F1

[Bazile]

OK - i'll kick off ( and await the inevitable and predictable ' cars going round in circles ' type comments )

Only the first race but what's your initial impression of the runners and riders ?

[SlackAlice]

After watching the 'highlights' yesterday all I can say is most of the teams winter testing was an abject failure.

Smallest starting grid for many years.

[brionon]

Er--Boring ?

[jim360]

What it lacked in excitement it made up for in predictability.

[New Judge]

Firstly, Marusssia/Manor should be ejected from the sport. Marussia went into administration at the end of last season and have emerged, phoenix-like, with enough cash to send all their kit around the world. Meantime the creditors from their downfall just six months ago are to get just 1.3p in the pound. Their phoenix did not have sufficient lift to get their cars out of the garage in Melbourne; they are unlikely to do so in Malaysia and even if they do they will probably fail to qualify under the 107% rule. Should they be allowed to race they will be lapped before the race is a quarter done. They are simply a nuisance.

Instead of getting on and trying to compete Red Bull and Ferrari are moaning that Mercedes are too dominant and “something must be done”. McLaren are saying that their Honda engine suppliers have not had enough time to develop their power plant (despite announcing two years ago that they were to re-enter the sport).

So, nothing much has changed in F1. Mercedes are going through a purple patch which will probably last this season and perhaps one or two more. This has happened in the past with Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Williams. The sport is now (and has always to a greater or lesser degree) split into three layers: Mercedes; Ferrari/Red Bull; the rest. There is certainly some uncertainty about the depth of competition in layer two. Others may join Ferrari and Red Bull to scrap for third place downwards.

I still enjoy the races. I enjoy the spectacle and the hype. But others don’t and I can understand that.

[snags]

Here's my in-depth analysis: Seb looks awful in red.