The day after a Grand Prix usually involves travelling. But in Australia it is different. We are racing again next week in Malaysia so there are a couple of days during which time one can hang out either in Melbourne, or in Kuala Lumpur. I choose Melbourne (as do most other people). I dare say if I go for a wander I will bump into folk in the bars and cafes.
For the journalists Monday is a quiet day, or at least it is once they have finished Sunday… The problem is that Sunday was a very long day. Readers of the blog will have noticed that things went quiet in the morning. That was because I was hammering away at the computer, earning money. In order to get the maximum done, I stayed at the hotel for the whole morning. The Media Centre is like F1′s village pub and there are distractions. Staying home and being a hermit gets the job done and shifting the number of words we shift these days, that is important.
I did briefly get out into the paddock after the race to chat to folk to find out what had happened. In fact I was fortunate enough to meet Sir Richard Branson, who seemed rather happy. The late race meant it was dark and most of the crews were busy tearing down their equipment and getting it on the move to the airports. When I left at two o’clock in the morning it had finally gone quiet. Melbourne was a ghost town. I worked until my eyes would stay open no longer and then crashed out. The nice thing about Australia is that the time zone is so far ahead of everyone else and so one can if necessary work on Monday morning to get everything finished. As I write, at two in the afternoon in Melbourne, it is still only five in the morning in Europe. I finished off my race stuff this morning after breakfast (one does not eat on a very regular or sensible basis during a GP weekend) and then I went to bed… If I can I will sleep for the rest of the day.
Followers of the blog will recognise (hopefully) that this is not because I am a lazy slob, but rather because there is only so much that the human body can do before it begins to fall apart…
Thanks for all the hours you’re putting in, Joe. Found your blog a few weeks ago, and between that and the BBC’s good new coverage, F1′s become more human, more direct, and less spin-laden for me, virtually overnight. Keep it going, a great 2009 in prospect!
One thing: it would be good to know for certain whether the FIA can change the Melbourne results when they hear the appeal. I’ve read and heard twenty opinions, but no one seems to know for certain.
Yes, the result could change. I do not believe it will. My feeling is that the Brawn was just smarter than the other teams and they have to live with it. The thirdplace thing could change too, but I think Trulli has no chance and I think that Toyota knows that. They put in an appeal but I expect them to withdraw it. They are not going to win it – they know that – and so it was just a cosmetic thing.
Better to go racing in Malaysia and prove something….
Did you get to pick Branson’s brain or was it just one of those “oh, hi, see you later” kind of moments?
No, it was a “Hi” and “Goodbye” moment. These things are never easy on a weekend like the Australian GP. I am sure that in the future if he comes to the races I will get to know him better, but he seems like an interesting character. We are all pirates in F1 to a greater or lesser degree but one can always relate to those that share the passion.
Is Renault getting the best out of its KERS?
As far as I can see now, clever diffuser trumps clever suspension (RBR) which trumps McLaren and Ferrari KERS which trumps Renault KERS.
Where would the world be without the Swiss work ethic?
No decent watches, no Toblerone, and only silly gambling ad laden blogs. (With a couple of honourable exceptions).
“The Media Centre is like F1’s village pub and there are distractions.”
I dare you to enlighten us on the “distractions” Sir!
Remember to take your waterproofs to Malaysia Joe. The forecast dosn’t look too good.
“Followers of the blog will recognise (hopefully) that this is not because I am a lazy slob, but rather because there is only so much that the human body can do before it begins to fall apart…”
I think every single person who reads this blog reconizes that and is very grateful for the insight you share on this blog. Thanks and don’t be afraid to hit the nooze button.
I think Bludd that it is way too early to say which technology is the most beneficial. Remember Sepang has two very long straights and KERS is going to be a lot more valuable there than in Melbourne. I expect that we will find at some tracks KERS will be a huge advantage and at tracks with long corners the good diffusers will be a huge advantage.
The “nooze” button?
Is that to News what Musak is to Music? Maybe some kind of auto-Joe system like in the film “Airplane”. When Joe’s body gives up, he hits the nooze button and a latex F1 pundit inflates and writes the blog while Joe sleeps.
Sorry, I’m rambling.
Too little sleep over the weekend.