Seabastian Vettel, more like sailed away in the distance while Lewis Hamilton held together a crumbling car and a steely Vitaly Petrov brought up the rear ahead of the rest of the field, on Sunday. Alonso and Webber mystified one another with varying tyre strategies while Button and Massa fought it out with Jenson receiving a drive-thru penalty and 6th place for his troubles and Felipe sliding down the order to 9th with one tyre stop too many. Rooking Perez finished 7th in the points for Sauber ahead of his team-mate Kobayashi, while Schumacher and Rosberg were both punted out and their cars damaged. The other Seb Buemi put in a strong drive too and grabbed the last point in 10th ahead of Sutil, Di Resta, Alguersauri, Heidfeld, Trulli and D'Ambrosio.

www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/03/27/2011-aust...

A good first outing in 2011 and an enjoyable event. Really looking forward to Malaysia and more performance being extracted from the cars, as only the Red Bull looked hooked up, even without KERS. McLaren had flashes as did Mercedes and Ferrari and who can not notice the Lotus Renault. Nevertheless, Malaysia will challenge the teams in new dimensions and the racing will evolve. Early days, yet DRS and KERS looked pretty solid and useful. Interesting to watch and certainly exciting for the drivers and with plenty of permeatations and application points.

Great job again in Australia, and hopefully, they will continue with the wonderful race they host. Congratulations to Seb Vettel and Red Bull Racing for the commanding win. An ominous sign? And to Vitaly Petrov drive of the day, stepping up in the absence of Robert Kubica. Great morale booster for all around. Good hustle from both Jenson and Lewis, and Michael and Nico, as well. Competitive driver pairings that will spur the competition all year long. Plus, the cars sound great too!! To more excitement upcoming in Malaysia. Bring on the heat!!

Indeed, thank you denny, and to all then. Well, Bahrain, what can we say? We'll see. Off to Oz for the opener instead. So, goes the lucky seven over to the nine, and who drives car nine, eek, Robert Kubica, well did, and now Nick Heidlfeld -- and who both had strong moments in testing. As did Rubes, Vettel, Massa and Schumi too. As well the Pirelli tyres are clearly different from the Bridgestone's and there is also a definite engineering challenge at adapting and maximizing the characterstics of the tyre. 

That's quite a lot to figure before adding the moveable rear wing, FIA prescribed usage zones, the return of KERS, and almost maybe more races then ever in a season, all promising to make F1 2011, the Year of the Ultimate Multi-Tasker.

Which also, in purely unscientific terms throws all past certainty to the stars and the lucky shining brightly dimming cosmos of it all. Favouring the veterans would seem natural especially multi-pitstop legends, Reubens and Schumacher. Massa as well, as we have seen, who is very fast and "coachable" by his engineer Rob Smedley. Not to mention, long-run specialista Jenson Button and even Adrian Sutil. (???)

As well, dark horse fave Nick Heidfeld sitting in for Robert Kubica. LRGP may have something with their blown floor, a la Brawn in 2009, and could bag a bunch of points before anyone can make any significant improvements to their own rides.

Fact is, all teams are in the same predicament, due to the flyaway races at the start of the season before returning back home to Europe. Another test session slotted in before Australia will help everyone get their package just right for Melbourne.

Then it will be time to see what it all really means when it matters most. Until then, who do you think is going to be a contender this year for race wins and the title?

Look forward to your thoughts and feedback.

F1 2011 is going to be interesting, without doubt.

Stars of F1 with video message to Robert Kubica: www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/3/1...

