The good thing about GPs that keep you up until 4:00am in the morning is that they force the blogger to sleep on all that has happened before committing pen to paper. As a result, in the damp morning after I have read about all the penalties handed out by the stewards, I am aware that Hamilton is now classified third while Trulli slips to 12th, and poor Vettel has been castigated for causing an accident that was indisputably 50/50.
Jenson Button and Brawn BGP 001 on their way
Plenty to ruminate upon, therefore, but first, due applause should be given to Brawn GP and its two drivers. All hail the mighty Ross, the happy Button and the resolute Barrichello! Now we know that the BGP 001 is so good that you can bounce it off other cars and it will hold together and keep going, you can botch your pit stop and still come out ahead - does the car have any weaknesses at all?
Consider Rubens' argument with Webber in the first corner. The Red Bull lost its front wing immediately, whereas the Brawn had half its wing chewed off - but it did not fall off! Methinks Ross has built in extra strength there, anticipating this kind of incident. In future other drivers might be well advised to steer clear of the Brawns - if they can get anywhere near them, that is...
So the one/two finish was well deserved, even if handed to Brawn GP by Kubica and Vettel. Jenson drove flawlessly, apart from his slight miscalculation in the pits, and Rubens kept plugging away. It is all very well having the best car but you still have to drive it to the finish. Both drivers were refreshingly honest in the post-race interviews as well - a welcome change from the usual careful mumblings.
And so to the third man, Hamilton, unexpectedly promoted to third. His was the performance we expect from a champion (are you listening, Kimi?) and he has shown the racing ability that has been doubted by so many critics until now. Not that it worries the detractors - they are muttering about the places Lewis gained thanks to others dropping out. I guess they must have been snoozing when Hamilton made all those clean and precise overtaking maneuvers.
Face it, guys, the Hamster is the real deal and has answered all your questions. Can he race in the wet? Umm, yes, he seems to be the best of them all when the track is wet. Can he compete in an inferior car? Well, to go from 18th to 3rd sure looks like it. Is he arrogant? His congratulations to Button certainly did not sound that way.
Which brings me to Trulli's demotion that gave third spot to Lewis. I must admit that I am with Jarno on this one when he says that Hamilton slowed to let him through after overtaking the Toyota during its off-track excursion, also under the yellows, apparently. Rumor has it that the McLaren team told Lewis to let Jarno through again and I can believe that, considering how wary the team has become with stewards' decisions always going against them. Hamilton's surprise on being gifted the place just adds force to this version of events - clearly, he thought he had passed the Toyota illegally.
Having said which, I have to point out that the stewards were right to impose a 25 second penalty, if penalty there had to be. The rules are quite clear on the options available and this was the most appropriate one. They do not say anything about exceptions being made if the race finishes under the safety car, after all.
Judging by the reactions I have read so far, I am out on my own on this one (now there's a novel experience!) and it looks as though I hold a minority opinion on the Vettel/Kubica collision too. Far from being Vettel's fault, it was Kubica's and he has only himself to blame for BMW's empty points drawer so far.
Consider the famous Hamilton/Raikkonen incident at Spa last year. In the run up to the first sector of the chicane we have an almost identical situation - except that Hamilton had his nose a little further ahead than Kubica did as the cars headed into the corner. Note that Lewis gives Kimi room through the corner, however - he is not going to risk his own race by closing the door to a car on the inside. Kubica did the same as they entered the corner but then cuts off Vettel as they pass the apex.
Whether Robert could see der Seb at that stage is irrelevant; cars do not disappear from the track conveniently and the Pole should have been aware that Vettel would still be inside him, even if losing ground. In asserting his "rights" as the driver now in front, Kubica guaranteed that neither of them would finish the race. It is a classic rookie's error and one that many wiser heads did not commit in similar overtaking maneuvers during the race.
Not that I am saying Kubica should be penalized instead - it was a racing incident and exactly the kind of thing that Bernie says we need more of in F1. Penalizing anyone in such circumstances merely discourages all the drivers from "having a go".
When it comes to the fine on Red Bull for ordering Vettel to continue on three wheels, I think the stewards have it right at last. Apart from the confusion caused to other drivers (do I pass or do I not?), the danger of bits falling off Vettel's car and causing more mayhem was so evident that some sort of penalty was necessary.
In spite of Kubica's self-elimination and Heidfeld being pushed off at the first corner, I think BMW have much to be pleased with after the race. Kubica showed that the car is as good as any of those challenging the Brawn and Nick confirmed this with his performance in a damaged car that still held its own. Have a look at the fastest race laps and you will see that Heidfeld grabbed fifth quickest, only 0.3 seconds off Kubica's best time. The team may have had bad luck in Melbourne but the race wins will start coming, be assured.
Another unlucky team was Williams. Rosberg did not have a good start and found himself embroiled in battles throughout the race as a result, compounded by the tires going off shortly after he set the fastest lap of the race. And Nakajima paid dearly for a minor error, one that many escaped from scot free. The car is obviously quick, however, and the team should gather serious points as the season progresses.
Toyota too should be happy with the pace of their car. Once they get through their little battle with the stewards, they can expect to be in with a chance of a race win or two. And even that will be a breath of fresh air after so many years of underachievment.
Force India can be quietly satisfied with their performance in this race and Toro Rosso have found another good driver in Buemi, it seems. Neither team can expect podium finishes this year but they will not be disgraced.
The teams struggling in comparison to previous form are Renault, Ferrari and McLaren. Ferrari made a hash of strategy, probably caused by their need to be seen as more competitive than they truly are, whilst Renault have a lot of work to do on their car, as do McLaren.
But the team from Woking have a not-so-secret weapon that will aid them in recovery. The world champion will keep them in contention and give them something to cheer about as they improve the car. He's good, that Hamilton lad.