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Formula 1
HOBBS: Perfect Parity
Sooner or later, one team or driver likely will rise above the fray to establish themselves as the one to beat...
Romain Grosjean might be the next driver to score a win in 2012. (Photo: Getty Images)
Merriam-Webster defines parity as the quality or state of being equal or equivalent, but to some in the motorsports world, “parity” might as well be a curse word.
However, it serves as a fitting description of the 2012 Formula One season, in which we have recorded an unprecedented seven different winners in as many races to open the season. Only three points separate the top three drivers in the championship – Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel – whereas at this point last year, Vettel already held a commanding lead.
Prior to Monaco last month, Formula One’s previous record of different, consecutive winners to open the season stood at six, so imagine what a feat it would be if that number reaches eight on Sunday in the European Grand Prix in Valencia. Of course, all attention then would turn to the next mark – nine – a distinction, though, that was set midway through the season in the mid ’80s.
Despite those undeniable numbers, had you asked me during the winter months whether we could expect this degree of parity, I would have replied in the negative. In fact, I thought McLaren looked far superior to the competition in winter testing, but the team has not lived up to those expectations.
Sooner or later, though, one team or driver likely will rise above the fray to establish themselves as the one to beat. Some are looking toward Valencia as holding the potential to terminate this remarkable streak of varied faces in the win column. Whether that happens this weekend is anyone’s guess, but Vettel, who won at Bahrain, consistently runs well at Valencia. Hamilton, the most recent victor at Canada, represents another threat to repeat, as does Alonso, who took honors in Malaysia. Of those who already have won this season, those three pose the most legitimate threat.
Moving on to those who remain winless in 2012, I give a nod to Romain Grosjean in the Lotus. He ran well at Valencia in GP2, and Lotus has been lurking in the shadows and looking pretty racy as of late. Grosjean appears stronger than teammate Kimi Raikkonen, although the latter is much more experienced. Additionally, Sergio Perez might be worth keeping an eye on, although I am not convinced Sauber possesses quite what it takes to win on the twists and turns of Valencia.
Rest assured no team is more disappointed with the current state of parity than Red Bull, which had a chokehold on the competition via exhaust-blown diffusers before the FIA banned them. With the exhaust-blown diffusers, Red Bull’s cars were vastly superior to the competition everywhere and anytime. The absence of diffusers has equalized the cars, stripped Red Bull of its tremendous advantage and leveled the playing field in 2012. The only other mentionable change this season, and not one that alone adequately explains the parity, are the Pirelli tires. Pirelli changed the tires this year, although they’re the same for all teams and therefore exert minimal effect on parity. However, some teams may read the tires differently at different tracks, creating minor discrepancies that might account for a slight closing up of the field.
However you slice it, Red Bull has lost its advantage and, therefore, the other teams no longer are bringing a knife to a gun fight. They’re on par with Red Bull for the most part. Again, competitors loathe parity but spectators relish its role in the competitive landscape because it produces high drama right up to the checkered flag.
This week’s drama and eighth-different-winner-watch unfolds on Valencia’s street circuit.
Unlike Montreal, which is contested throughout the town’s streets, Valencia is run around the city’s harbor and port area, offering minimal runoff area for the cars. Valencia features fast, sweeping turns and boasts a high average speed for a street circuit at roughly 130 miles per hour – an extraordinarily fast pace at which to be zipping around a port area. The downside to Valencia, though, is it does not easily lend itself to overtaking because the straights really aren’t so straight. Indeed, “straight” is a bit of a misnomer at Valencia.
However, whoever takes the victory at Valencia will have earned it in this tough event, and the label of “winner” will be anything but a misnomer. The question, though, is if it’s “different winner” or “repeat winner.”
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
However, it serves as a fitting description of the 2012 Formula One season, in which we have recorded an unprecedented seven different winners in as many races to open the season. Only three points separate the top three drivers in the championship – Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel – whereas at this point last year, Vettel already held a commanding lead.
Prior to Monaco last month, Formula One’s previous record of different, consecutive winners to open the season stood at six, so imagine what a feat it would be if that number reaches eight on Sunday in the European Grand Prix in Valencia. Of course, all attention then would turn to the next mark – nine – a distinction, though, that was set midway through the season in the mid ’80s.
Despite those undeniable numbers, had you asked me during the winter months whether we could expect this degree of parity, I would have replied in the negative. In fact, I thought McLaren looked far superior to the competition in winter testing, but the team has not lived up to those expectations.
Sooner or later, though, one team or driver likely will rise above the fray to establish themselves as the one to beat. Some are looking toward Valencia as holding the potential to terminate this remarkable streak of varied faces in the win column. Whether that happens this weekend is anyone’s guess, but Vettel, who won at Bahrain, consistently runs well at Valencia. Hamilton, the most recent victor at Canada, represents another threat to repeat, as does Alonso, who took honors in Malaysia. Of those who already have won this season, those three pose the most legitimate threat.
Moving on to those who remain winless in 2012, I give a nod to Romain Grosjean in the Lotus. He ran well at Valencia in GP2, and Lotus has been lurking in the shadows and looking pretty racy as of late. Grosjean appears stronger than teammate Kimi Raikkonen, although the latter is much more experienced. Additionally, Sergio Perez might be worth keeping an eye on, although I am not convinced Sauber possesses quite what it takes to win on the twists and turns of Valencia.
Rest assured no team is more disappointed with the current state of parity than Red Bull, which had a chokehold on the competition via exhaust-blown diffusers before the FIA banned them. With the exhaust-blown diffusers, Red Bull’s cars were vastly superior to the competition everywhere and anytime. The absence of diffusers has equalized the cars, stripped Red Bull of its tremendous advantage and leveled the playing field in 2012. The only other mentionable change this season, and not one that alone adequately explains the parity, are the Pirelli tires. Pirelli changed the tires this year, although they’re the same for all teams and therefore exert minimal effect on parity. However, some teams may read the tires differently at different tracks, creating minor discrepancies that might account for a slight closing up of the field.
However you slice it, Red Bull has lost its advantage and, therefore, the other teams no longer are bringing a knife to a gun fight. They’re on par with Red Bull for the most part. Again, competitors loathe parity but spectators relish its role in the competitive landscape because it produces high drama right up to the checkered flag.
This week’s drama and eighth-different-winner-watch unfolds on Valencia’s street circuit.
Unlike Montreal, which is contested throughout the town’s streets, Valencia is run around the city’s harbor and port area, offering minimal runoff area for the cars. Valencia features fast, sweeping turns and boasts a high average speed for a street circuit at roughly 130 miles per hour – an extraordinarily fast pace at which to be zipping around a port area. The downside to Valencia, though, is it does not easily lend itself to overtaking because the straights really aren’t so straight. Indeed, “straight” is a bit of a misnomer at Valencia.
However, whoever takes the victory at Valencia will have earned it in this tough event, and the label of “winner” will be anything but a misnomer. The question, though, is if it’s “different winner” or “repeat winner.”
The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEED.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED
Grand Prix of Bahrain
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