Monday, April 21, 2008
Congratulations Danica Patrick!
While this is an F1 blog and I don't really follow other car racing series, this is a moment certainly worth celebrating. Danica Patric has become the first woman to win a major single-seater race. She won the Indy Car race in Japan. Congrats Danica! Now, when will we see a woman racing F1? If you notice, most F1 racers are relatively small men ha-ha, a woman would fit that cockpit more easily than a man...
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
So what is on the mind of a champion?
There are 3 champions driving in f1 today, arguably. The past champ Alonso, the current champ Kimi and the next champ, Hamilton. What is on their mind now, 3 races into the 08 season?
Alonso
Last year the reigning champ had made his switch from mid size Renault team to one of the true big teams, McLaren. At 3 races in he had won once and was tied for the lead in points. His old team Renault was not competitive in 2007. While Hamiton was getting a lot of attention, Alonso was mentally in a good place. He knew he had made the switch to McLaren at exactly the right moment in time, when Renault was past its prime, and McLaren was strong.
What a difference a year makes. Now Alonso is back at Renault. The dream of winning championships with his boyhood fave team, shattered. To make matters worse, Renault isnt even among top 3 teams this season.
Alonso is freed from the season of strong rivalry with Hamilton, and the increasingly poisonous atmosphere at McLaren. But he's been spoiled the last 3 seasons driving the fastest car of the year, now he's in a mid-field car. This is a tough adjustment for Fernando. And where he's used to racing up front of the grid, now he's permanently stuck in mid-field, crashing with the other mid-fielders at the chaos of the race starts.
His return to Renault was admidst specualation of escape clauses in his contract. He does not want to remain there. So also Alonso's motivation for helping Renault grow and become competitive in the long run, is at least in question.
This is a downturn for Alonso in both car, and his personal motivation. It does not help, to see that his two rivals from last year, Kimi and Lewis, are in faster cars. Expect the former Champ to feel very frustrated this season, or perhaps to tune out and not give his best. We'll see.
Hamilton
So then Lewis. Last season at this time he had gotten his promotion to the ultimate in his sport, moved from the junior teams to F1, and straight onto the McLaren team, to partner the two-time reigning champ, Alonso. A golden opportunity to be the understudy of the best driver still driving, as Schumacher had retired. And as we saw, Hamilton was already impressing everyone not losing pace to Alonso in the same car. At the start of the season it was also obvious the early advantage that Ferrari had held in Melbourne, was quickly caught up by McLaren and by the third race McLaren was cetainly a car with the pace to race Ferrari. As the young driver with Alonso having all the pressure, Hamilton had the perfect opportunity to show what he could do, and any success would be a positive. And obviously last year at this time even without having won yet, Lewis was tied for the championship lead three races into the season.
Now a year later, Lewis senses that this time around, McLaren is not the fastest car, there is a clear margin to Ferrari. He hasn't been to this situation before (at the F1 level). What is worse, he sees clearly that BMW is about as fast as the McLaren so he is more likely to fight for a podium finish with Kubica, Heidfeld and Kovalainen; than racing Kimi and Massa for the win.
Lewis also finds himself as the returning or "senior" driver at McLaren, with Heikki as his "understudy". The British press expect Lewis to blow Heikki away in head-to-head compeition, but Kovalainen is tenaciously competing and tied for points. It wasn't supposed to be like this.
Lewis can take solace, looking at Alonso stuck in mid-field, but he is no doubt concerned about Kimi in a much faster Ferrari this season. Will Hamilton have to let the two red cars escape into the distance, and race for third place against Kubica and Heidfeld (and Kovalainen)?
Inside McLaren there are rumours that Ron Dennis won't be there forever, how long will he be around and how involved will Ron be and what effect will this have to the team. A well-oiled McLaren machine may not be as smooth-running as it has been in the past; perhaps Lewis came to the team just too late, if it starts a decline from this season, like what happened to Renault last season or Williams a few years earlier when a formerly winning car can't get any wins at all.
And he faces the pressure of the British motoring press. They cheered him on last season for his cinderella season and were forgiving for rookie mistakes. This season they expect much more - a championship - and now scrutinize all small flaws. Even more they compare Hamilton to Kovalainen, adding to the pressure on Lewis.
Finally there is McLaren's philophy of allowing its racers to race each other. This benefitted him last season, and angered the "established winner" Alonso. But this season it will benefit Heikki to the detriment of Lewis's chances at the championship. What was good karma last year is bad karma this year for Lewis.
