I sat down to watch the start of this year’s Spanish GP with excitement and anticipation, for the first time this season there was Montoya second to Michael Schumacher. The stage seemed set for an exciting Schumi, Monster duel to the first corner from the start.

The level of excitement was upped a notch when Trulli took off to a flying start as the lights went out. The start of any GP race is extremely crucial, especially at a track like the one in Spain where overtaking is quite difficult. Trulli surprised every one on the start grid, as well all us spectators, when he made up four places moving from 4th to 1st by the time he had reached the first corner.

However, once the pack settled in, Michael’s experience and Ferrari team strategies came into play. Whilst Michael was not hot on the pace of the Renault of Trulli, he kept the Renault within one second distance and waited for the first pit stops.

Trulli pitted in the 9th lap and Michael pitted in the 10th lap. But there wasn’t much of a lead built up by Trulli to get in front of Michael. The clockwork of the Ferrari pit crew made sure that Michael pitted out in time to get in front of Trulli. Thereafter, it was business as usual for Michael.

The expected duel at the top between Michael and Montoya never materialised. In fact it was another dismal performance by Williams. At first, the Williams of both Ralph and Montoya did not seemed to be on the pace and then brake failure forced Montoya to retire in the 47th lap.

If one was to consider the performance of Williams as dismal, then I guess I can not think of what word to use to describe the performance of McLaren. This time, McLarens were being lapped by Renaults. Sad indeed!

This season has seen the likely championship contenders, falling by the wayside and totally unexpected teams like Renault and BAR moving up the pack to give Ferrari somewhat of a challenge.

BAR was very promising throughout the weekend, with their second driver Sato putting in some lightning fast lap times. Button too was very promising, until the mistake he made during qualifying, placing him 14th in the start grid. Sato also did very well, as he has been all this season, becoming the first Japanese driver to start 3rd on the grid in a long time.

Sato and Button finished 5th and 8th respectively, giving the team valuable points to keep in the hunt for a good finish at the end of the season in the constructors championship. A better pit stop strategy might have given the young Japanese driver a one notch up finish.

Renault, who had been lacking pace in the past races seemed quite competitive at Barcelona. Their two cars started in 4th and 8th, finishing the race with Trulli taking a podium 3rd and Alonso a well-deserved 4th. Team boss Flavio Briatore might not have been very happy with their performance, but in my opinion, the two drivers did well within the level of competition they were faced with.

At the end of the day, Ferrari yet again (I am losing count here) showed their dominance. This season (as with past seasons) we have yet to see a Ferrari non-finish at the top. Despite a cracked exhaust in Michael’s car and a mistake in the pits by Rubens’ mechanics, Ferrari went on to present their third 1st and 2nd finish this season.

Whilst my congratulations goes out to Ferrari, Renault and BAR Honda, I just hope that this is not going to be yet another season when Ferrari is going to run away with it, whilst the rest of the pack just becomes ordinary.

May be the new qualifying format F1 big boss Berni wants to bring out soon might make it more exciting. I guess we will have to wait and see.


By - Duncan Udawatta, Gaborone, Botswana (Southern Africa)
[email protected]

Race Finish Positions