Greetings all, Happy New Year! Welcome to the new members! Seven more weeks to the beginning of it all, in Bahrain. Exciting times! Schumie will race the Merc # 7 in 2011. Vegas baby! Also, seven related, this is F1QA.com's seventh birthday. Hurrah!!Thanks to all who knew us back when we were a humble news and photo site, before we became so 'grown' up. Stayed tuned for more exciting developments here at F1QA and in F1. 2011 will surely be a season to remember. Catch the enthusiasm at F1QA.

on.fb.me/eK2BsC

I agree, as to having mixed feelings about Vettel's triumph. Not that he isn't a worthy champion, which he is and Congratulations! But, while the others were trying to win it, challenge or vie for it, Vettel focused on being fastest. An odd concept in this day and age of F1 that fittingly also allowed him to snatch away the victory that everyone else was trying to win and in the confusion, take the title.

Unlike 2009, when all had been decided and Abu Dhabi was like a fun end of term meet, this year with the pressure on, Abu fizzled... Spectacularly underwhelming.

So like last year then, the title was really clinched in Brasilia. Afterall, Webber crashing out in Korea essentially put him back never to recover and with Seb storming to victory in Sao Paulo, it's surprising more people didn't see it coming.

We F1QA pollsters certainly didn't, with Vettel in 4th place, Hamilton 3rd, and Alonso and Webber in a even-stevens lead. Most others thought similarly... 

webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=...

Then was it a perception that Vettel's misfortunes seemed more harmful to his hopes than the others did? Was he 'too' young, inexperienced, not ready, etc.

Or, did the media position the Webber, Alonso, Hamilton and for a while Button, fight as a more interesting circulation foddering and away from the quieter and, now clearly, more methodical approach of Seb Vettel to be merely the fastest.

Well, those in the know, don't call him 'baby-schu' just because he's also German. The so-called 'boy in a hurry' has been refining his methodology for some time now.

www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/bo...

Those in the know at F1QA, have been calling him 'the future' for some time now too. Being lucky enough to watch him devastate the field at a soggy Monza in 2008, I could not disagree with them, yet even his 1st win was phantom-like and surreal.

Unlike when Raikkonen pipped Alonso and Hamilton to the title in 2007, many that year were supporting Kimi while the McLaren duo ruined each others chances. With Kimi triumphing all seemed satisfactory and logically conclusive in the best outcome.

In 2008, when Hamilton barely crossed the line in 5th place to squeak the title away from Felipe Massa, everyone just said "That's racing!". Button in 2009, and Brawn, they had the better car early on, exploiting the diffuser and "that's racing." Tellingly now, Jenson had been one of the first of the 20 year-old wunderkinds in F1 and ten years later there he was, with his happy Dad, a British World Champion.  

Though Seb Vettel 2010 World Champion, still, a bit surreal and phantom-like. In this day of over-engineered competition, cars that can't follow each others and circuits where you can't pass, Sebastian thows a wrench into the algorithms. An other-wordly presence like Senna had, Prost, and for while Schumacher as well, although the majority of his victories were against lesser mechanical challengers.

Yet, for a spell, especially the years he lost to Hakkinen, Schumacher was right there, honing his craft before unleashing those remarkable victory seasons at Ferrari. Again, by systematically engineering and perfecting the concept of being fastest. Forget racing, that rarely happens in today's F1. It is now a test of pace.

Even in 2010, with re-fueling banned, drivers usually pass more with a pit-stop then on the track. Abu Dhabi being a rare exception (with no passing at all), for Alonso and Webber, although they were nowhere against Vettel on the day, anyway.

All year Vettel was criticized for his race-craft and technique, and for perhaps being a touch wilder than the rest. Well, it now seems, he is touch faster than all the rest too and the criticism was more a case of sour apples than anything to the contrary.

So, congratulations to Red Bull, for being Constructors Champions without being automobile constructors and for grooming a racer who only wants to be the fastest, and to sticking to their plan, through thick and thin, while the others lost the plot.

'The future' looks optimistically bright and someday all of this will make more sense beyond "the kid's got wings!" For the time being, take time to enjoy the change. Looking forward to an equally exciting and interesting 2011 F1 World Championship.

The Russians are coming. Marussia commits long-term to Formula 1 as company takes ‘significant stake’ in Virgin team. Calling it Russia's F1 team though, may be a bit wide of the mark, despite the 'big' money. Someone may want to read the agreement, again.

www.en.rian.ru/russia/20101111/161281966...

