Formula One: Most exciting season for years?

Chinese Grand Prix grid

I don't claim to be any sort of authority on Formula One, but I am a massive enthusiast and I would have to say that I am enjoying this season more than any for quite a long time. All the hard work that the FIA have been doing over recent years to try and improve the sport looks like it is starting to come to fruition.  There have been quite a few changes made in recent years to try and make the sport a more enticing spectacle, such as the introduction of the Drag Reduction System (DRS), Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), the change from Bridgestone to Pirelli as well as the change in tyre compounds, and also the removal of refuelling from pit stops. No doubt purists are against these changes, and as a long standing F1 fan part of me agrees, but nobody can argue that the sport needed a shake up and these changes have certainly done that. The sport is now less predictable than it has ever been. At the start of this mornings race we had an all Mercedes front row which hasn't happened for about sixty years, and the back to back world champion started in eleventh on merit. And who would have thought a Sauber would finish in second in Malaysia on merit; but for a tiny misjudgement by Sergio Perez as he was catching Fernando Alonso in the closing laps, he might well have won the race. I am watching the closing laps of the Chinese Grand Prix as I write and the racing is amazing. There has been more overtakes this race than you would get in a whole season a few years ago! It must be exciting; who would have thought Carol Vorderman and Kelly Sotherton would be tweeting about F1 on a Sunday morning! 

I very much take the point that the sport had always been an example of the best engineering and aerodynamics, and a small part of me misses that part of F1 but the laps I am watching at the moment have been up there with the most enthralling I have ever watched. They have been as good as watching Senna and Prost, or Schumacher and Hill go wheel to wheel in years gone by. And these laps are right at the beginning of the season so there is no championship at stake yet! The race has just finished, and well done Nico Rosberg on your first win! With the two McLarens taking second and third that's an all Mercedes podium. Well done Silver Arrows! It was never going to be too long before a Ross Brawn car returned to the top step of the podium.


So, off to Bahrain then. Should F1 be going there? I have to agree wholeheartedly with Bernie Ecclestone in the fact that religion or politics should not come in to sport at all. As long as it is safe, Formula One should definitely go to Bahrain. If Bahrain is good enough for an international invitation pro-celebrity golf tournament, then why should F1 be any different. 

SPORT SHORTS

• Well done to my beloved Liverpool FC for getting to the FA Cup final yesterday. Even though there is massive rivalry between Liverpool and Everton, it is largely not bitter and the banter is good natured.  This tribute laid at Anfield proves this more than anything. Justice for the 96. Gone but not forgotten.

Thanks to Everton for this tribute. #JFT96

• Good luck to Spurs and Chelsea today in the second semi-final. Not sure who I'd rather we played.
• Very sad to hear this morning of of the untimely death of Piermario Morosini during the game between Livorno and Pescara in Serie B in Italy. My thoughts are with his friends and family. 
• Not long until the Snooker World Championships now, which is one of the highlights of my sporting year. The Crucible is a special place. Pleased to hear that Ken Doherty has managed to qualify so hopefully he can do it for the old boys! Unlucky to Steve Davis and Jimmy White who didn't manage to qualify.

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