Last season at this time Lewis had not won an F1 race, but was feeling almost sheer delight in racing. This season he has won a race already, yet has a sinking feeling that he may be perhaps unable to contest for the championship.
Kimi
Finally there is Kimi. Last year at this point he had won one race for Ferrari and was tied for the championship lead. But Kimi also knew the key to his win was the flexible floor design of the Ferrari which was banned after Melbourne, and the revised car was not as fast. He also knew they had wind tunnel problems, so the development of the Ferrari would suffer. He was not secure in his position with Ferrari, where Massa was the "insider" and Kimi the outsider. And Massa had won a race as well at this point last season, and Massa was comfortable not only with the team, but also with the Bridgestone tyres which Kimi was having trouble adjusting to. And finally, the Ferrari had been designed before Kimi had joined the team, so it was not set up close to suit his driving style. Kimi certainly felt happy to have been able to depart McLaren but was by no means certain he would become the master at Ferrari, inspite of what his outwardly confidence would suggest. The Italian sporting press was also fuelling rumours about the Massa-Raikkonen contest for number one status with the team. And there was the sceptre of Schumacher hanging around the paddock, such as Jean Todt bringing the mobile phone with Schumacher on the line, to Kimi when Kimi was about to step to the podium for his first win in Melbourne (and Kimi duly disconnected the call and did not want to talk with the former champ). Whose team was it, Kimi's, Massa's or perhaps still, Schumacher's?
This time around in 2008, Kimi is in the ultimate sweet spot. He is the reigning champ. He disposed the old champ (Alonso) who had driven the faster car last season. But now Kimi has the fastest car of the season, in fact the first time in his F1 career, Kimi knows he has the fastest car.
Last year this time Kimi was battling Massa for team leader status. Now wearing that Number 1 on his nosecone, there is no question, that this is Kimi's team. Massa is the supporting driver. They both know it and so does the whole team.
Kimi is comfortable with the Bridgestone tyres. The car was designed more to suit his driving style. For a race driver his tools are utmost to his liking. And Kimi has made it very clear, he does not need to be chaperoned by Schumacher; Kimi can win championships for Ferrari all by himself.
The change removing traction control was expected to expose strong and weak drivers. Certainly Massa is proven to be one who had benefitted from traction control. Kimi has adjusted very well to this new era, while Massa is one of the drivers most to have suffered.
Kimi has already won one race this season and this time he leads the championship. His truest rival is his own team-mate Massa, and on this team, more than any other, Kimi knows the team won't let Massa overshadow the reigning champion Ferrari driver. This is the best team to be in, if the closest rival for the championship is your team-mate.
Then Kimi looks at McLaren. The disappointment last season to observe, that after all those years when McLaren was not the fastest car, of course when he left, suddenly McLaren became the fastest car. Well, now that has passed. He was able to beat them in a slower car, it will be easier this season.
And Kimi thinking of Lewis? Not only will he have Heikki bleeding points off Lewis, but there are the BMW's contesting for podiums (and even perhaps the Williams on a good day). Lewis will have a much harder time to score 8 points or 6 points per race to keep up with Kimi in the championship this time, than last year when it was only a race between the two teams, McLaren and Ferrari. Kimi also can see that Lewis's incredible luck last year, when battling for position at the start of the race, or occasional race indidents, is now reversing, and when battling from the mid-field, Lewis is a mere mortal after all. Thus the true risk posed by Hamilton in his second season is significantly less than it was in 2007. And of Kovalainen, Kimi will feel even less threatened by Heikki than Lewis on that team, knowing McLaren very well, and seeing that Heikki is still chasing his first win.
And Kimi thinking of Alonso? Kimi can clearly see that this season Renault will not be able to overtake McLaren, BMW and Ferrari to claw himself back into contention for the championship. For this season at least, Alonso is already out of the picture.
What of the BMW boys? They are second (Heidfeld) and tied-for third (Kubica) in the championship, but this team has never won a race, far less a championship. So the intellect in Raikkonen knows that team is far from a true contender this season, they need to win a race first, before they start to consider the Championship. Yes, BMW can be a worthy rival this season, but with Ferrari's organization, discipline and competence, in a tight race, BMW is entering a level they have not yet been to. Again advantage Kimi.
