MASSA'S TURN TO WIN, BUT HAMILTON PUSHES HIM TO THE END
(Image taken from BBC)
Well last year, the Bahrain Grand Prix opened the F1 season. This time out, it's back to third in sequence and right off the back of Malaysia. That doesn't allow anyone much time to get their act together so realistically, you had to expect that no one would come rise from the dead, that would have to wait till the European part of the season started. The circuit is certainly known for its good racing though, even if the track can get a bit dusty and it was still all to play for.
Qualifying was another sad story for DC who had gearbox trouble and the Scotsman wound up starting 21st. Jenson dodged a Q1 bullet himself and wound up absolutely nowhere in Q2 again, starting 16th and outqualified by Davidson. So once again the UK was relying solely on rookie Hamilton to do the business in the final session and sure enough he set the first seriously fast time! Massa was the only guy able to beat it with both Alonso and Raikonen off the pace. Another awesome performance from Lewis for his first front row start in only his third Grand Prix!
As for the race itself? Well it didn't last very long for Jenson. He got caught in a tangle with Scott Speed at the start which forced a Safety Car and his weekend was over. Forget about him winning the title from here on in, British fans should just be glad that there's an age to wait till the next Grand Prix which should give Honda plenty of time to get their act together. Could he still win races? Maybe, but I'm saying that with my fingers crossed.
DC on the other hand turned back the clock. One of his hot starts got him up to 15th and he kept going from there. He then dealt with Sato for 14th before giving Davidson a master class and taking advantage of a Rosberg off to take 12th then Wurz was dealt with for 11th. A pit stop put him back to 14th but the Scot surged again, with Trulli and Webber amongst his victims as he hit P9, Liuzzi's retirement put in in the points and he then surged past Fisichella for P7! At which point his engine caught fire. Still, enjoyable while it lasted.
Lewis did enough from the start to hold position though and never looked seriously threatened to lose second place. However after pitting early he wound up with a dud set of tyres and though he still managed to hold overall position, it looked as though his chances of a win were gone. He still had a brief spell leading the Grand Prix and a late charge but had to settle for second. However, I'm talking about "settling for second" and this was his second second place finish in only his first three Grand Prix. Three podium finishes in three Grand Prix. No rookie has done that ever!
Not that that matters to Felipe Massa. All he cared about with this race was keeping the hot rookie behind him and staying in front throughout the pit stops. Mission accomplished with the Brazilian rarely threatened and that resulted in his first Grand Prix win in 2007! Quality performance from Massa after a dissapointing early couple of races with Raikonen completing the podium ceremony in third place. Now that makes things interesting going into Europe.
So, the championship looks like this: Alonso's leading with 22 points(including a win and a second place), Raikonen's in second also with 22 points(including a win but no second places), Hamilton's in third but amazingly also on 22 points(though no wins). Behind the Brit is Massa in 4th on 17 points, Heidfeld 5th on 15 points, Fisichella 6th on 8 points, Trulli 7th on four points, Kubica 8th on three points, Rosberg 9th on two points, Kovleinen 10th on one point(and a ninth place), Schumacher 11th on one point(but no ninth place). Jenson's got no points and DC hasn't even finished a race!
Well, in my season preview I named four drivers that could compete for the world title. Out of those four, unfortunately Button has to be taken out of the equation. Can Hamilton be put into the equation? A rookie, who has yet to win a Grand Prix, in serious championship contention? Err...no, Massa will surely overtake him sooner or later. Still, Alonso vs Raikonen vs Massa. That's quite a title race. Can I pick a champion from those three? Well there are two drivers who've not been off the podium this season and the other one is Raikonen. So that's my pick.
And now for a very long wait.
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