How about Brazil? Great lead-up, festive atmosphere, rain-affected qualifying and then it all went downhill. Nico 'I may be replaced by a pay driver' Hulkenberg takes pole, Button is nearly car-jacked, Sauber engineers 'lose' their computer and Bernie makes light of it all, classic.

Then at the start Hulkenberg leads the race for about 100 metres, Vettel, Webber and finally Alonso stream by, I fall alseep on the couch, and by the time I wake up, Vettel is taking the chequer with Webber 2nd, Red Bull is constructors champion, 3rd place Alonso is in the cat-bird seat and now we're left with one more to go.

Not quite like the Brazil of the past few seasons, yet nonetheless, pivotal.

Abu Dhabi though is the perfect finale circuit, rising like an 'RAI TV Grand Hotel set' out of nowhere in the middle of the sand, complete with an underground pit exit, a collossus Ferrari emblem, and a dusky, roadside rest stop with a marina, and carnival cruise ship, amusement park ambience. 

www.ferrariworldabudhabi.com/

Encompassing a sampling here and there from all of the features the Championship visits throughout the year while in a representation that is unique and solely of its own. Completely. As will be whoever triumphs and wins the World Driver's Championship in this most interesting and enjoyable of seasons, 2010.

The F1QA pollsters are favoring Alonso, but Webber is only a percentage point or two back, with Vettel distantly rated, as the battle background of differing philosophies will also be decided. Whether, to manipulate or not to manipulate.

That is the question: 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer...

cont'd  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_be,_or_not_to_b...

Okay, Korea was pretty exciting. A new venue, the idiosyncracies and crazy weather made for an interesting outcome and new championship leader. Maybe I'm partial, as I've been to Korea and liked it, but what about the rest of the year?

Has it been the classic type of Formula 1 season we'll remember for time to come or has it been a case of the Red Bull's crashing into each other and/or failing, Ferrari putting all their eggs into the Alonso basket and the McLaren just not fast enough when they need it most?

The new teams, as well, interesting as they can be, it wears thin when you see them so far off the pace running around under budget cap performance whilst the others spend away and lap them every chance they get. "Take that, another $20M you don't have or want to spend". Sort of reminds when the 3.5 litres were running with the turbos, sort of.

The TV coverage has been excellent for the most part, a big improvement over the years, and now with team radio and the replay function you can follow along without the need of the blathering. FP1 streaming on SPEED TV is the best part of the weekend. BBC have been solid, but that main dude, try as he may, doesn't really know a lot about F1 and it shows, painfully. Sometimes though the pit reporting is good. Sometimes.

Now the video game F1 2010 has been the best in years. With a great campaign highlighting the Gen Y need to be so 'frickin' awesome. I'm sure they've done very well for themselves with this one, but again, if everyone could drive F1 then it wouldn't be F1, so the video game is a little over the top. IMHO. Just a touch.

Bernie's 80th birthday has also highlighted where the sport is going in the future and how it's roots look likely to be upturned to accomplish all this expansion. The new venues are great but at the sake of the classic's perhaps not as much. Yet, would rather see new venues than another truncated classic like the Hockenheim tragedy. Why or why did they ruin such a great circuit? And, for what??

Looking forward to the final races, it seems Fernando has the upper hand, all the team behind him and peaking at the right time. F1QA readers seem to think so too, and we all know what a knowledge filled set they are. The Red Bull's, if Fernando snatches it, will rue their lost opportunity, as they were the speed dominant team all year but we all know to finish first, first you must finish. Which McLaren do, yet just don't have the speed this year and seemingly have not exploited enough filming days or their own F1 classiche department to get their updates in working order, usually wasting valuable race day time on the track testing while others are getting up to speed.