He has said many times towards the end of his time at McLaren, that Kimi was not too happy, and felt he might quit racing soon. Now at Ferrari, he has said time and again, that he is superbly happy and feels like he was at home.
Kimi's been around the circuits for long enough to know any given weekend might go to one team or one driver rather than another. Luck plays a big part in race incidents, the pace car, rain, etc. And there are always the occasional technical issues in motor racing. Kimi also knows that the championship requires most of all consistency race in and race out, that he witnessed watching Schumacher win 5 in a row. He sees that when Kimi is starting from mid-field, he can race up to the podium and take valuable points. But now recently each of Alonso, Hamlton and Massa, when stuck in mid-field, are prone to errors, accidents, broken nose-cones, etc, demolishing chances for those valuable points.
More so than any of his rivals, Kimi knows what is the value of just one point at the end of the season, and will fight for every one that is available to him.
Last season he was hopeful of his switch of teams to Ferrari. Now he knows it was the right thing to do. Last season he battled a team-mate who is now subdued. Last season he struggled to learn new tyres, this time he knows them. Last season the car was not to his liking, and now it is. Last season he was in the second-fastest car, now its clear Ferrari is the fastest car. Last season the his strongest pre-season rival Alonso was in the fastest car. This season of his strongest pre-season rivals, Alonso is in a mid-field car, and even McLaren might be slower than the BMW and is not in Ferrari's class.
All his F1 career Kimi has been the underdog, having to scrape and fight for being within contention. He has rarely held a points lead for long in a season. The fact he twice went into the final race with a mathematical chance to win the championship, in an inferior car, was due to his consistency. Now he brings that consistency, and maturity, to the fastest car. He deservedly already leads the champhionship, but more importantly, he is already 35% ahead of his nearest "real" rival, Hamilton in points. If this pattern holds for the full season, Kimi would win the championship by a massive margin of 30 points - and thus clinch his second championship three races before the end of the season.
The mind of a champion. Three minds, three champions. There is an unhappy Alonso. There is an uncertain Hamilton. And there is a happy Raikkonen.
Alonso
Last year the reigning champ had made his switch from mid size Renault team to one of the true big teams, McLaren. At 3 races in he had won once and was tied for the lead in points. His old team Renault was not competitive in 2007. While Hamiton was getting a lot of attention, Alonso was mentally in a good place. He knew he had made the switch to McLaren at exactly the right moment in time, when Renault was past its prime, and McLaren was strong.
What a difference a year makes. Now Alonso is back at Renault. The dream of winning championships with his boyhood fave team, shattered. To make matters worse, Renault isnt even among top 3 teams this season.
Alonso is freed from the season of strong rivalry with Hamilton, and the increasingly poisonous atmosphere at McLaren. But he's been spoiled the last 3 seasons driving the fastest car of the year, now he's in a mid-field car. This is a tough adjustment for Fernando. And where he's used to racing up front of the grid, now he's permanently stuck in mid-field, crashing with the other mid-fielders at the chaos of the race starts.
His return to Renault was admidst specualation of escape clauses in his contract. He does not want to remain there. So also Alonso's motivation for helping Renault grow and become competitive in the long run, is at least in question.
This is a downturn for Alonso in both car, and his personal motivation. It does not help, to see that his two rivals from last year, Kimi and Lewis, are in faster cars. Expect the former Champ to feel very frustrated this season, or perhaps to tune out and not give his best. We'll see.
Hamilton
So then Lewis. Last season at this time he had gotten his promotion to the ultimate in his sport, moved from the junior teams to F1, and straight onto the McLaren team, to partner the two-time reigning champ, Alonso. A golden opportunity to be the understudy of the best driver still driving, as Schumacher had retired. And as we saw, Hamilton was already impressing everyone not losing pace to Alonso in the same car. At the start of the season it was also obvious the early advantage that Ferrari had held in Melbourne, was quickly caught up by McLaren and by the third race McLaren was cetainly a car with the pace to race Ferrari. As the young driver with Alonso having all the pressure, Hamilton had the perfect opportunity to show what he could do, and any success would be a positive. And obviously last year at this time even without having won yet, Lewis was tied for the championship lead three races into the season.
Now a year later, Lewis senses that this time around, McLaren is not the fastest car, there is a clear margin to Ferrari. He hasn't been to this situation before (at the F1 level). What is worse, he sees clearly that BMW is about as fast as the McLaren so he is more likely to fight for a podium finish with Kubica, Heidfeld and Kovalainen; than racing Kimi and Massa for the win.
