It’s several hours after the Australian Grand Prix has ended and I’m still pretty sure that I saw a motor race! I saw some scrappy racing, some cars getting sideways in the corners and some huge crashes so probably yes, it was a motor race! Other than the crashes - some of which should definitely have been avoided by the so-called, “best drivers in the world,” I really liked what I saw. I’m also pretty damn glad that the season has started, I couldn’t have waited much longer.

Looking back over the results and thinking back on my overall impression of the first race of the year, here are some things I think we can all be thankful for from the Australian Grand Prix.

1. Ferrari didn’t dominate like winter testing suggested. Despite all the evidence that Ferrari were going to run away from everyone early in the season, they fell apart - very vintage, pre-Shumacher Ferrari. Both drivers were particularly ragged in the race and the single point Kimi picked up was definitely not deserved. They need to regroup for next week.

2. The FIA got the traction control ban spot on. I hate saying the FIA got something right, but the standardized ECU with no traction control and no engine braking is doing the job of separating the good from the great. There are a half-dozen drivers who probably hate the new ultra-touchy cars and think it’s unsafe but then, there are 1000 hungry drivers out there who want a chance to be a grand prix driver so get over it and start driving like you belong in Formula 1!

3. Sportsmanship. It was nice to see Lewis Hamilton being genuinely happy for Nico Rosberg after the race. Nico was clearly excited to be on the podium (his first trip there) and it’s fitting that after the checkered flag drops, the drivers can celebrate the accomplishments of one another. A great post-race feed from Australia let fans see a different side of F1. After the politics and machinations of 2007, it was refreshing.

4 . Honda, Red Bull, Toyota and Torro Rosso are all faster than expected. I really expected all of these teams to be quite a ways back from the chasing pack of BMW, Williams, Red Bull and Renault and yet, there they were, mixing it up in qualifying. If the first corner melee had been avoided, there might have been far fewer points to take home for Renault, Ferrari and Williams. It bodes well for those fans who like to see drivers scrapping for every point.

5. Three drivers, three different teams on the podium. It was a bit fortunate that McLaren didn’t walk to a 1-2 finish but it’s a sign of a competitive grid when three teams can stand on the podium. Sadly, Ferrari and McLaren will occupy the top placings on most days but with a bit more Melbourne style chaos at the start of the races, fans might see some unfamiliar faces holding up the trophies.

Let’s hope Malaysia gives us more of this brave, new Formula 1.

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