The ‘real’ season has kicked off in Spain and there are no more excuses left. The teams have done a ton of testing and development since Bahrain 3 weeks ago and arguably, the true pecking order was revealed on Sunday. Here are are a few other points that revealed themselves in the race.

1. No one has an answer to Ferrari’s pace

More and more, all indications are that the season is going to be painted red. McLaren seem unsure of how to take the fight to Ferrari and BMW have neither the experience nor the outright pace to power past the Prancing Horse. If any challenger wins races from this point forward, it will be more likely a Ferrari mistake than from pure performance.

2. The 2009 aerodynamic rules can’t get here fast enough

You know it’s a seriously boring grand prix when the “overtaking move of the race” is Nick Heidfeld passing a Force India into the braking zone of a kilometer long straight. What prevents a BMW that qualified nearly 2 seconds faster than the Force India from passing it for 9 laps during the race? - a slight breeze apparently! Obviously aerodynamic downforce limitations when following another car need to be addressed. The new rules (2009) emphasizing mechanical grip can’t get here soon enough. Fans don’t want to see strategic chess matches in the pits, they want to see racing (passing) on the track and with these cars, it just ain’t happening.

3. Renault and Alonso are a match made in heaven!

There is a symbiotic relationship working between the team and Alonso that is almost magic. Alonso brings his consummate skill as a driver to the team and they respond with a development program that apparently produced a staggering leap forward in just three weeks. He repays the team’s hard work by pulling off a qualifying lap in Barcelona that was simply awesome. I believe that the success of Renault and Alonso are tied to one another and neither will be as formidable on their own as they will together. It’s very good to see Fernando back on form.

4. When it comes to the rules - procrastination is the name of the game

In June of 2007 a safety car was deployed in Montreal and under the new rules at the time, the pit lanes were closed to the drivers - even those nearly out of fuel. This destroyed the race for Alonso and Nico Rosberg and they both took 10 second penalties for pitting

rather than run out of fuel on the track. Everyone admitted at the time that the rule was not fair and needed to be changed. But, here we are a year later and it’s the same story. This time Nick Heidfeld was caught out and a 5th place turned into a 9th. Some folks have suggested that he should have stopped on the track to demonstrate the absurdity of the rule and they’re right! A year has passed and the simplest of rules haven’t be changed - pathetic!

5. Crash testing saves lives

Seeing Heikki Kovaleinen’s car stuffed into the tire wall brought back memories of Luciano Burti’s crash a few years ago at Spa. It’s a sickening feeling for everyone watching as they extract a driver from a big wreck like that. I, like every fan in the world, was thankful to see the thumbs up from the little Finn and a BIG thank you goes out to the FIA for the strict safety tests they require every year from every team for every new design. A decade ago that crash could have been fatal. Making safety a priority has saved countless lives and thankfully today a driver doesn’t need to travel with a dark suit for the far too frequent funeral following a race.

BONUS: The Mosley saga is poisoning F1

What more needs to be said? Max loves power more than he love motor racing. He will tear Formula 1 and the FIA apart to serve his own ego. Clearly the man has no shame and no understanding of the greater good.

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Today’s Mosley exclusive in the Daily Telegraph marks the beginning of what will be a carefully staged public relations campaign to rehabilitate Max’s image after he was caught in a sordid S&M scandal. Not surprisingly, the ‘interview’ was conducted by an exceedingly benign Andrew Alderson and not one of the many Fleet Street journalists who have been publicly condemning the FIA President and demanding his resignation. The article had all the hallmarks of a good Mosley interview - more scripted lecture than real grilling.

Personally, I felt the interview was little more than a veiled threat to the FIA national clubs and an opportunity to tout his more positive contributions from the past 15 years. Mosley wants the clubs unsure of how much support he really has and worried that should he survive the vote, there will be consequences.

If this was a real interview as opposed to a PR stunt perhaps Max might have answered the following:

1. Don’t you think that you have brought the sport into disrepute?

2. Why haven’t these people (FIA club Presidents) supporting you spoken out publicly?

3. You suggest that this prostitute is beneath contempt for betraying you for financial gain but you yourself have betrayed your wife and family? Do you see a difference?

4. Isn’t this declaration that you were not planning to continue past 2009 a political strategy aimed at appeasing the clubs who might otherwise want to vote against your continuation? Isn’t this a gambit to allow you to leave on your own terms?

