Take three for the highlight on the Indian motor sport calendar despite future uncertainty
Motor sport fans or casual newcomers who will come to the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) for the third Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix thinking it’s the last edition in India or the last before the 2015 edition can be assured of one thing; the event will be the last to be held at what is a magical time in the National Capital Region.
In late October incessant heat and humidity gives way to cool – cold for some non-Delhiites – nights and largely pleasant days. It’s a brief period of pleasant conditions that almost makes one forget about the smog, unpleasant headlines regarding politics and infrastructural nightmares.
Mind you, even the most hardened cynics would have to pause to appreciate the infrastructural marvel that is the BIC. Not to mention the extreme machines it’ll play host to for the 16th round of the F1 championship.
A total of 16,500 horsepower between 22 cars will be fired up at the start finish straight with little regard to the eardrums of on-lookers. With the F1 championship being telecast in India for around 20 years now and two editions down in India raving about the sound of the cars may be a little cliché.
But it’s an experience worth having to hear that many cars built with the sole purpose of going fast sound out their intentions so emphatically.
Even when they are not on track, the pit and paddock reverberates to the howls, grunts and growls of engines being warmed up and checked by the swarm of technical staff required to maintain them.
2013 will be the last year of the 2.4-litre, V-8 engines that are of little relevance to the car manufacturers who F1 teams look towards for support in times when sponsorship is hard to come by.
Indeed, both Renault and Mercedes have taken to the new-for-2014 1.6 litre, turbocharged V6 engine formula with the most enthusiasm amongst the current crop of engine suppliers.
Both have previewed sound recordings from their engine dynamometer rooms and it sure points towards something different. But there’s all of the 2014 pre-season left for that. For now, let’s just look at what this year’s Indian GP should hold in store.
A ‘CORONATION’
The race could very well see F1’s latest dominant superstar Sebastian Vettel become the youngest driver to be crowned champion for a fourth time. The German’s form since the end of the summer break has been imperious and the chasing pack of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Mercedes AMG’s Lewis Hamilton have been left in his wake for the third straight year at the same point of the season.
Last year, in the races following India, Alonso and Hamilton were still able to challenge and make it a close run thing. This year, however, the combination of Pirelli switching to more conservative tyre compounds in the wake of the British GP fiasco and the focus turning towards the new and high-tech engines for 2014 means Vettel is unlikely to be troubled too much.
No guarantees about that thanks to the element of uncertainty that exists in any sport, but in case you’re a Red Bull and/or Vettel fan, then best to get ready to show off your colours either at the circuit or at home.
A NOTABLE ABSENCE
It’s been a year since Michael Schumacher let the world know that he would be leaving F1 for good and seven years since he was almost a constant contender for the world championship. However, his presence on the starting grid for the first two editions of the Indian GP was an important one for fans who had followed his championship showdowns and wins that ranged from incredibly improbably to dominant.
The German was all smiles and open to media interactions in the inaugural race during which he turned a poor 11th place on the starting grid to a fifth place finish, leap-frogging Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in the process.
On more than one occasion Schumacher was quoted as saying that 2013 would be when people would see Mercedes’ true potential. The 2012 season, in the meantime was supposed to be when the German would finally win on his comeback to prove the doubters wrong and extend his contract that would expire at the end of that season.
However, after losing out on around 75 points largely through no fault of his own and then dithering over the contract extension, the German had to watch his seat go to Hamilton, a young, fast and marketable driver perfect to take the team forward along with Rosberg.
Schumacher stayed understandably muted for most of the weekend, appearing for one press conference and then keeping to himself. Whether he rubbed F1 fans up the wrong way or made them cheer in approval, an F1 grid without him or his influence is certainly a different animal.
VISITORS FROM ELSEWHERE
F1 races today have become a way for celebrities and notable figures from the world of pop culture, sports and entertainment. A lot of the buzz around the inaugural edition was generated by the presence of Sachin Tendulkar, an avid F1 and automobile fan. Snappers went into overdrive when he walked up to talk to Schumacher on the starting grid and was handed the responsibility of waving the chequered flag.
Tendulkar’s cricketing cohorts attracted the most amount of attention as the likes of Harbhajan Singh posed for photos around the garages of various teams.
Tendulkar aside, Shah Rukh Khan’s presence attracted the attention of the volunteers working at the weekend. For many, a lot more than the presence of five world champion F1 drivers (six in 2012 with the returning Raikkonen)!
Last year also saw an appearance from a corporate headliner in Subrata Roy after the Sahara Group’s purchase of a 42.5 percent stake in Force India was announced. It wasn’t an entirely pleasant announcement, however with team owner Vijay Mallya making all the wrong headlines over the non-payment of salaries to Kingfisher Airlines staff.
THE RACE OUTLOOK
Finally after all the hype and hoopla that surrounds an F1 race weekend, it all comes down to the race. The circuit, due to its second sector that puts emphasis on aerodynamic grip has favoured, Red Bull Racing and Vettel.
Turns five to nine feature fast changes in direction that require a driver to concentrate and not get greedy with getting on to the throttle as well as being committed. It also helps if the car is as planted to the surface as possible.
Tyre wear is generally not as much of an issue due to the circuit’s super smooth surface. Frantic last-minute construction meant plenty of dust from around the circuit, especially in its first year. With noticeably more greenery around the circuit, dust may not be as much of an issue, even compared to last year.
All signs point to a Sebastian Vettel win as the hazy tint (if it stays dry) fills the sky when evening falls at the event that prompted some long-time F1 journalists to call the circuit a cross between Brazil’s Interlagos and Zandvoort in Holland. The latter due to the sand being similar to the dust in the first two years!
By night time the bustling garages will have a few crates ready to be whisked away to Abu Dhabi, hopefully to return in March of 2015.
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