Formula 1: KERS + DRS + Pirelli = Riveting China GP

I am having a very difficult time with F1’s late night/early morning races. I have employed various strategies to stay awake but all attempts thus far have failed miserably. The GP in China, which aired in the wee hours of the morning, meant sleep deprivation was on the cards. But, it being a most worthy cause, I was willing to make the sacrifice.

I coordinated my plan of attack and everything was driving along without mishap, until the cars were about to roll off for the warm up lap. Having won my battle – or so I thought – I took an ill-advised decision. I committed an unforgivable act. As the cars came around the final corner to take their grid positions, I decided to relocate from the chair to a more comfortable viewing spot – the bed. Needless to say, I was awakened several hours later by rays from a  zealous sun as it welcomed another day!

The race, when I eventually watched it, on Monday, in my view, confirmed a new era in F1 racing. Which era you ask? I will tell you. The machines in F1 are for the most part from the same basic template and as such Teams will go to unimaginable heights to arrive at a competitive edge. The end result is race cars which use everything the environment can throw at them to their advantage, the air, the surface, you name it, designers and engineers factor in everything to assist with the performance of the car.

All the teams have their little tricks, but their efforts have resulted in machines which are powerful and slippery through even ‘dirty air’, but ineffective when asked to overtake with reckless abandon. I was frustrated, dejected even, so I complained directly to Bernie and the response was more than favorable.

KERS (reintroduced) and DRS were added to assist in the process and at the first two rounds there was obvious improvement, but at the China GP, overtaking adopted a new slogan – Be fruitful and multiply!

An unplanned event, spontaneity, is a seed sown so excitement can grow. F1 fans are benefitting immensely from an event so far reaching in terms of the attached implications, that it is difficult to accept that its genesis was purely fortuitous.

The new era is one with rampant overtaking. Overtaking, at least for now, appears to be a dominant feature in the races. The wild card which could not have been factored in, the unknown quantity in all computations, has its birth place in a country which has motor racing in its soil – Italy.  My new best friend, the wide, black and round is new for the 2011 season -Pirelli tyres.

The Pirelli tyres and their inherent, unpredictable performance-altering characteristics, have led to mass hysteria along the pit wall. But are we benefiting? Yes, yes and yes again. Thanks to KERS, DRS and Pirelli tyres, which degrade and drop off in performance quicker than any F1 machine, we are feted with thrilling races like that which we saw in China on Sunday. The race was fraught with overtaking, it was riveting! The race was as good as……………………….(I will allow your mind to choose your pleasure).

Hamilton

A pugnacious Lewis Hamilton pounced on the invitation an indecisive Vettel offered at the start of the race and joined teammate Button (ahead of Vettel). McLaren got the strategy spot on and as we all know if you give Hamilton a glimpse of victory, he will want the best available view – the one from the top step of the podium! Hamilton castrated the Bull and the dejected look Vettel wore after the race spoke volumes. Repeat after me – HIP HIP – PIRELLI!!! HIP HIP – PIRELLI!!! HIP HIP…………………………….

NB. Information relating to The Easter Carnival of Speed which will be held at Dover Raceway on Easter Monday will dominate these pages starting Saturday.

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer