Australian Formula 1 GP Makes Racing Better When it Rains

Yes, things are much better this time around intires were not doing well for him, he came in for slicks
Melbourne, Australia. The Quantas Australia Formula 1and it nearly cost him as upon leaving the pits, he lost
Grand Prix 2010 saw Jenson Button of McLarencontrol and went straight on turn 3. Two laps later
Mercedes taking the chequered flag, Robert Kubica ofalmost all of the front runners came in for slicks with
Renault taking second and Ferrari's Phillipe Massathe exception of the Red Bulls which seemed okay on
coming in third. But the good thing was it rained andintermediates.
there was racing instead of a procession of cars. ThisSebastian Vettel's seems to have gotten into an
fact played a real part in Button's victory as heunlucky streak of starting on pole and then the car
gambled on an early tire change from intermediates toletting him down. In Bahrain, engine trouble was the
full race slicks very early on.cause and this time, the brakes had locked up and he
It wasn't like Bore-rain, where I almost fell asleep whileended in the gravel. The reliability of the Red Bull in
watching the telly. It had the racers maintain their trackquestion.
position lap after lap. It had overtaking this time unlikeLewis Hamilton of McLaren also had bad luck and bad
Bahrain, the rain in the early part of the race. As it wasteam decision. McLaren, had decided to call for a tire
a wet start, entertainment happened from the start -change without consulting the driver and according to
car crashes and all.Hamilton, this cost him a podium finish. Maybe it was
Pole Sitter Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing had adown to inexperience on Hamilton's side and a bad
decent start, as did Felipe Massa from fifth splitting themistake by the team. As some said that as driver he
Red Bulls (who started in pole and in second) bywould have a choice to say 'no' to his race engineer.
Massa. Fernando Alonso who started in position 3(P3)Even an experienced team like McLaren can make
dropped back. Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button gotbad decisions. On the point of bad luck, Hamilton
into a predicament as Alonso closed the door at thetangled with Mark Webber not once, but twice, the
corner. Michael Schumacher got nudged and his frontsecond time costing him to end his race at P6 instead
wing damaged (for which he had to pit). Button lostof P5 and Webber a front wing and getting P9 with a
ground as he took avoiding action and cars passed by.possibility of a penalty at the next race in Sepang. Nico
Alguersuari Toro Rosso (Buemi) headed for the gravelRosberg of Mercedes Petronas capitalizing and getting
as the Sauber driven by Kamui Kobayashi lost a frontP5 instead.
wing on the way to Turn 3 which pitched him right intoIt was fun. Even at the tail end of the race Michael
the barriers, causing his car bouncing off across theSchumacher on the last 10 laps had overtaken two
track and taking both Nico Hulkenberg and Sebastiencars clinching P10 for the last point scoring position.
Buemi out. Three car casualties and not even one lapRain equals unpredictability in Formula 1 and this is a
completed the Race Director Charlie Whiting called forgood thing. Maybe we don't need the Gatling Guns,
the safety car.batterin rams and missiles after all. Just add water to
You see, rain makes entertaining racing. It was Jensonthe race track instead. Sepang would be equally fun if
Button's decision for a very early pitstop (lap 6) thatit rains. I just hope it does not rain till all racing was
allowed him to win. After deciding that the intermediatestopped like last year.