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Here's what I wrote early in the season. Lots of people said it might be "the best season ever" and that's not so daft. But I think it can't be that with the way that it ended. Any way, back to what I said before any if that happened.
For once, it's not clear who's going to win the championship, which is nice. But there's still only two drivers in it, which is disappointing. I thought that it was a little hollow when Hamilton says that Red Bull have the faster car, but now (9 races in) it looks like he was right. If I were to bet (I won't) the money would have to go on Verstappen.
Which year was in when seven different drivers won the first seven races? [looks it up] It was 2012, and the winnders were Button, Alonso, Rosberg, Vettel, Maldonado, Webber and Hamilton. I remember comments that people thought there was something wrong that year. There wasn't! Bring back that level of uncertainty. And (almost) all of those winners were quality drivers.
Would you like some stats?
I'm always fascinated by the teams at the back. If you score no points and finish last, why are you doing it? When I started watching, Tyrrell were the team in that position, having previously been championship winners, and Williams were beating everyone. Now Williams are at the back, and (you can just about argue) that the successor team to Tyrrell is Mercedes, and they're the team to beat.
Williams got so little prize money in the last few years that they had to sell the team. I wonder what the new owners are expecting. If they invest a metric tonne of money then they might be in the mid field, but are they going to win?
The Haas strategy is to buy most of the car from Ferrari, so the best they could conceivable be is second. Similarly, Aston Martin are in bed with Mercedes, and Alpha Tauri with Red Bull. I'm not sure what's going on with Alfa Romeo. Is it still Sauber with a badge, or do they have a plan?
Two teams should have a better chance. Renault/Alpine want to win and might have a chance of doing so, but they keep going backwards when they should go forwards. McLaren have had a woeful period but now seem to be recovering.