Buzzin Motor Sport

Here we are in March and counting the days down until the first grand prix of  the 2009 season in Australia. Incredibly the Force India team have only just unveiled their 2009 race car complete with Mercedes engine and Mclaren gearbox, showing and then testing it in Jerez on Sunday.

Things have certainly changed in Formula 1 over the winter, the massive cost cutting exercise deemed necessary to maintain the future of the sport has brought the teams together, helpfulness and friendliness appears to have replaced the secrecy and frostiness that have come to represent F1 in recent years. Seeing bitter rivals McLaren and Ferrari working as one would have been unthinkable this time last year, but now the whole grid are currently working as one, as F1 finally reaches maturity and accepts it’s responsibilities.

Seeing the motorsport news that Honda were set to quit F1 because of the effects of the financial crisis on it’s core business, sent a shock wave through the paddock, it could have been and may still be, any of the manufacturer backed teams- and they sensed that. This appears to have had the effect of galvanising the teams more than ever before.

The drivers themselves seem much more upbeat than usual, the rule changes are hoped to make for closer racing this season and everyone believes that this may possibly be the best opportunity they will have of winning races. Throughout testing this is the message that is coming across, that it is a (more) level playing field for all of the teams and the best man will win.

Well it remains to be seen whether the new rules will make for better racing or if we will just see the same old F1 results week in week out. Whatever happens on the track lets hope that the teams continue to support each other in these difficult times.