid) and best (poor Fernando) is going to widen, thank God.
Finally, Finally, Finally! we got to see a real race at the end, not a management conference. To me, they were driving their balls off. And they confirmed it:
- Pat Symonds, the former Williams technical director, opined after the race that it looked like old school, with very intense racing, due to the drivers having more confidence, with passing being harder, but more rewarding, both for driver and fan. Pat could not be more right.
- Asked if the decision to pit Hamilton the win to Ferrari, Wolff said: “It’s not Christmas. Some you win and some you lose. Today we were not quick enough and Sebastian is a well-deserved winner.”
- The losers of the "let's-make-it-more-like-racing" era, of course, complained. Lewis complains because that's all he knows how to do. Vettel, Raikonnen, and Bottas did not. It was not a "strategy call" that won this race, and it was not the fact that Vettel came out ahead from the pits. In years past, both Bottas and Hamilton would have easily passed Vettel, either because of fuel and tire management, or because of their speed dominance. He would have been a sitting duck.
A few things still need tweaking. Like the T.V. antenna they attached to the rolling billboard in back. And that infernal four engine rule that keeps getting blamed for so much lack of action or kid-gloving with the equipment. I think the new management will put pressure on the FIA to change that because it's entirely detrimental to the racing and the sport.
