As with most things this year, I find myself shocked, but glad at the same time that I'm able to return once more to Albert Park for the year's annual Formula 1 circus.
The ticket was way above what I remember. Wasn't it about 30 bucks? This year I paid $75!
It was to be an interesting race. The dominance of Ferrari and Mclaren was eclipsed by an unlikely Brawn GP which sprung out of the ashes of Honda which pulled out of Formula 1 abruptly due to the economic downturn. Throughout the pre-season testings, Brawn's cars dominated the time sheets with drivers Jenson Button and Reubens Barrichello. The opening of this race saw the continued form of the Brawns. The surprise did not only come from this new team. The Ferrari's and Mclarens were struggling mid-field. The obvious performers were the Brawns, Toyota's, Williams and to a certain extent the Red Bulls. The cause for the difference in speed lies in a contraversial difusser which some teams without the difusser are assusing teams which do have the diffusser for breaking the rules. This difussers give the cars an average of 1-2 seconds faster than those without per lap.
To cut a long story short - the rules have changed and it's an all new ball game!
I went to the Grand Prix with Yasmeen. Was to meet up with Marc and Richard but they were positioned deep between the crowds to reach. We decided to watch the race on our own, though we did bump into Jared Yeoh and Eugene Tong near turn 2. My predictions forr the start of the race was quite accurate - I told Marc to except Jenson on pole, Vettel second and Barrichello 3rd. It was almost that - with Barrichello 2nd and Vettel 3rd instead. Ah, it's just the experience I have that makes this predictions possible.
From where we were the race was pretty uneventful. My Creative MuVo MP3 radio didn't work, so I was pretty lost on what's going on. Only getting surprises time and again when Raikonnen seems to be falling back the grid =(
After the race, we tried flooding onto the track and attempted to make it for the podium only to catch a glimpse of the drivers before they dissappeared into the mdeia labyrinth below. On the pit straight we finally linked up with Richard and Marc who was also with Sue Ann and Amanda (Ruo's counsin). We were hoping to catch a glimpse of something interesting. And we sure did.
At one point, I was just a meter or two away from Sir Richard Branson - the founder and CEO of Virgin Group. What seperated us was just a person and the fence. Honestly, I was stunned there and couldn't move. Would've loved to at least shake his hand and get his autograph as an extra. Man! What a missed oppurtunity. We also saw the boss of Force India and the CEO of Kingfisher - Vijay Mallya who owns the biggest brand of air travel in India. Kingfisher also makes the best Indian beer.
All in all, I was really blessed to be back here. Again, I doubt I'd be in Albert Park again, but who know's what God has in store for me.
Singing off from the 2009 Melbourne GP
