I usually avoid writing specifics about a particular Grand Prix – not because I don’t have a view, but because certain issues could get outdated by the time you read this. We normally prefer to bring you a more analytical view than you get elsewhere. However, I have to start my column by writing about the Canadian GP that was held last month. Now, by the time you read my column, this topic will be history book stuff, but the memories and the experience of the GP from the outside (as a fan) will never be out of date. I think references to the Canadian GP will be made for a few seasons yet – not only for the entertainment it threw up, but also the competition. Who said F1 was boring?

For starters, we had teams actually trying to out-think each other in terms of tyre strategies. We had McLaren and Red Bull attempting two completely opposite strategies in qualifying and the race. That McLaren came out trumps proved that their thinking was correct, but full marks to Red Bull Racing for trying. Since the re-fueling ban this year, tyre stops are the only entertaining factor in the pits. But, until the GP in Canada, the teams could have been accused of being less than adventurous in trying to out-think their competitors. I’m sure not just the Formula One management, but also the fans and teams were happy to see the return of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

This season, I’m certain that the fans – no matter who you support – would be happy to see the competition so open and unpredictable. We had Ferrari and Fernando Alonso clinch opening race honours, followed by Jenson Button’s magic in his McLaren, and, of course, Lewis Hamilton’s new found speed and panache. But what is imperative to mention (and mark my words) is that Red Bull Racing is still the team to beat this season. They have a fast, but fragile, car, which has surprised many. Now, I don’t know what’s more surprising of the two – it’s an Adrian Newey designed machine after all (he also designed Kimi’s McLarens back in the mid-2000’s – yes, the ones that blew up at almost every race Kimi led)!

Red Bull Racing have dominated the season, and how! Their drivers have managed to win races from pole-to-flag. While it’s been boring for us fans, it’s the perfect redemption for a team that has invested many years in developing their machinery. However, there are two things noteworthy in their championship challenge. One, their inter-team driver rivalry that’s been making headlines, and second being their inexperience in handling a World Championship challenge, which includes two fast cars (that aren’t always fragile), two fast (but temperamental) drivers, and of course the pressures that exist in not just leading, but finishing as a top team in the World Championship. It is indeed their championship to lose, and inexperience could cost them more than just performance. After all, the pit wall plays an equal role, as does the driver in the cockpit.



McLaren have found some speed over the last few races, but still aren’t the quickest car on the grid. They are, nevertheless, the best bet to disturb the Red Bulls in their already disturbed state. Ferrari are clearly a distant third, whereas Mercedes GP and Renault constantly interchange their fourth position. The one team that makes me proud is the Force India F1 team. They have, time and again, beaten the Mercedes GP and Renault cars on merit. Vitantonio Luizzi and Adrian Sutil’s overtaking of Michael Schumacher in the last lap of the Canadian Grand Prix is my best memory of the team till date.

Speaking of specific drivers, the Red Bull duo seem to be comfortably competent – but only while racing other drivers! Sebastian Vettel is slowly earning the tag of ‘bad loser,’ but in my opinion Red Bull will have to let one of their current drivers go to bring back team harmony. Unfortunately, the axe could very well be on Mark Webber (yes, I say this even though he’s renewed his contract), who could be replaced by Scuderia Toro Rosso racer Sebastian Buemi – another bloke who’s driven the wheels of his slow car! My gut feeling is that Mark Webber may just be absorbed by a bigger, but not necessarily better (read faster), team. However, there are also talks about Kimi Raikkonen returning to F1 with a Red Bull underneath him, but that seems unlikely at the moment.

On the whole, though, driver performances have varied dramatically and surprisingly since the start of the season. We’ve had Felipe Massa, Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg and now Lewis Hamilton lead the Drivers’ Championship tables. However, the two drivers that have failed to impress thus far have been Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher. Both drivers are on the comeback trail, but they seem only to be a shadow of their former selves. Massa’s been down on his luck, but Schumi is down on luck and speed! My gut feeling (you can mark my words again) is that Michael Schumacher will reemerge to his winning self – once the car and tyres get working his way.

Speaking of comebacks, KERS ought to make a comeback in 2011. While I will not question the logic behind its ouster for this season, I would surely like to state some startling facts on KERS. In the F1 Global Fan Survey, conducted in February this year, nearly 40% of all fans were keen to see the innovative power boost and renewable energy system return to F1. However, there was also a large set of nearly 26% of fans who were clueless on KERS and its implementation. While, in the purist section, 22% believed that the benefits were valid only if every team on the grid used it.

Nevertheless, KERS is slated to make a comeback. The FIA is keen on showcasing F1 as a sport that cares for the environment, and KERS is a big step in improving their ‘green’ image. Leaving the off-track debate aside, there will be on-track changes on the reimplementation of KERS. For starters, there will be no weight benefit for cars that decide not to run the KERS system. If you remember, the question with KERS last year was pretty simple – would you rather carry 60 kilograms lesser on your car, or would you rather have a power boost button? Starting next year, teams that choose to run KERS will have no weight disadvantage. Clever ha!

Tyres, and their strategic use in the Canadian GP, prompted me to start my column, and it’s this very subject that’s going to bring this piece to an end – specifically, the FIA’s delay in announcing next years’ tyre manufacturer. Bridgestone exits the world of Formula 1 at the end of this season after a long association with F1. Nevertheless, it’ll be good to see what a new tyre manufacturer will bring to the track. There will be a single-make tyre next year, and the strong fight between Michelin and Pirelli has finally been won by the latter. More importantly, this decision was made just in time, as teams are already in the process of developing their 2011 contenders, and were having to do so with Bridgestone-spec tires in mind.

That’s plenty of food for thought until I see you next month. Stay tuned because the season only promises to get more interesting.