Lewis also finds himself as the returning or "senior" driver at McLaren, with Heikki as his "understudy". The British press expect Lewis to blow Heikki away in head-to-head compeition, but Kovalainen is tenaciously competing and tied for points. It wasn't supposed to be like this.
Lewis can take solace, looking at Alonso stuck in mid-field, but he is no doubt concerned about Kimi in a much faster Ferrari this season. Will Hamilton have to let the two red cars escape into the distance, and race for third place against Kubica and Heidfeld (and Kovalainen)?
Inside McLaren there are rumours that Ron Dennis won't be there forever, how long will he be around and how involved will Ron be and what effect will this have to the team. A well-oiled McLaren machine may not be as smooth-running as it has been in the past; perhaps Lewis came to the team just too late, if it starts a decline from this season, like what happened to Renault last season or Williams a few years earlier when a formerly winning car can't get any wins at all.
And he faces the pressure of the British motoring press. They cheered him on last season for his cinderella season and were forgiving for rookie mistakes. This season they expect much more - a championship - and now scrutinize all small flaws. Even more they compare Hamilton to Kovalainen, adding to the pressure on Lewis.
Finally there is McLaren's philophy of allowing its racers to race each other. This benefitted him last season, and angered the "established winner" Alonso. But this season it will benefit Heikki to the detriment of Lewis's chances at the championship. What was good karma last year is bad karma this year for Lewis.
Last season at this time Lewis had not won an F1 race, but was feeling almost sheer delight in racing. This season he has won a race already, yet has a sinking feeling that he may be perhaps unable to contest for the championship.
Kimi
Finally there is Kimi. Last year at this point he had won one race for Ferrari and was tied for the championship lead. But Kimi also knew the key to his win was the flexible floor design of the Ferrari which was banned after Melbourne, and the revised car was not as fast. He also knew they had wind tunnel problems, so the development of the Ferrari would suffer. He was not secure in his position with Ferrari, where Massa was the "insider" and Kimi the outsider. And Massa had won a race as well at this point last season, and Massa was comfortable not only with the team, but also with the Bridgestone tyres which Kimi was having trouble adjusting to. And finally, the Ferrari had been designed before Kimi had joined the team, so it was not set up close to suit his driving style. Kimi certainly felt happy to have been able to depart McLaren but was by no means certain he would become the master at Ferrari, inspite of what his outwardly confidence would suggest. The Italian sporting press was also fuelling rumours about the Massa-Raikkonen contest for number one status with the team. And there was the sceptre of Schumacher hanging around the paddock, such as Jean Todt bringing the mobile phone with Schumacher on the line, to Kimi when Kimi was about to step to the podium for his first win in Melbourne (and Kimi duly disconnected the call and did not want to talk with the former champ). Whose team was it, Kimi's, Massa's or perhaps still, Schumacher's?
This time around in 2008, Kimi is in the ultimate sweet spot. He is the reigning champ. He disposed the old champ (Alonso) who had driven the faster car last season. But now Kimi has the fastest car of the season, in fact the first time in his F1 career, Kimi knows he has the fastest car.
Last year this time Kimi was battling Massa for team leader status. Now wearing that Number 1 on his nosecone, there is no question, that this is Kimi's team. Massa is the supporting driver. They both know it and so does the whole team.
Kimi is comfortable with the Bridgestone tyres. The car was designed more to suit his driving style. For a race driver his tools are utmost to his liking. And Kimi has made it very clear, he does not need to be chaperoned by Schumacher; Kimi can win championships for Ferrari all by himself.
The change removing traction control was expected to expose strong and weak drivers. Certainly Massa is proven to be one who had benefitted from traction control. Kimi has adjusted very well to this new era, while Massa is one of the drivers most to have suffered.
Kimi has already won one race this season and this time he leads the championship. His truest rival is his own team-mate Massa, and on this team, more than any other, Kimi knows the team won't let Massa overshadow the reigning champion Ferrari driver. This is the best team to be in, if the closest rival for the championship is your team-mate.
Then Kimi looks at McLaren. The disappointment last season to observe, that after all those years when McLaren was not the fastest car, of course when he left, suddenly McLaren became the fastest car. Well, now that has passed. He was able to beat them in a slower car, it will be easier this season.
