Chinese Grand Prix

Nor will we mention the fact that in addition to packed stands at Shanghai and Singapore, the Chinese have had a F1 race since 2004. We have neither packed stands nor consistently run events.

We absolutely refuse to discuss the fact that there will be no French Grand Prix in 2009 even though the French literally invented the sport and that august body, the FIA (Lest we forget what it stands for, the Federation Internationale de L‘Automobile, is about as French as it gets).

There will be no debate about the stupidity of the FIA’s rule that an F1 team can’t allow their own drivers to pass each other in order to gain points for the purposes of winning the championship.

No comment, for all of this makes about as much sense as Wall Street.

So, in light of all this, it was refreshing to watch the Chinese race, my wife noting that she has heard the same names all year long, Massa, Hamilton and Raikkonen with Alonso thrown in for good measure; it’s perhaps good that something remains comfortably in check, for we know that one of these three will win a race and one will become World Champion, although Kimi’s numbers won’t hold now, it will still be a race to the finish in Brazil in two weeks. Bernie loves that.

Not so refreshing was the boredom suffered as Hamilton got into an early lead, Kimi followed, Massa held third, and Alonso loped back in fouth place, and these positions excluding pit stops were held until seven laps before the finish when Kimi, not following team orders as usual, allowed Massa to pass him and pick up an extra point before going to Brazil. Massa will need every point he can get. Still, the odds are now against Ferrari picking up a World Championship driver this year, and no one remembers who wins the Constructor’s Championships anyway. It was truly obvious that Ferrari didn’t have their sums right in China, as Hamilton simply walked away whenever he wanted to.

So that was the race. If you had watched the NASCAR race no one would have blamed you. It should have rained, it didn’t. Tires held aside from Kovalainen’s, who was supposed be running interference for Hamilton but couldn’t get by Alonso. He dropped a right front and fell out of the heavens into what was probably a hellish team session after the race. He retired six laps from the end of the race and drove directly into the garage.

Kubica however, has had a great year with a second string car–the BMW has come a long way but probably due more to the Pole than strictly technical reasons. Still newbies Glock, the glassed Vettel and France’s Bourdais drove good solid races. Piquet was unable to replicate his good drive in Japan, and Heidfeld, as well as finishing fifth behind Alonso, won his seat for another year at BMW. Kubica should go to McLaren or Ferrari, replacing one Finn or another.

Speaking of technical reasons, we love Speed TV’s RPM feature–Steve Matchett does such a superb job, he is clear, concise, interesting, intelligent and enthusiastic..and this week he showed us a F1 clutch. The problem is he never tells enough. Or is allowed to tell enough. The F1 clutch looks to be about 5-6 inches in diameter and features several plates. That’s about all we get to know. Well, Steve, how many plates? What are they made of? What is the method of engagement? What is the casing made of? How long do they last? How much does it weigh? Matchett gets our interest up and then shuts up. Not his fault, to be sure.

Noted in this race and throughout the year, was Raikkonen’s poor performances, particularly for a reigning and defending world champion. Perhaps the crown doesn’t mean as much as it once did. After all, when the likes of Schumacher wins seven world titles–no one ever thought Fangios’ Five would ever be repeated much less beaten by two–and a young driver (Hamilton) nearly captured the championship in his first year racing Formula One, what does this say about its intrinsic value or meaning? Has it lost its luster? Or is Kimi no longer as driven as he once was? To be sure, Raikkonen can still tiger, perhaps better than anyone, but the attacks are always too little and too late. Renault’s Flavio Briatore, noted often in these pages for his fascination with models–told the world last week that he thought the title should go to Massa, that he really earned it.

Mr. Briatore, we couldn’t agree more.