Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are heading to Shanghai this weekend for the third round of the season, the 13th edition of the Chinese GP.

Relevant developments from the last few days (and hours): we are reverting to the old and proven QF system,  ALO has been provisionally cleared to take part in the race and  HAM will lose 5 grid starting positions for a gearbox replacement.

So the QF format of the last several years will be back to stay (for now at least). I find encouraging that for the first time we saw all the 11 teams together opposing Bernie and Jean in a rare display of unity to impose what they and the drivers consider is best for theirs and the fans’ interests. F1 is supposed to be to purest form of motor racing, the starting grid should reflect the results from qualifying. Bernie’s idea of sacrificing the sport in the name of the show has been very unpopular, as much as we’d like to see more entertaining races.

According to the weather forecast, at least for this GP we’ll not need any artificial fixing to spice up the show: the probability of showers is 100% at the time of QF, and now it's official that HAM would not be able to start better than 6th. Will this open the door for ROS to win his 6 consecutive GP? Lewis has won 4 times here, twice as much as the next best (ALO), including the last two and has started from pole the last 3.

ALO will have to pass another medical check after FP1 to be allowed to race, he’s got fractured ribs but as a typical racing driver he declares himself fit and “can’t wait to get back in the car”.

Last year’s Chinese GP made history when 6 distinguished members wrote their names in the CFA Hall of Fame with perfect 18-point scores: Fernando (overall winner), Curro, Fredrik, Manbos, Lou and Sebastian. Great skill or F1 was that boring a year ago? One way or another that was a mark that we probably would never see again, but let’s hope this year things on track are a bit more exciting…  

Until tomorrow

Cheers

Cato