F1 Monaco

Qualifying was so very close once again. Kimi Räikkönen almost had pole position but once again Button managed another heroic last lap to grab the pole. Ferrrari has improved significantly and their drivers are also starting to deliver. I predict that a Ferrari will be on poll very soon. Barrichello needs to up his game if he wants ensure the equal treatment continues. This was the second time that Button apparently struggled in the early practice sessions but still out qualified Barrichello.

The race was a little boring. Most of the field was spread out after the first round of pit stops. Brawn completely dominated the race. Bernie Ecclestone made a somewhat cheeky remark that the racing has become predictable again. As much as I respect what Brawn has accomplished, I sincerely hope someone will be able to challenge them soon. Ferrari's race pace was good but their strategy wasn't flexible enough to capitalize on having the better tire early in race. However, third and fourth is very respectable considering how badly their season started.

It is easy to see why Ferrari are so opposed to a budget cap. I'm sure that they spent ridiculous amounts this year already in order to move up almost 15 places on the starting grid. Under a budget cap, if you've blown it on a poor design, you would never be able to recover during the season as Ferrari are doing now.

Anyhow, it looks like the budget kerfuffle will be over before the May 29 deadline for the 2010 registration. A breakaway series would have harked back to the pre-WWII days when there was only a constructors’ championship but what chance would it have under current economic conditions?