"Cato Batista" 09/10/2014 16:36:32 ID #677

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The first Russian GP is coming up, the 16th round of the season.

It’s hard to talk racing when something so terrible is affecting us all. It will take weeks or months before we know the full extent of Jules Bianchi’s injuries, but we already know and have to accept the most probable outcome. Formula 1 has lost its most brilliant future star, the young frenchman was being groomed by Ferrari and was just learning the ropes at Marussia waiting for his time to come. All of that is now irrelevant, we can only hope he can survive his injuries and have a long and meaningful life.

In the latest from the driver’s silly season, things are not a simple as we were leading to think. As told by those in the know, what Alonso was really trying to do was moving to Mercedes as he was hoping for Ferrari to get Hamilton for next year. When it became clear that Alonso wanted to leave, Ferrari approached Vettel to replace him, but to make things more confusing Ferrari has not confirmed Vettel -it was Horner, not himself saying that he’s going to the italians- and the rumor is that McLaren will sign both Alonso & Vettel for next year. In the end is not Alonso who’s got the key of the market transfers, it is Hamilton as he waits his decision to remain at Mercedes (he’s contracted to 2016, but contracts don’t mean much in F1). This is typical F1, nothing is what it seems or what they say.

Something important for us to know is that all the teams are at the limit of usage of their allowance of 5 motors for the season. Ideally teams try to use one motor for no more than 4 race weekends, and in the case of Renault-powered teams they’d already past that amount. As of Japan Vettel has already used his (motor+turbo) #5 for 4 races, plus both Red Bulls already used their motor #4 for 5 races. At least Ricciardo had a new unit (his #5) in Japan. Both Mercedes are looking safe, Lewis & Nico just installed their #5 in Japan and they have their #1 & #4 utilized for only 3 races. Ferrari on the other side is looking borderline: with 5 races still to go they already ran their 5th motor 3 in GPs, very likely each driver will have to use #4, with only one race of usage (Belgium). The most efficient team is Force India, both Hulkenberg & Perez still have their #5 motor brand new wrapped in it’s box. Both Toro Rosso drivers and Lotus’ Maldonado are the worst, they are all in their 6th Renault engine by now (and taking penalties).

Have you seen the  layout of the Sochi Grand Prix circuit? Very disappointing. Not the best place to unleash F1 machinery. Remember the infamous parking lot in Las Vegas? it looks worst. Do not expect to see any proper racing from a place with ten slow-90 degree corners. I hope I’m wrong, I really do.

Until tomorrow