I’m a long time fan of formula 1, the neeoooooooom (doppler effect) sound being synonymous with the smell of sunday dinner in my childhood. I remember Nigel Mansel winning in 1992 – I was 8 years old! Strangely, I also remember wanting a Nigel Mansel baseball cap when we were in Blackpool for the illuminations that year. Furthermore, I remember watching the crash that killed Ayreton Senna back in 1994. I can quite vividly remember being at my Nan’s bungalow, and watching the crane lift the remains of his car from by the concrete wall. *shudder*.
Now I’m doing ITV’s Fantasy Formula 1, and have 3 teams. Not doing tremendously, but it’s fun! My prediction is a Ferrari 1-2, with Alonso, or maybe Hamilton 3rd – which makes it exciting! I don’t think Alonso’s Renault will be able to challenge the pace and thrust of the Ferraris, but I’m betting Hamilton, or even Kubica, will have a good go at Alonso!
I’m a Hamilton fan (isn’t everybody these days?), but also root for the other Brits (2003 = Jenson Button crush…). Because of this, Alonso is arch nemesis. As are Ferrari. Also have a soft spot for Kubica, the other rookie, and Kimi Raikonnen who still appears humble despite his success. And he’s called Kimi…
Anyways, below are my step by step thoughts while watching the race.
13:05
I’m thinking this is going to be an exciting Grand Prix. As predicted Massa took Alonso on the first straight. And Alonso held up Kubica helping Hamilton overtake Kubica for 4th. We now have a Alonso-Hamilton 3-4 – EXCITING!
13:17 57 laps to go
LOL at Piquet being offered a lift at the side of the road! Poor bugger. And hurray for Hamilton slowly “closing in on Alonso”.
13:21
Damn adverts. I hear the BBC are getting it back next year, right? Bring back Murray Walker!
13:27 50 laps to go
Alonso Pits, seams early – interesting strategy (i.e. I don’t understand!)… hope this is good for Hamilton!
13:30 48 laps to go
“Anthony Davidson, stoned, drops out of the Grand Prix”… I’m sure he was referring to the stones on the track.
13:34 43 laps to go
Oooh… Hamilton Pits. Hurry up, hurry up! Oooof, into 6th.
13:35 43 laps to go
Oh no, Kovalainen is eating tyre barriers. Damn. Broken car.
Shit. Hope he’s ok and the tryes have done their job – ~140 mph apparently :-S Worried.
2nd Safety Car
13:38 43 laps to go
2nd safety car, this is an interesting race. Wonder how this will affect the strategies of those due to pit?
13:42 41 laps to go (sc)
Kovalainens car broke… there’s talk of “will they retire Hamilton?”. Nooooooo :-S
Also, Barrichello whizzing around with his nose knocked of after a pit lane scuffle. He keeps wiggling to get rid of it, hehe. Oh, there it goes, he’s got rid (13:44).
13:45 40 laps to go (sc)
Hurray and Pheew! Thumbs up from Kovalainen whilst he gets strechered off. Brill.
13:49 38 laps to go
Safety car gone
Lets look where everyone is… ferrari 1-2 obviously. But Ham is in 3rd, and Alonso has dissappeared to 6th. Lets keep it that way! Lets hope that Kovaleinen’d car trouble doesn’t affect Hamilton.
13:56 33 laps to go
I’m feeling that Heidfeld’s 10 second penalty was harsh and unfair :-S
Half way through.
13:58 32 laps to go
There’s a smokey stationary Renault… It’s Alonso – Renault is out completely. And I pu Super Aguri as the worst constructor in my fantasy formula 1. Wonder if anyone put renault?
That’s a shame – I was hoping for an exciting Hamilton-Alonso podium showdown 
14:00 30 laps to go
Respect to Alonso who just went up to talk to his fans. Regained some sportsmanship – good on him.
14:06 26 laps to go
Hamilton has just set the fastest 1st sector, lloks like he’s pushing for 2nd! Get in there! Just don’t drop your guard and let Kubica get ya!
14:08 24 laps to go
Rosberg car has just conveniently blown up (okay, exxaggeration – it bellowed smoke and died) right outside his garage on the pit straight! Lucky him… I guess.
14:12 21 laps to go
I’m thinking it’s time for 2nd pit stops. Stop then! Oh, Heidfeld has.
And Hamiltons just done the fastest race lap – get in!
14:14 19 laps to go
Raikonnen, Hamilton and Kubica all pitting at the same time… oooooooh! Yessss… Hamilton has kept Kubica behind him. Massa’s 2nd stop will be exciting! I hope his fule pipe gets stuck, or some other minor thing to hold him up an extra couple of seconds.
14:31 8 laps to go
Glad to hear that Button is giving his all – previous lap time only second to Hamilton. Come on you Brits!
14:32 7 laps to go
Can Hamilton catch Massa in 7 laps? I don’t think so . Possibly he could catch up, but I reccon it would need Massa/Ferrari to make a mistake to enable Hamilton to get past.
14:40ish finished
Raikonnen, Massa, Hamilton – yey! Podium for Hamilton, and an awesome drive in the final laps, great pace and a great catch up.
More-or-less as predicted and should earn me some decent fantasy f1 points! At least one of my teams definately had it spot on. And I have Button scoring for me too, which should earn big points. I didn’t count on Hamiltons fastest race lap though (it was him in the end right?!). So my guesses of Raikonnen on each team will have earned me jack shit! But I’m happy – Ham’s made up for Bahrain.
14:51 Champagne squirting
Lewis just squirted me with champagne and gave me a big grin! …oh, ok, it was to the amera and everyone watching. Awesome!
If you’ve actually read through all this, then you’re crazy. Or like F1 and actually thought I had something good to say… only to be daissappointed. But thanks! I enjoyed writing it – it was like having a conversation… with myself. Hmmm…
