We've two intriguing races so far, followed by an elongated break to allow all those bad feelings to stew over Easter, I can imagine there are still some cold stares and very tangible tension floating around the Red Bull garage. It is going to be one interesting weekend, and probably a very quiet one in certain parts of the pitlane, with issues up at the front of the grid then in house political ramifications could very well take centre stage dominating the proceedings, as it has all over the internet in the intervening period. What is most interesting, the potentially less ethical situation down at Mercedes has been glossed over, subverted underneath the other goings on elsewhere. The fact that Hamilton has been given some form of presidency in that motorhome, and there is not so many people questioning that particular decision in the final phase of the race last time out. Those things did not sneak past blog HQ, and the penalty points were awarded accordingly. The handling of the case at Red Bull has been rather bad, especially on Vettel's side - issuing some empty apology afterwards just to satisfy the world's media without simply stating that he wanted to win the race. Defying team-orders is fine by me, because the idea is irritating, but lying, but not coming out and stating the actual intention behind it is petty.
I don't think such things will plague this weekend - because those responsible would not want to relive the fallout and repercussions of their actions once more, however the power of the teams seems to supersede ethics and sportsmanship in favour of money. Boo and Hiss all round there. But in other news, Bahrain is approaching and naturally the vast sea of controversy is slowly washing across the internet and news feed - claims of raids and other anti-protesting plotting and planning by the government. A way of getting anyone the authorities might consider 'problematic' out of the way before the F1 circus rolls round - it all seems mighty suspicious, but I assume more will seep out of the woodwork as the event draws closer. For now there is a slightly more immediate race on our hands as we prepare for the Chinese GP.
We had just escaped one of those generic Tilke specials in Sepang and yet we manage to stumble across another one which is some respects is virtually identical, except in this case the whole thing is quite a bit worse. There are times when I look at the map, and when I'm pottering around in the simulator when I seriously question the logic and reasoning that went into designing and then building this circuit. For example the opening sequence of the lap is even more insane than the double hairpin we faced three weeks ago. It has been quoted as being a novelty feature, something distinguishing and representative of the track - replicating some Chinese character as a design baseline - and here is the thing, that's not necessarily a good idea. A giant loop-the-loop would be a defining characteristic, but that doesn't mean Mr Tilke should go and build one into his next crazed scheme. A race track is precisely what is says on the tin, not an excuse to draw some deranged shapes on a blueprint and call the job done.
The middle sector of the lap is, once again, the most redeeming part of the lap - once exiting the appalling opening sequence the track actually becomes both function and worthwhile. Offering a valid overtaking opportunity into turn 6, away from all the artificial DRS enabled zones that are everywhere else in this new era. Following that there is a sequence of acceptable corners exiting towards a small back straight - not the really long one yet - and it is at this point the decent part of the track is called off before virtually before it began...
Turns 11 and 12 are less pointless than the first four, but none the less irritating - it is another feature of the lap that makes you despair at the long lost art of circuit design. To finish the lap off is the virtually obligatory oversized straight, something that is forced into almost every Tilke design - Sepang was even given two of the things. Yet for some reason the powers that be have decided that the most suitable place for passing under normal circumstances needs even more help with the DRS, off all the places why is it on the longest straight into the slowest corner, where overtaking is actually possible normally. As a result I can foresee drivers just breezing past each other effortlessly in before the breaking zone. But as dark and miserable as the track is, there is one thing that will always make is better and that of course is Myria, in the introductory video.
What to expect
The Chinese GP has provided some great races, which is odd considering the track is painfully annoying in places, and generic in others - but it's location at the start of the season in these uncertain times with tyres and limited testing the cars make up for the circuit. Some of that is due to the unpredictable conditions, with cold temperatures and the occasional rain shower, none of which is predicted this weekend. So it becomes a battle among the teams - and inside them at the moment - and the same faces will probably be up front, if Webber and Vettel haven't punched each other by the time the race comes around.
Red Bull, Ferrari, Lotus and Mercedes are likely to make up the greatest proportion of the top 10 only leaving two remaining places for those from the mid-field to strike. And it still seems weird to be considering McLaren as a member of the mid-field even if they are competing at the very front of that group of cars, but still not anywhere near where they needed to be to have any chance of winning races and anything else. But that is not the most disturbing thing about McLaren is the impact it is having on Mr Perez - he can no longer complete a race on a single stop, such a problem is borderline criminal. Someone down there at Woking needs to get on that straight away.
Elsewhere the speed of the chassis will delimit the field, this isn't the sort of track where a driver can make too much ground - so Williams will struggle to beat any of the other established teams and could be under threat from Jules Bianchi out-performing the Marussia again. Force India and Sauber will be annoying McLaren and Torro Rosso will be floundering around in the middle of all that somewhere.
All in all this probably will not be one of the most memorable races of the season, but the constant complaints about tyre wear and inter-team grumbles could add an interesting layer to a threateningly dull event. That underlying unfriendliness that is bubbling up could easily erupt this race, and that sounds fun to all involved - so until the first session is played out, thankfully on the BBC this weekend rather than the SKY drivel they try and spruce up with shiny graphics... this is farewell from my here at blog HQ.
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