All I read today were headlines proclaiming a shock result because of the Red Bull one-two In China. Why? it was quite clear from pre season testing that Red Bull had a hell of a car and one designed within the so called "spirit of the rules". No smarty pants diffuser, no holes that aren't holes, just a good car. If Vettel had not had that moment with Kubica in Melbourne and the resulting penalty in Malaysia, nobody would have talked about how Brawn could already start to break out the 2009 championship t-shirts yet. Certainly that Sebastian Vettel is a great talent is not a shock.
However, a few things were undoubtably surprising on Sunday, that Renault would throw away a race by pitting after seven laps run under the safety car. If it had been a normal start, in the dry, that means they would have pitted after 3-4 laps? Yes, they were light, but I think they were trying to be too clever and ended up tossing the race.
Surprising were the number of mistakes Lewis Hamilton made, his excuse was that his tires were shot...ok, how did they get that way?
Surprising was to see a spark from Kovalainen. He really needed a result and I'm happy Mclaren did not order him to pull over for Hamilton, I'm sure against the protest of Hamilton Sr.
Surprising to see Ferrari do quite well with Massa, third at the time he was let down by the car, I was not surprised by Raikkonen's bland race. There is a serious problem there.
Surprised at how lost BMW seems. They thought they were really ahead of the curve with their KERS system but unlike Renault and Ferrari seem reluctant to abandon it and find a new development path.
Surprised at how few people see this diffuser issue as a political wedge brilliantly used by Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone to crack the unity of the FOTA. Latest talk has Brawn considering leaving the constructor's association, presumably in thanks for FOTA's help in getting the team off the ground. You're going to hear some good ones soon.
Finally, I was surprised that people were shocked, shocked I tell you, over Flavio Briatore's comments that drivers are car dependent. Yes, ladies and gents, he made the absurd claim that drivers go faster when they are in a dominating car. Shocking! That Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello moved from last on the grid last year to podiums this year is entirely due to what, Ross feeding them cheetah sandwiches for lunch? Shocking, how dare the Flavionator?
All the guys who race in F1 are potential winners if they have the right car on the right day, now a champion, that's another story, that takes consistency over 17 races...
Anyhow, great race. Not sure who's happier, Vettel that Buemi did not hit him too hard or Buemi that he did not take out the winning Sebastian... Close one there!
