Vrrrooooomm

So it's the end of the weekend and Sunday night is as good a time as any for a new (overdue) blog entry I guess. It just happens to be the first round of the new Formula 1 season which has me in the blogging mood.

(scroll down if you're bored already, I'll let you)

So much to talk about, albeit rhetorically in this form (especially since not many of you have all that much interest in the subject). Since the first round happens in Australia our TV coverage is a hell of a lot better than any other round, some would perhaps call it excessive, and with 18hrs (between Friday and Sunday) of coverage they may have a point. From my point of view it's all good. I enjoy the background stories on the rookies, the Friday practice sessions are even good now that the rules have changed and engines can be changed for those sessions. The qualifying on Saturday was great and even the support races get their place on the TV screens. Then of course comes the race...

We had 58laps of Albert Park run with NO safety car periods, that in itself is an accomplishment. While Michael may have retired we did still have the red car out front, this time driven by Kimi, and no one else coming close but I can live with that for now. Webber qualified surprisingly well in his new Red Bull drive but was yet again let down by his car, although he did manage to finish the race which is a step up from most of last years starts. The driver who most impressed me though was Hamilton, the 22yr old British rookie driving alongside Alonso in a McLaren. Not only did he qualify well, 4th on the grid, he managed to make the most of an ordinary start and pull himself into 2nd place in the first lap. He finished 3rd in the race after Alonso got past him as a result of the second pit stop. All of this in his debut F1 race is pretty bloody impressive no matter which way you look at it.

Not only was Hamilton good on track but he has a personality which can only be good for the sport, he doesn't mumble along in a monotone showing no emotion, he's determined and humble and just as a bonus he's kinda cute too. Stirling Moss even said that he(Hamilton) was the best thing to happen to F1 in the entire time he's been involved with the sport (50+yrs) a very big call. The moment of the race though, has to go to the coming together of DC and Wurz in turn three. After replays from various angles it was almost sickening to see how close DC's car got to Wurz's head, but they both walked away and DC even managed an apology and accepted total responsibilty for the incident.

Just before I finish on this topic, the most interesting bit of news to come out of the paddock over the weekend (at least in my view) came from Bernie Ecclestone. Bernie has said that as soon as next year we could have the Aus. GP occur under lights. He's very keen for a night race to happen "down under", here and in other southern rounds for a few reasons. The biggest of which is so that it's easier to watch from "the rest of the world". With TV audiences of around 300mill I guess I can understand him wanting the races to be held when the most people are actually awake. I just wonder if it goes both ways, perhaps one of the european races can be under lights too so that I don't have to stay up til 3am just to get my F1 fix.

Okay so that's it for the F1 from me today, don't worry AFL season starts soon and the V8 season is under way too, so it won't be all F1 for me to talk about!

On a completely different note, and one that you may actually have something to say on, what do you think of how it looks over here??? Took me a little while to work out how to play around but I got there and I think I like this look... I just don't know for how long...

I've caught up on all of your blogs, I know I've been quiet in my catching up but I'm sure I'll have more to say again soon.

Oh and last of all I just want to plug my new favourite read for a laugh! I would not recommended for children, men who're easily offended or anyone squeamish when it comes to male anatomy, everyone else have a look at Desperately Seeking...Something? but be warned (again) it does have some pics which may offend, occasionally turn your stomach or that are just WRONG. On the other hand it's fucking funny!

Keep Smiling folks ;-)