And Kimi thinking of Lewis? Not only will he have Heikki bleeding points off Lewis, but there are the BMW's contesting for podiums (and even perhaps the Williams on a good day). Lewis will have a much harder time to score 8 points or 6 points per race to keep up with Kimi in the championship this time, than last year when it was only a race between the two teams, McLaren and Ferrari. Kimi also can see that Lewis's incredible luck last year, when battling for position at the start of the race, or occasional race indidents, is now reversing, and when battling from the mid-field, Lewis is a mere mortal after all. Thus the true risk posed by Hamilton in his second season is significantly less than it was in 2007. And of Kovalainen, Kimi will feel even less threatened by Heikki than Lewis on that team, knowing McLaren very well, and seeing that Heikki is still chasing his first win.
And Kimi thinking of Alonso? Kimi can clearly see that this season Renault will not be able to overtake McLaren, BMW and Ferrari to claw himself back into contention for the championship. For this season at least, Alonso is already out of the picture.
What of the BMW boys? They are second (Heidfeld) and tied-for third (Kubica) in the championship, but this team has never won a race, far less a championship. So the intellect in Raikkonen knows that team is far from a true contender this season, they need to win a race first, before they start to consider the Championship. Yes, BMW can be a worthy rival this season, but with Ferrari's organization, discipline and competence, in a tight race, BMW is entering a level they have not yet been to. Again advantage Kimi.
He has said many times towards the end of his time at McLaren, that Kimi was not too happy, and felt he might quit racing soon. Now at Ferrari, he has said time and again, that he is superbly happy and feels like he was at home.
Kimi's been around the circuits for long enough to know any given weekend might go to one team or one driver rather than another. Luck plays a big part in race incidents, the pace car, rain, etc. And there are always the occasional technical issues in motor racing. Kimi also knows that the championship requires most of all consistency race in and race out, that he witnessed watching Schumacher win 5 in a row. He sees that when Kimi is starting from mid-field, he can race up to the podium and take valuable points. But now recently each of Alonso, Hamlton and Massa, when stuck in mid-field, are prone to errors, accidents, broken nose-cones, etc, demolishing chances for those valuable points.
More so than any of his rivals, Kimi knows what is the value of just one point at the end of the season, and will fight for every one that is available to him.
Last season he was hopeful of his switch of teams to Ferrari. Now he knows it was the right thing to do. Last season he battled a team-mate who is now subdued. Last season he struggled to learn new tyres, this time he knows them. Last season the car was not to his liking, and now it is. Last season he was in the second-fastest car, now its clear Ferrari is the fastest car. Last season the his strongest pre-season rival Alonso was in the fastest car. This season of his strongest pre-season rivals, Alonso is in a mid-field car, and even McLaren might be slower than the BMW and is not in Ferrari's class.
All his F1 career Kimi has been the underdog, having to scrape and fight for being within contention. He has rarely held a points lead for long in a season. The fact he twice went into the final race with a mathematical chance to win the championship, in an inferior car, was due to his consistency. Now he brings that consistency, and maturity, to the fastest car. He deservedly already leads the champhionship, but more importantly, he is already 35% ahead of his nearest "real" rival, Hamilton in points. If this pattern holds for the full season, Kimi would win the championship by a massive margin of 30 points - and thus clinch his second championship three races before the end of the season.
The mind of a champion. Three minds, three champions. There is an unhappy Alonso. There is an uncertain Hamilton. And there is a happy Raikkonen.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Bahrain. 3rd race, 3rd winner, bodes well for another exciting season
So. Bahrain done and dusted. Massa had perfect Sunday, from 2nd to win it.
As i thought, the BMW was lower on fuel, so Kubica's pole did not translate into a win. But their race pace was clearly faster than McLaren, so the win is probably not far.
But consider last year and now? After 3 races last year, we had 3 different winners - 2 for ferrari, 1 for mclaren, with the 2nd mclaren driver showing clear promise. Exactly the same now!
So this promises another epic season.
Except that now - the constructors championship is led by 3rd maker - BMW! So we are heading for 3-way team contest with 6 legitimate title contenders!
And how close and mixed they stand. Kimi first with 19 points. Heidfeld second, then the 3 tied hamilton, heikki and kubica, with massa 6th. This should become great season!
