So, all of the cars are launched (nearly) and all of the testing has been done, all that we wait for now is for Formula One to arrive in Bahrain, the first venue of a 19-stage calendar that makes up our Formula One 2010 season.
For some teams, the off-season has been nothing short of magical. No one could have anticipated the return of one of the sport’s legends back in November 2009, however, in true F1 style, Michael Schumacher made his comeback at the age of 41 along-side his old boss, Ross Brawn.
Team Britain is soon formed when current world champion Jenson Button joins 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, the first time in F1 history that two consecutive champions join forces in one team.
Mercedes soon anounce that they are to buy Brawn GP and create their own works team, leaving McLaren as a customer and a sure rival on the track. Lewis has always said that he has wanted to go wheel-to-wheel with Michael Schumacher, and this has given him the chance.
Four new teams will be seen on the grid in 2010. Lotus Racing, Virgin, Campos and… well, at the moment it looks to be Stefan GP after USF1 have asked the FIA to postpone their entry into the sport to 2011 after financial and boardroom problems. Although Stefan GP haven’t yet received official entry into the 2010 championship at the time of writing this article, pundits including BBC’s Eddie Jordan feel confident that the Serbian-based outfit will indeed be on the grid in Bahrain. The team are openly confident of their chances after they posted a copy of a delivery note from courier DHL, showing that they have sent their race outfit to Bahrain, just in case!
The 2010 season brings with it a huge rule change, re-fuelling during the race will be banned. This is the first time since the end of 1993 that F1 cars will have to carry their entire race fuel from the start, a sure technical challenge for the engineers and the bigwigs at the technology centers. This regulation change has been met by mixed reviews, many saying that it will kill strategy, however, I’ll reserve judgement and hold back commenting on the change until we see it in action. One thing is for certain however, it’s certainly going to sort out the men from the boys.
The long-term rumour of Santander paying-off Kimi Raikkonen’s contract at Ferrari to allow space for Fernando Alonso was finally pulled off in December 2009. Alonso partners the recovered, and raring to go, Felipe Massa, whilst Kimi is putting his efforts into rallying – at least for the time being. Santander couldn’t be plastered over more F1 livery if it tried after securing a record-breaking deal with the Maranello-based team.
With less than two weeks until the cars line up ready for the green lights that we have all been waiting for, there are mixed opinions within the paddock as to who will win in Bahrain. The obvious fighters including Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari have all done well in testing with none of them light-years ahead of another. No doubt we will see yet further developments of the cars before Bahrain, with Mercedes already rumoured to be introducing a “super-diffuser” to their MGP W01.
One thing is certain however, the wait has been too long. The circuits have been far too quiet for our liking. It’s about time we heard that familiar, heart-warming roar of a V8 naturally-aspirated, recipricating engine – the scream of science. It’s time for the start of the Formula One 2010 World Championship.