The new guys, well, let's see who is still in the sport next year, besides Kobayashi, before any comment is made. Kubica, great year again, but is he or Renault actually for real? Lots of promise, yet, where's Kimi when you need him? Pay drivers abound instead, who have always been around but now it's getting a little ridiculous.

 Though blame the on-going trend of putting 14 year olds in single seaters backed by mass lucre and eventually it will make its way to F1 because by that time said 14 year old is now 20ish and the backers need a return on the developmental costs, a year or two in F1 smashing cars while WC's are in rally cars is what you get.

Rosberg, Schumacher, well again time will tell. Rosberg loses Jock Clear as his engineer next year, who moves on to a broader role within the team and that will play into Schumi's hands. Jock is reknowned for getting his charge up to speed (Jacques Villeneuve anyone?) quickly and a lot of the difference between those two is up to chassis like/ dislike and engineering prowess. Hope Schumi sticks around.

Barrichello is still flying and re-signed for next year. Heidfeld too, hopefully he'll catch on somewhere as well. Luizzi driving for his career says he has a contract. Trulli too. What's happened to the Italian drivers in F1? Too emotional in this age of engineer driven racing. Poor Enzo must be rolling, though he hardly hired his own.

Off now to the ghetto circuit of Sao Paolo where the barrio streams past in the camera background as the cars wiz by burning fossil fuels and cash, as the poor watch at the fence. Will Fernando clinch or do the others still have anything left?

Indeed, it is shaping up for another exciting finish to the F1 season, before Abu Dhabi. Will it produce the type of excitement we've been treated to sometimes this year or will some other element (rain?) intercede and create it's own amusement.

In any event, surely it will provide entertainment value, trick or treat, because that's racing and this is and has been Formula 1 2010. Happy hallowe'en!!

In Montreal, it looks from the rear on-board that the Red Bull rear-steers. The other teams have looked at the RedBull suspension, diffuser, exhaust, etc., yet nothing too serious. This, though, if accurate, is another matter. Very clever as it may be. Any thoughts or feedback out there? Keep an eye on that rearview on-board.

Okay, Malaysia was pretty good, almost mid-80's like and Oz was wizardly but will China 2010 be as exciting? With rain on the horizon will the wizardry continue, perhaps, or will Shanghai shortly reveal a new complexion to the season. So far, all has been fairly status quo, more or less. Teams with the most miles in pre-season were slightly ahead and so on...

Last race Red Bull caught up and Mercedes is said to be ready with a B spec car by Spain. Ferrari, with Alonso on his back foot with engine supply and a re-surgent Massa look the strongest all around, though three races on the trot and a few technical issues have emerged at the Scuderia.

Mclaren is a little bit lost, it seems, at least distracted which through the confusion saw Jenson Button win his first race with them. That f-duct sure gves them serious top-end and in China that could prove useful, should they get near Red Bull.

Vettel and Weber both go well here, and without any significant progress since Malaysia, we can presume that another one two may be in the cards.

Kubica may be there too and maybe Rosberg and Schumi, who quietly is getting back up to speed. The mid-field is very close and highly competitive with the newbies not too far behind either.

To this point F1 has delivered a decent show all things considered and has generated enough in the away from the track stuff to keep it in the newspapers, for the most part. 

It hasn't been super amazing awesome but then again nothing else really is either yet with so many world champions in this year's field F1 still has got the upper hand when it comes to the truly best drivers in the world, technical overload aside.

All you want to know about the F1 of the Winter Olympic Sports, Snowboard-Cross. While we are at it, the Men's downhill course had a few bus-stop like chicane sections in it as well, which is weird for a downhill, but it was an exciting event nonetheless. Could F1's global reach be more pervasive then first realized? more info at www.mirror.co.uk/sport/more-sport/2010/0... 

Button, Massa, VW, Toyota, Raikkonen, Lotus, Mercedes, McLaren, Renault, Ferrari, Alonso, FIA, Brawn, Hamilton, Briatore, Schumacher, FOTA, and more, courtesy of Autosport. Happy New Year!!

www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/807...