As i thought, the BMW was lower on fuel, so Kubica's pole did not translate into a win. But their race pace was clearly faster than McLaren, so the win is probably not far.
But consider last year and now? After 3 races last year, we had 3 different winners - 2 for ferrari, 1 for mclaren, with the 2nd mclaren driver showing clear promise. Exactly the same now!
So this promises another epic season.
Except that now - the constructors championship is led by 3rd maker - BMW! So we are heading for 3-way team contest with 6 legitimate title contenders!
And how close and mixed they stand. Kimi first with 19 points. Heidfeld second, then the 3 tied hamilton, heikki and kubica, with massa 6th. This should become great season!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Guesstimating fuel laps for Bahrain
Wow, this is a surprise, Kubica on pole. What a great boost it would be for F1 if he actually won it as well - to have three first races with three different drivers winning - in three different cars. That would be awesome. And Kubica would be so deserving (as would BMW).
But I took a look at the Q2 times and compared with final Q3 positions, to try to guess how heavy or light the cars were and how far they would go in the race.
I think of the top 5 drivers, Massa is clearly the heaviest, he'll go 2 laps further than the others in the group. And also, Kubica seems 2 laps lighter than the other three. So my feeling is that the first to pit today in Bahrain will be Massa, then two laps later, Hamilton. A lap after that Kimi and Heikki, with Massa driving 2 laps longer still.
Lets see how well my armchair paddock spying has worked ha-ha..
And what of his chances (Kubica's). Well, if he manages to pull away - he'd need about a 4 sec window at least by the first pits to hold onto a lead, preferrably a few secs more. Plus he'd need plenty of luck in the start, stay out of trouble along the way in the race, and preferrably no pace cars to pull the pack to right behind him.
But its really shaping for a great start. Massa starting second (on the dirty side) is not known for great starts, Kimi (behind him in 4th) has often outstarted him, and Massa is prone to mistakes early in the race. Hamilton starting 3rd is known for lightning starts - and for very opportunitistic first corner moves to make up places when he isn't on pole. (Heikki hasn't a real pattern in a front-running car yet, so lets ignore him)
Hamilton on the clean side, should be able to race quickly to get alongside Massa, struggling on the dirty side of the track. These two could well be tangling with each other, even touching. And my bet is on Lewis getting past Massa. That would upset Massa who then could easily compound the problem with some hopelessly over-optimistic race moves - perhaps pushing him further back.
But Kimi, the old dog in this group - could well watch the squabble between Massa and Hamilton, and perhaps also squeeze past Massa in all the opening hassle.
Could make for a great start of the race. Can't wait.
But here's hoping Kubica is crowned the winner today in Bahrain.
But I took a look at the Q2 times and compared with final Q3 positions, to try to guess how heavy or light the cars were and how far they would go in the race.
I think of the top 5 drivers, Massa is clearly the heaviest, he'll go 2 laps further than the others in the group. And also, Kubica seems 2 laps lighter than the other three. So my feeling is that the first to pit today in Bahrain will be Massa, then two laps later, Hamilton. A lap after that Kimi and Heikki, with Massa driving 2 laps longer still.
Lets see how well my armchair paddock spying has worked ha-ha..
And what of his chances (Kubica's). Well, if he manages to pull away - he'd need about a 4 sec window at least by the first pits to hold onto a lead, preferrably a few secs more. Plus he'd need plenty of luck in the start, stay out of trouble along the way in the race, and preferrably no pace cars to pull the pack to right behind him.
But its really shaping for a great start. Massa starting second (on the dirty side) is not known for great starts, Kimi (behind him in 4th) has often outstarted him, and Massa is prone to mistakes early in the race. Hamilton starting 3rd is known for lightning starts - and for very opportunitistic first corner moves to make up places when he isn't on pole. (Heikki hasn't a real pattern in a front-running car yet, so lets ignore him)
Hamilton on the clean side, should be able to race quickly to get alongside Massa, struggling on the dirty side of the track. These two could well be tangling with each other, even touching. And my bet is on Lewis getting past Massa. That would upset Massa who then could easily compound the problem with some hopelessly over-optimistic race moves - perhaps pushing him further back.
But Kimi, the old dog in this group - could well watch the squabble between Massa and Hamilton, and perhaps also squeeze past Massa in all the opening hassle.
Could make for a great start of the race. Can't wait.
But here's hoping Kubica is crowned the winner today in Bahrain.
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