One of the things I find absolutely breathtaking about Formula One is the supreme confidence many of the top drivers have in their ability to deliver when the time comes to do so. It’s an attitude prompted, I’m sure, by the qualification systems used in recent years, which have all called for a perfect lap at the perfect moment to win the battle for the best possible position on the grid.
Gone are the days when a journeyman could plod around for the entire two days of practice, honing his technique to the point where he could qualify up front, perhaps even on pole. And that’s a good thing because, these days, more than ever, qualifying has become an important part of the race.
But supreme confidence, tinged with a touch of arrogance and an over-reliance on technology (in this case the weather radar) can backfire, as happened to McLaren and Ferrari in Malaysia. Told by the weather predictor that the rain was going to abate, both teams held back, waiting for better conditions… and not one of the drivers demurred, confident that they would deliver when the time came to do so.
Sadly, the rain got heavier, leaving top contenders like Alonso and Hamilton at the back of the grid, despite heroic efforts to get into the top 17 during the final drenched moments of Qualifying 1. Alonso’s effort, which left him a mere tenth of a second outside the qualifying window, was a combination of heroism and skill that left me breathless. But it was also an exercise in futility…
Sunday’s race was exciting, but those who contend that F1 needs some rain to spice up the show may have been wrong in this instance. Had Hamilton, Alonso, Massa and Button qualified up front, I doubt whether we would have had the Red Bull romp to victory that we saw…
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