F1 season beginnnsss…

The brand new season of F1 has begun after a 2 week delay (Bahrain GP non-starter owning to political instability). There were lots of changes asked from the teams – adapt to new tyre makers Pirelli, no f-ducts, a big yes to KERS and the new DRS apart from few other technicalities.

As was shown in pre-season testing the Red Bull was the quickest car, faster than the next speeding car by nearly 0.8sec. You really can’t beat that. The DRS was meant to provide opportunities for overtaking and it did produce those, but not in the desired scale. The top teams to finish had one commonality, while one driver was faster the other suffered. Vettel, Hamilton, Petrov, Alonso came through while their team mates Webber, Button, Massa, Heidfeld couldn’t replicate the same.

In short—Vettel & Red Bull are untouchable, McLaren are the closest, Renault the surprise package, Ferrari needs loads of improvement, Force India lucky to get points, Sauber needs luck, Mercedes needs luck & improvement and Williams needs to make Rubens understand the need to stay calm afterall he needs to be taugh, he’s raced in just 300+ of them.

For the Malaysian GP-- all teams watch out for RED BULL, they won the season opener without using the KERS !!! Just imagine what they could do, if they use that !!

Wanna be gifted or work hard for it?

The hottest topic of the town at any given point in a year is CRICKET and everyone is an expert at making a SWOT analysis of players --- I thought for a moment and decided not to let go off the tempting offer to be ‘one-amongst-those-so-called-experts’

We were discussing the most argued Q of – ‘Who’s a better batsman, in India?’. That is the NOT the question you ought to be asking any cricket frenzy public in India, for the deafening voice would answer it as ‘Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar’.

I always wondered why people are hell bent on comparing any batsman in India or around the world with Sachin. He’s the most gifted batsman that god could ever forge; he is a limited edition with just one copy made. Period. (trying to copy the style of some bloggers!!). Yes, gifted he is with perfectly still head while caressing a cover drive, absolute sense of timing, slick wrists to flick the ball from middle & off to fine leg, ability to pick the line & length of delivery in fraction of second and what not. These features have been hardwired into his mind, he could play the cover drive/ the straight drive/ leg glance even in his slumber.

Sachin is seen as the role model for youngsters, but I guess people shouldn’t be trying to ape him for they never can do so. Everyone ought to learn the aspects of dedication, discipline, work ethics and most important humility—having your feet on ground even after attaining dizzy heights. Youngsters should stop here, to learn anything more from Sachin would be like playing god!!! I definitely don’t think any cricketing coach worth his salt would want his pupils to emulate Sachin, unless ofcourse the kid’s been wired with the same programming as Sachin or simply said God made an extension to the limited edition copy!!!!

This is where I would want to bat for players like Dravid, straight forward truth- he is not a gifted player. He is what he is he because of the hard work he has put in to learn the game; he is a willing leaner and puts his heart and soul into understanding the game. He put in innumerable hours in the nets correcting his flaws, perfecting his technique and kept track with the changing rules of engagement. He has imbibed the coaching manual and ‘that’ is hardwired into his mind, not by god but by his own efforts.

One may not/ cannot coach or learn to become a Sachin but Dravid you can become. I always felt people have the habit of eyeing things that are easy to obtain- like Sachin’s batting prowess all u need is god’s gift and ofcourse his unflinching dedication. On the other hand, many would not like to sweat it out and put in mountain loads of hard work to attain the heights in life as Dravid did in his pursuit of cricket.

Lets choose the path we want to take.

Pleasure to watch “the king”…Schumi

Another round of F1 passes by, though BORE-Celona GP lived up to its expectations (virtually no over taking made by the TOP players), it did produce quite a few moments to treasure. In short, the whole GP can be described as- an untouchable Webber, unlucky & lucky fellow Vettel, Hamilton- whose fortune conspired against him, lottery winner- Alonso (drove a perfect race, not just luck) and the stunning return to form of “the king”- Schumi.

The rule of pole sitter takes the win at this GP proved true, the Red Bulls ran away from the pack as the lights went green. The first 6 positions didn’t change not until Lap 16 when the King pitted. It was Lap 17 and the place was turn ‘1’. Button had a slightly bad pit stop and he came to join the track, schumi whizzed past him- from the outside!!! N forced Button to take a defensive line!! The wily old cunning fox, was at his prime in that moment- ruthless, precise and pure n pure gut feel drive (the old schumi).

Little before this at the same corner, relative newbie’s in the form of Hamilton & Vettel fought for track positions but only this time the guy on the inside (Hamilton) was able to force Vettel off the track. I dreamt about what could have had happened had Schumi been in place of Vettel!!!

From Lap 17 to until the end of race, Schumi showed his class and kept Button behind him. The aspect to watch was the way in which he would defend his position given he had a relatively slower car going into straight line speeds. Loong before the cornering, he would run off the racing line forcing Button to opt for the inside and as corner approaches, he would cover the whole of inside in one swishing move… mind u a driver is allowed to defend his position through one move alone by swaying into the path of his pursuiter!! He did that until Button’s tyres wore off, his car’s downforce took a beating and then Button was forced to look after his tyresfo rest of the race.

One special mention for Alonso, for his relentless pursuit of the TOP 3 in front of him, even though Ferrari’s lacked the pace and boy-o-boy Vettel, for driving the last 17 laps without BRAKES!!!! This GP managed to catch some attention even without the special effects of earlier races (RAIN!!!)

Looking forward to the next race….the street race of MONACO!!!!