Here’s our Five favourite things from the Chinese Grand Prix, another F1 race that was better than expected, in a season in which people can’t really complain about, but they will.
- A mixed up grid does end in a great race, and there was plenty of quality racing everywhere, but the right F1 qualifying format is out there, and we have another worth sharing, if we can get around to writing it.
- 22 Finishers despite 1st corner antics – also a way to the future, allowing for more racing if cars don’t fall apart when they collide. Just need to make the front wing stronger to see the ultimate in biff and barge racing, more similar to the good old days of 90’s BTCC rather than the motorsport equivalent of ballet it has become.
- Nice to put out the safety car after debris ruined the only chance of a possible challenge for Ricciardo. Especially as they are quick to put out the safety car for far less in the past. Dan raced well though and the signs of promise for Red Bull are very encouraging. Just like his racing, which was as good as ever.
- Stuff staged post race interviews on podium and press conference and their mundane and tedious questions, just leave all the drivers locked in a room for 15 minutes fully miced up for ultimate enjoyment and minimum cliché. There’s more gold like Vettel v Kyvat from the weekend’s GP, and Vettel v Webber and Nico’s hat throwing antics from previous encounters.
- We love our shots of “celebrities” hanging out in the pits, it’s far better than any on track action and they deserve more exposure for standing there and pretending to watch and care about F1. Usually after the team has handed them a token steering wheel to hold for 5 seconds as they nod in response to the explanation of how it works. The Chinese GP showed a glimpse of Fan Bingbing in the pitlane, surely the greatest F1 celebrity name ever. And an actor by the way, as if she was anything else, the F1 celebrity is always an actor.
