The Need of Dusk

Williams driver Nico Rosberg believes twilight races are not the way to go, as it’s dangerous.

And to be fair you can’t blame him. His sidekick Nakajima slightly blamed lowered sunlight for losing control of his car when coming round a bend. Somehow, I don’t think it’s the sunlight mate! Perhaps Nakajima could borrow one of Jenson Button’s many sunglasses.

Rosberg wasn’t acting as a sore loser (Cough, cough, Alonso, cough) or anything, but he generally believes that mid-afternoon starts is not what racing is about.

These drivers control the fastest legal (Depending your view on rear diffusers) cars on the planet and why should a lowering sun be judge on the outcome of the race. The sport should test ability not who has the best visors.

European viewers are essential for the business but it would be better to have racing at his peak without any extra distractions.

Waking up at 3am was a good omen and a ritual too many F1 fanatics as it kicks off the season perfectly. Stirring that extra strong cup of coffee and sporting your finest pair of pants in your couch, engulfed in front of the television for 3 hours before heading back to bed was special.

This year I did miss it. With Sky+ becoming more and more popular surely, it would have not been as problematic as the heads suggested, well suppose not everyone has that luxury.

This upcoming weekend race in Malaysia is at a similar local time as Australia for European viewings to be maximised and Rosberg expects more problems.

The weather this weekend suggests a heavy down pour to make the race that little more interesting in Kuala Lumpur. Well organisers should have thought about how its monsoon season in Malaysia, the whole race may have to be stopped altogether if it gets bad. It would end up being more of a speedboat race.

On the other hand, one very good thing in keeping twilight races is that when the race finishes it will be dark and you will see less of Rubens Barrichello after he removes his helmet. He does look a bit like Frankenstein doesn’t he?

Nico Fastest!

What a baffling day in the first practice of the season.

Nico Rosberg was the fastest in both sessions in Australia for Williams, and who would have thought it?

This was certainly an interesting and intriguing day, Toyota, Brawn GP and Williams, who all initially fought off Thursday’s protest about diffusers, were extremely impressive and quick.

The fastest drivers of the day were unfamiliar - Rosberg, Barrichello, Trulli, Webber, Button, Glock, Nakajima, Vettel, Sutil (How was that possible?) and last year’s runner up Massa all make up the top ten.

Not a McLaren nor a World Champion insight. Hamilton, Raikkonen and Alonso were nowhere to be seen.

These protests against rear diffusers will hopefully run out of steam, the complaints were ignored that the cars using them were not up F1 regulations, although an appeal hearing is due shortly to ban them.

And those cars that can boost the diffusers, at the moment, were the fastest around Melbourne’s Albert Park street circuit, no doubt, Ferrari will kick a fuss and the diffusers will probably be branded illegal soon enough.

So it still begs the question whether these surprising front-runners are actually legit. I do hope they are.

Brawn GP showed why they could be consider as favourites clocking notable times, three weeks ago the team never existed. Perhaps Jenson may appear from Hamilton’s rather large shadow to lead the way for the Brits and fulfil his potential that has been left wanting recently.

Hamilton looked completely astounded, he has even said the dreaded ‘still come good’ line. McLaren will need to find a fix and fast just to keep up. They were completely off the boil.

Qualifying will definitely be interesting.