Welcome to another edition of TGTG&TB, reporting on what can only be described as a slow week in the world of Formula One. Who else is annoyed by the three week gap between China and Spain? Although, that’s probably how long it’s going to take some teams to get back to Europe thanks to that inconsiderate volcano and a big cloud of ash. I’m surprised Bernie didn’t put 25 points up for grabs for the first team into Europe….

But, a third of the way through the gap between races, all the teams are focusing on the proposed updates that we’ve heard countless remarks about recently (some more than others), while drivers that aren’t in the gym working on their fitness or fulfilling sponsor commitments. This time is perfect to sit back and reflect on the season so far.

Comments!

Freddie says:

“What do you reckon about the start to the season as a whole? Am I right in thinking that no-one on pole has won a race yet? Does this indicate that races are more exciting or is it more of a case of luck than judgement?

Thanks to Freddie or inspiring this column. Are races more exciting if pole-sitters aren’t racing to the finishing post unchallenged? The season has been exciting and good to watch 75% of the time, with stories that dominated pre-season not materialising, while others no-one could predict coming to the fore. This week’s edition will be grouping teams and drivers into The Good, or The Bad. The Backmarkers will, as usual, catch up with the teams at the back of the field, including the three new teams for 2010.

The Good

The resurgence of Renault has been a staple in The Good all season. Not only has Robert Kubica been outstanding in getting that golden 9th place on the grid on a regular basis, but he’s taking all opportunities to get strong points on the board. Now Vitaly Petrov has broken his finishing duck, and gaining a seventh place finish in the process, both cars look strong and the team is functioning well. Not bad for a manufacturer team part owned by investors and sponsored by Lada, of all companies!

Jenson Button beating Lewis Hamilton on his own turf was something any expert probably didn’t see coming, even with Button’s World Champion status. The McLaren team has done everything right in making him feel at home in the team, trying not to repeat the errors on their part that led to Fernando Alonso ending up being not only unhappy with the team, but also vindictive in the “spygate” saga.

Alonso and Massa had a great race in Bahrain, although with a few temperature issues, and it was good to see Ferrari back to winning ways. The following races haven’t been so good, but Alonso has been up there in qualifying, just not getting the luck in the races, including a spin in Oz and a jump start (and FIVE pit stops in total) in China. Ferrari are the dark horses still, and if everything even slightly goes there way then the rest of the grid will have seriously worry.

Nico Rosberg, another staple in The Good, has been my driver of the season so far (and you all thought I was going for Jenson!). Fifth, fifth, third, third is a string of results that is impressive due to the fluctuating weather conditions at each weekend on both Saturday and Sunday. This young man is coming of age in a top team after a few years learning his class in a well-established one, and Mercedes are reaping the benefits.

The Bad

I’ll start right where my thoughts come to when describing things that annoy me F1 this year; the Michael Schumacher situation. I’m only going to say this once; this man should not be in Formula One. In a sport that moves forward fast every fortnight, three years out is just too long for a driver, even of Schumacher’s calibre, to come back and be competitive straight away. It’s the perfect lose-lose situation. If Schumacher continues finishing at the tail-end of the top ten, his legacy is ruined and he re-retires (is that even a word?) with his tail between his legs. If Mercedes upgrades for Spain put him at the front of the grid consistently, he would de-credit all the drivers that made names for themselves in his absence. It just doesn’t sit well with me this year.

The new points system is also something that has, in my view, made drivers seem better than what they really are. For example, take Jaime Alguersuari. Last year, a ninth place finish would’ve brought him no points, a brief mention in the race review and a “better luck next time” from the team. This year, it brings 2 World Championship points and a lot of praise, and a better reputation than twelve months previously. The real change should have been a larger points spread between first and eighth, making higher positions more beneficial. To me, it just feels unbalanced.

The Backmarkers

The Backmarkers stories can be eerily compared to the battles at the front of the grid. Virgin are fast and innovative, using nothing but computer fluid dynamics to build an F1 car for the very first time. Now they’ve hit their stride they have got the edge on the rest of the new teams, but errors in build quality in testing involving the front wing, then the big calamity of a too small a fuel tank have compromised this speed greatly. Just like Red Bull, more focus on keeping the cars going to the end will improve their fortunes greatly.

If Virgin are Red Bull, then Lotus are the McLaren of The Backmarkers. A strong driver line-up, with the possibility of clashing, in a well organised outfit. Yes, not the fastest, but definitely the most organised. This has led them to be the front runners in the race to be the best at the back, with Heikki Kovalainen consistently finishing just outside the top ten. If there is a race of attrition later on in the season, then I’d put my money on Lotus to sneak a 10th place, and a valuable World Championship point.

Hispania may have struggled with getting to the grid in 2010, but the teams growth since Bahrain has been pretty impressive. Fluctuating performance and reliability does reflect the plight at Ferrari, but not with so much pressure from a nation. Colin Kolles coming in to organise and clear up the mess made from what was Campos Meta F1 has galvanised the team, and the double finishes they are achieving are putting Virgin under even more pressure.

BMW Sauber Ferrari were new additions to The Backmarkers last week, and will be thoroughly rooted here unless several changes are made. No sponsors means no money, no money means limited development, limited development means poor performance. A name like Sauber coming back into F1, just like Mercedes returning, creates an expectation of returning to previous glories. But, even with new technical director Robert Key now on board, this year is a transitional year for the team, with 2011 a much more realistic target for points and finishes.

That’s all for another edition. As per usual, I want to hear from YOU! Feel free to add your comment in the box underneath, become a groupie on facebook, or start a thread on the forum. There are so many ways for you to get your views across, what have you got to lose? Thanks for reading, see you in another 7 days.

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