5. Don’t you believe that this incident has hurt the reputation of the FIA and motor sports? Are you willing to put your personal reputation above the interests of the Federation and sport?

Max, if you’d kindly oblige me with the answers to these questions, perhaps I might at least understand your flawed logic if not your sheer bloodymindedness.

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Four accidents, three races, two drivers - one verdict: David Coulthard and Sebastian Vettel are proving to be Formula 1’s worst drivers. Both drivers are displaying a penchant for first lap tussling that seems more suited for NASCAR while Coulthard has developed a rear blindspot that would bring a smile to almost any insurance agents face.

Coulthard has at least completed a race distance but Vettel has officially completed the fewest laps of anyone in F1 - hardly the mark of a future superstar. Both drivers will have to get back on form when the circus arrives in Spain in three weeks. It’s increasingly likely that Coulthard is racing his last season but needn’t embarrass himself with silly - and avoidable crashes.

Vettel is still touted as the, “Next One” with BMW and Ferrari both considering the German. That said, he can’t rest on one impressive race result from 2007 (China) and a solid qualifying effort (9th) in Australia this season.

It will be interesting to watch how both perform in Spain, especially if their teammates pick up more points and they fail to score.

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Updated: April 21, 2008
As the days count down towards what can only be the end of Max Mosley’s career in public office, it’s increasingly difficult to keep track of who has said what - though most of what’s being said is the same - “Get out, Max!”

Here is the roll of honor - or shame, depending on your view. Below are the names of those who have called for Max to resign and those who have ventured forward with a vote of support.

I’ll be updating the list daily as the saga continues and until such time that the weight of public opinion causes Mosley’s to concede his stubborn grip on power.

Those publicly calling for Mosley to step down for the good of the sport:

Jodi Scheckter; BMW; Mercedes-Benz; Honda; Toyota; ADAC (German Motorsports Club); Dutch Motorsports Federation; American Automobile Association; Martin Brundle; Jackie Stewart; Jacky Ickxx; Nikki Lauda; Crown Prince of Bahrain; Stirling Moss; The Caravan Club; Paul Stoddart; OAMTC (Austrian Motorsports and Touring Club); Carlos Gracia;(Spain);Mike Gascoyne (Force India Tech Director); New Zealand AA; CAA (Canada); Hans-Joachim Stuck; ASN Canada; Damon Hil; Derek Bell; Tony Brooks;Motor Sports South Africa; Israeli Automobile Club; Mark Webber; Porsche; Volkswagen;

Those publicly supporting Mosley:

Bernie Ecclestone; Brazilian Motorsport Federation; Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE; Prince Feisal Al Hussein, Chairman of Jordan Motorsport; Jean Todt

Those still awaiting more facts:

Indian Automobile Club; Motor Sports Association (UK);

Note: These are individuals or organizations that have publicly issued statements or spoken on the record.

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Today marks the 40th anniversary of the death of Jim Clark in a Formula 2 race in Hockenheim, Germany.  Amidst the controversy that is overshadowing Formula One, it’s worth taking a moment to fondly look back on the last of the gentleman grand prix drivers.

In my opinion, Clark was the most gifted driver to ever sit in a race car - fast, smooth and incredibly sympathetic towards the car.  But for the fragility of the Lotuses he drove, he might have completely dominated the 60’s.  I am not alone in my opinion. He was also held in the highest regard by his peers and his death shocked them all to a man.  It was Ferrari driver Chris Amon who remarked of Jim’s death, “If it can happen to (Jimmy) what chance do the rest of us have.”

Like many drivers of his day, Clark drove several different types of cars and his skill in multiple disciplines rivals even that of Mario Andretti.  Clark, in addition to his 25 grand prix wins and 2 Formula 1 World Championships (1963 and 1965), also won the Indianapolis 500 (1965) and the British Touring Car Championship (1964).  Other remarkable performances came driving a Ford Galaxy in NASCAR and the Lotus 30 and Aston Martin DBR1 at Le Mans.

It’s unlikely Jim could have existed as a Formula 1 driver today.  The farmer from the Scottish Borders was too sensitive of character for the harsh realities of racing today.  He raced in an era when it was still possible to live a normal life as a racing driver and not be burdened by the weight of money, politics and gamesmanship and the world is richer for having seen his talent displayed in perfect conditions.

The race following Clark’s death brought with it commercial advertising on the cars (Lotus) that would usher in a new chapter in racing.  With Jim’s passing, so too did the era of the gentleman racer.

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