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Memories of a Season

The season is done, it’s all over. Some memories before I go into hiding to battle with myself over the 132nd Annual Drood Report F1 Awards Show.

Well the season ended with a whimper really. It’s a sad comment when the most interesting event is two drivers colliding with each other. Alesi’s exit from Suzuka, and F1, was very dramatic. At least got out alive. From the race AND F1. Some drivers don’t manage that. I’ll miss Alesi, but at least he didn’t give his life for the sport.

So, what sticks in my mind this season? Let’s take a trip down memory lane.

Juan Montoya: Brazil served notice that here was a guy who, despite his CART background, didn’t suck. His move past M.Schumacher to take the lead was one of the highlights of the year. Come seasons end, he was the reason I was enjoying watching F1. Here’s a guy who says what he feels, drives on the edge. In many ways he reminds me of Mansell, without the whining and moaning.

Jos Verstappen: While he went off the boil later in the season, the opening few races had Jos driving like a mad man! Sure he was on low fuel, but it was still impressive to see.

Mika Hakkinen: Oh dear. What a season. He joined a rare breed of drivers in Spain, retiring on the last lap. Mansell certainly knows how that feels. Painful.

Indianapolis: The infield section sucks the big one, but after two years, the novelty of seeing F1 cars hurtling down the straight still hasn’t work off.

Traction Control: The championship would have been very different if TC had been left out until next season. As it was it led to some amusing incidents, particularly with McLaren. Seeing Coulthard stuck behind Bernoldi for 40 laps in Monaco was one of the stranger sights caused by TC failure.

That’s just a brief recap of things I enjoyed this year. Overall it was a pretty good season. M.Schumacher dominated, partly because of the aforementioned Traction Control issues, but on the whole, it was a pretty competitive season. Five different drivers won races. We had three teams at the front, with the likes of Sauber snapping at their heels. On the whole I enjoyed it. There were the usual crappy races like Hungary, France and Spain (loathe them all) but we had some great races too, and despite my fears, traction control didn’t destroy the sport. In some ways it added to the spectacle.

I’ll be back in a little while. With a new computer arriving any day, I’ve got a lot of work ahead (bare bones system, so lots of tinkering to do). Plus I have to shut myself in a closet and come up with the award winners for this season (and some categories as well for that matter) plus some other bits, so it may be a few days, but stick around, I’m only just getting started:)