A Formula One season is no sprint. Months ago we got off to a
rather rocky start to the season with the cancellation of the
Bahrain Grand Prix due to civil unrest (ringing a bell?), proving
that human rights violations have joined the rank of the despised
in Formula One circles. It's right up there with the old format of
one lap qualifying and safety car starts on damp tracks. Once we
navigated our way through that political mine field, we got racing
and, with the help of some unseasonal weather, found cracking
entertainment wherever we went. I don't know what Red Bull does in
their off-season, but Sebastian Vettel must've grown those wings
his bosses are always talking about because the kid was flying. The
German flag was hoisted at all but one event (the German Grand
Prix, ironically) and the German National Anthem was played so many
times that it almost feels like Herr Vettel's personal victory
dance song. With so much coming to pass, I thought it only fitting
to acknowledge what we have already seen and uncovered the three
things we know for sure about the 2011 season thus far.
Firstly, we know that the Hispanias, Lotuses and Virgins won't
win the championship, let alone a race. Bless them. It would
probably take the mysterious disappearance of the entire crew and
freight of the eight other teams (is the Bermuda Triangle still
doing things?) for them to stand a chance at a podium. That's if
their cars don't disintegrate on cue. Even in shockingly bad
weather, with drivers retiring as if eager to catch the early
flight home, they somehow often manage to be the first ones at the
check-in of the local airport. Yes, this aerodynamically unstable
trio make up the seldom reliable rear-guard of Formula One. They
are pointless (as in, without points for the 2011 season. I don't
know what you were thinking). In spite of this, they can no longer
be written off with the ease of their predecessors, the likes of
the Minardis, the Arrows and the Super Aguris, who somehow managed
to get worse the longer they stayed around. In only their second
season, they have shown improvement. Apart from the opening race in
Australia, they have all managed to stay firmly within the confines
of the re-introduced 107% rule. This rule gives the stewards the
opportunity to exclude cars from taking part in the race if their
first qualifying session time is more than 107% slower than the
fastest time set in that session. So, if the fastest lap set in Q1
is 1:40 (100 seconds), your best time needs to be within 1:47 (107
seconds). Don't worry, my brain overheated too. Bottom line, that
rule has been enforced only once in 2011: on the Hispania Racing
Team in Australia, which means that they've actually been managing
to keep up with the big boys. That's an impressive effort in only
their second season. They have a long way to go, but it is clear
that the days of the new teams being dismally off the pace, their
drivers being lapped so many times you'd think they were in a road
car, are long gone. These teams have entered Formula One with the
objective of making a mark on something other than the tyre
barriers and are intent on not becoming a temporary home where
drivers merely get a foot in the proverbial paddock door before
moving on to a better team. For that, they deserve to score a point
or two this season and I, for one, hope they do.
Secondly, we know that Formula One drivers are eternal
optimists. Maybe it's a contractual clause. Maybe it's something
you need testosterone to understand. Or maybe, just maybe, they
truly believe they can still win this. It's been tough to miss
Vettel's biggest rivals come out with some fighting talk. Between
Button, Hamilton and Alonso's claims that they can each still win
this, you sense resilience and an unwavering commitment to victory
that has earned them each a world championship (or two) and is
bound to bring some great racing when we resume. The numbers look
bad. As in, "congratulate Vettel, concede defeat and begin work on
2012" bad. But they seem to have missed that memo; with each one
pledging to forge ahead and do everything he can to catch the
mischievous maestro. It must be tough for the old guard; the
Alonsos and the Buttons. It's like the pimply-faced intern that
looked up to you on Monday and suddenly lands the corner office by
Friday: that level of success is meant to take time. You're
supposed to enter the field in an average to undriveable car and
avert your gaze when the guard of champions walks down the paddock
until you've earned your chest hairs, lest you be blinded by the
raw talent and hydraulic fluid that seeps from their pores. For the
old guard to be challenged (and defeated) by, let's face it, an
impossible to dislike, blue eyed baby whose cheeks you probably
couldn't resist giving a squeeze, is unheard of. Not even three of
the sport's current greats in the form of Schumacher, Alonso and
Hamilton managed to win their elusive first title at such a young
age. Then he has the audacity to go on to defend it ruthlessly,
taking no prisoners and setting up what is likely to be the
youngest back-to-back world championship, seizing yet another of
Alonso's records. I get the feeling his chest is hairier than we
all thought.
At the end of the day though, the most important thing we must
acknowledge is that we're in the midst of a special season. I'm
talking Schumi in '04 kind of special. That should raise the hair
on your forearms. Sebastian Vettel has had a remarkable string of
victories and podiums, amassing a near insurmountable points total.
Unlike his competitors, he started the 2011 season with his
statement of intent: catch me if you can. They have yet to come
close. His incredible form, especially in qualifying, has left him
nearly a hundred points clear of his closest competitor, his
team-mate. He could spend the next three grand prix weekends
watching the races in his underwear on his sofa in the comfort of
his own home and still lead the championship comfortably. Now if
only someone would tell him that so that we could set up a proper
finish to this season. Otherwise, Christian Horner may as well
remind the World Championship trophy engraver that that's Vettel
with two T's.