Malaysian GP thoughts

So, the fifth half-point race of F1 history was run, and it was a good one.

Let's get the negatives out of the way first. Most importantly, Ferrari's tactics guy, Luca Baldiseri I believe, needs to sit out the next GP and think about what he's been up to. Tactically the weekend was an unspeakable disaster for Ferrari. First Massa doesn't make it to Q2 (!) because of a tactical error, then the fiasco of Kimi's tire choices. All of them were wrong, first going on wet tires too early, then switching to intermediates too late. Massa also pitted on consecutive laps, first switching to intermediates too late and having to return for full wets.

Ferrari are just having an awful season, and some of the mistakes they're making are so boneheaded that something needs to be done. It's like last year all over again, only even worse.

Heads should roll. So far, the new regime at Ferrari has lost one world title by a single point, which they could have easily had without the monumental pit-lane cockups of their late season, and started this season with zero points in two GPs. They're dead last in constructors' standings, behind Force India. If the same shit goes on at China, someone needs to be fired. I'd rather they were fired now.

Kimi's contract is up after this season, while Massa is signed through 2010. Of the two, I'd rather get rid of Massa, but if the whole organization stays this dysfunctional, some choices need to be made. Kimi isn't under contract for next year, and neither is Nico Rosberg. Someone should think about that some.

**

To move on to the positives: at least McLaren only has one point so far. Heikki Kovalainen is officially having the worst start of the entire grid, with the safety car completing more laps than him. Heikki is also in a contract year, and what better way to start it than this?

On the whole, though, what a season. Brawn is still fantastic, but Toyota and Red Bull look like they're going to give them a run for their money. This is all the more impressive because the Red Bull car doesn't even have a magic diffusor.

Yesterday's race was hugely entertaining, with lots of battles for position and overtaking. Full marks for the new aerodynamics, as clearly overtaking is far easier this year. Heck, at this rate, the Hungarian GP might not suck.

**

If you're wondering, in case the diffusor appeal is succesful and Brawn, Toyota and Williams are disqualified, then the Malaysian results look like this:

1. Nick Heidfeld (5 points)
2. Mark Webber (4 points)
3. Lewis Hamilton (3 points)
4. Felipe Massa (2.5 points)
5. Sebastien Bourdais (2 points)
6. Fernando Alonso (1.5 points)
7. Nelson Piquet (1 point)
8. Kimi Räikkönen (0.5 points)

Here, then, are the updated alternative championship points, depending on the diffusor appeal.

Drivers' championship:

Jenson Button: 15 or 0
Rubens Barrichello: 10 or 0
Jarno Trulli: 8.5 or 0
Timo Glock: 8 or 0
Nick Heidfeld: 4 or 9
Fernando Alonso: 4 or 11.5
Nico Rosberg: 3.5 or 0
Sebastien Buemi: 2 or 8
Mark Webber: 1.5 or 6
Lewis Hamilton: 1 or 3
Sebastien Bourdais: 1 or 8
Adrian Sutil: 0 or 5
Felipe Massa: 0 or 2.5
Giancarlo Fisichella: 0 or 3
Kazuki Nakajima: 0
Sebastian Vettel: 0 or 1
Nelson Piquet: 0 or 1
Kimi Räikkönen: 0 or 0.5

So, if the diffusors are ruled illegal, the world championship standings after, erm, 1.5 races are as follows:

Drivers:

1. Fernando Alonso (11.5 points)
2. Nick Heidfeld (9 points)
3. Sebastien Buemi (8 points)
4. Sebastien Bourdais (8 points)
5. Mark Webber (6 points)
6. Adrian Sutil (5 points)
7. Lewis Hamilton (3 points)
8. Giancarlo Fisichella (3 points)
9. Felipe Massa (2.5 points)
10. Nelson Piquet (1 point)
11. Sebastian Vettel (1 point)
12. Kimi Räikkönen (0.5 points)

Constructors:

1. Toro Rosso (16 pts)
2. Renault (12 pts)
3. BMW (9 pts)
4. Force India (8 pts)
5. Red Bull (7 pts)
6. McLaren (3 pts)
7. Ferrari (3 pts)
t-8. Brawn GP (0 pts)
t-8. Williams (0 pts)
t-8. Toyota (0 pts)