I really dislike the Barcelona track and have done since its inception. It might be great for testing but, since Nick Heidfeld is the only one able to find a way to overtake on it, we should not really call it a race circuit. With a bit of luck, Valencia will prove a huge success and the Spanish GP can move there in future.
Nick Heidfeld
Mention of Nick is bound to warn you that I am incensed that the idiotic safety car regulations continue to interfere with the race results. The moment I saw the proposed changes, I pointed out the weakness in them, but still we have to watch drivers being unfairly and illogically penalized through no fault of their own. Nick had three laps worth of fuel on board when the safety car came out. Three laps! And still it was insufficient to get him through the closed pit period.
I hate the safety car enough as it is, without increasing its malevolent influence by these stupid pit closure rules. At a race where Heidfeld had never managed to get the car set up to his satisfaction, he nevertheless drove an outstanding race, picking up a couple of places at the start (BMW's Achilles' heel at the moment) and was about to profit from taking a long first stint. The team missed calling him in before the safety car by mere seconds, apparently, and that was enough to undo all his hard work. It could not have been more neatly done had Jean Todt's hand been on the safety car button.
The solution is simple and involves simplification: outlaw refueling. Since no-one will hear of kicking out the safety car and going back to the old system (that worked perfectly well), we have to consider putting a stop to refueling. It is a danger point anyway, and we are lucky to have avoided any serious fires to date, coming very close on occasion. Boot it out and let's see cars that can go the full distance again.
Robert Kubica did a good job for BMW, confirming that all they need to do now is improve their starting procedure. He kept up with Hamilton all the way and never put a foot wrong. In fact, many commentators are now assuming that Robert is the number one BMW driver but I do not write off Nick so easily. In the words of Arnie, he'll be back...
Looking at other unsung heroes, I was pleased to see Kazuki Nakajima doing so well. So far he has finished every GP he has started and surely no other Japanese driver can boast that sort of record. In the race he dropped behind his team mate at the start but stayed with him until Rosberg's engine failed. Williams could hardly ask more but I expect young Kazuki will be ahead of Nico in some of the later races this year.
Button did well, plugging away manfully and rewarded with sixth in the end. I would be more enthusiastic about his performance, however, if Honda would kindly remove those awful bunny ears from the car. Surely there must be a better looking way of making it go quickly.
And so to Crash Coulthard. A word of advice, David: whether or not the collisions are your fault, you are getting a reputation - for the next few races you need to leave the gap open, even if you get called a loser for doing so. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor.
Alonso did his best as usual for Renault but it was no surprise that he could not hold on to his excellent grid position. There is only so much he can do, even with a light car. I do not think Renault have made a huge leap in performance and Piquet's race underlines that. They are obviously proceeding on the right lines, however, and could become a factor later in the season.
Otherwise, Barcelona was the usual borefest. What? The Ferraris and McLarens? Nothing new there, it is a Ferrari track so of course they won at a canter. Hamilton did well to stay with them but he was only there on sufferance - they could have eased off into the distance had Kimi so wished. Hopefully, there will be more of a battle in Istanbul, in spite of it being yet another Ferrari circuit.
One more thought, this time having nothing to do with the race. I see Todt is making his bid for Max's position when he goes. Naturally, that should fill our hearts with dread but there may be a plus side to it. Surely he would have to be very careful to avoid the obvious and admitted Ferrari bias so expected of the FIA? His continuing employment with Ferrari must mean that he would be watched for such favoritism and might even have to bend a little the other way to deflect criticism.
Or am I just being an optimist...?