This weekend, as it does every year in Britain, signalled the start of summer. The clocks went one hour forward, meaning an hour more sunshine - and an hour less sleep for me. So when my alarm started beeping at 6:55 this morning, I was a bit pissed off, to be fair. So I went back to bed.
And when I did eventually surface at gone quarter past 12 (it was a bit of a heavy night Saturday...), I realised I had missed the first race of the 2011 Formula 1 Season, in Australia. Thankfully, not Bahrain, the most dull, boring race of the season, as it was 'postponed'. Nor was it Japan, as had been stuck in my head for the last week.
And in the first of what will apparently be 19 posts over the 2011 season (I've been told I promised this at the end of last season. I do not remember this. I hope Prince Kazoo in Nigeria is not scamming me.), I'm gonna be lobbing my thoughts on today's race onto a page.
So having watched the race through very red eyes, I was able to watch it in HD. I've been waiting for this for about 4 years, and it lived up to expectations. Cannot wait for Abu Dhabi now, to see it in all its hi-def glory.
Now the general consensus is that today's winner, Sebastian Vettel, won by a clear mile in a very dull, boring race. I'm gonna go against this. I reckon he was very lucky and had a lot going for him in today's race, and not only that, but it was a great way to start the season too.
We've had so many changes in the off-season too. We've had the big Lotus vs. Renault argument, which is now in the High Court to decide who can be called 'Lotus'. Hmmmmm, tricky one...
And there's been 10 driver changes, with plenty more to take place at the end of this season too. There are new tyre suppliers, in Pirelli, and something called DRS - Drag Reduction System - where the rear wing moves to decrease drag and increase speed by 12 km/h. Very clever, when you see it working with graphics all over the screen telling you exactly what it's doing.
Today the DRS system didn't seem to be given a lot of opportunity to get going, because of the lack of area for it to be used. One final corner, and on the long straight didn't seem to give it the 'ooomph' needed to get the thing going. But team it with the revolutionary KERS system, and we could have some quick, quick cars on our hands. But until then, sort it aaaaarrrt, Bernie.
Red Bull won't run away with it like the 2010 season, like many are predicting. There are too many competitors this time around. McLaren have built a car that is matching the speed, if not quicker, than the Red Bull, and Ferrari will pick up the pace over the next few races. Not only that, but Sauber, Mercedes and Force India all look to be a force to be reckoned with.
One question I was asked this morning on Twitter was 'Who are your favourite driver and team?' So, in response to that, it has to be Kamui Kobayashi, and obviously, the Sauber team. Kobayashi is kamikaze, to say the least. When he filled in at Williams, you could tell he wanted to get out there, and enjoy himself. He'd take the smallest of gaps, exploit it, and somehow manage to pull it off every single time. He's entertaining, more than anything, and he's bloody good too.
Sauber just seem to be the small team, with a small budget, who get the most out of their car. They have a knack of picking some absolutely beautiful strategies, and making them work. And with Sergio Perez, it looks like they've made one of the best signings of the season.
Oh, and if you fancy getting in touch on the ol' Twitter, I'm @Adam9309. I've even done the hard work for you. Go on, click. I'm sure you'll think of something to ask.
So what are we in for over the next 8 months? Crashes, fall-outs, team orders, quick lap times, big upgrades, and shocks all round. All in all, another frigging good season.
All my rather gorgeous pics aren't mine. I wasn't there, funnily enough. But anyway, thankyou to the lovely Guardian Sport team for these beauties.
Taken from General Musings of an Idiot: http://www.gmoai.com
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