After the tedious Bahrain Grand Prix, who would have predicted that the 2010 Formula One season would have been one of the closest and most gripping in years? Not David Coulthard for one. The Red Bull Racing ambassador sets the record straight…
‘My opening column of the season, written in the wake of Bahrain's stupendously dull procession in March, was headlined: "Mosley leaves us with soporific racing formula".
Ahem. In my defence I was not the only one to fear that the action under these regulations, bequeathed to us by the outgoing president of the sport's governing body, might prove more boring than watching paint dry. How wrong we all were.
The racing this year has not always been out of this world, but you cannot fault it for drama. Aided by some wacky weather in Asia, things quickly livened up post-Bahrain and as the drivers found the limits of their new cars, they threw off the shackles of conservatism and got stuck in.
'With five races left the championship is completely unpredictable'
Lewis Hamilton's over-exuberance in Monza last weekend, combined with Fernando Alonso's fairytale win at the home of Ferrari, was just the latest chapter of a script that has got ever more sensational.
With five races left the championship is completely unpredictable. Had Lewis put in a brilliant performance in Italy and won, he would be the clear favourite. He knows it and that is presumably why he spent so long berating himself in his motor home afterwards. It was a huge opportunity missed.
McLaren arrived at Monza expecting to dominate and, although Lewis had a disappointing qualifying, his low-downforce set-up might well have proved the equal of the Ferraris. Sadly, or perhaps happily for the neutral, we will never know.
I think back to Spa a fortnight ago and the criticism that Sebastian Vettel received for his disastrous overtaking manoeuvre on Jenson Button, which ended the latter's race. I said at the time that every driver makes mistakes and Sunday was proof of it.
Lewis's commendable win-at-all-costs attitude, added to his unwillingness to make a compromise for anything less than victory, has always been a hallmark of his driving but this season he has combined it with a solid long game.
In fact, I am struggling to recall a single mistake he has made all year, qualifying aside. Perhaps only Jenson has made fewer mistakes. Lewis's collision with Felipe Massa was elementary. He says he has got over it already but believe me, it will be niggling at him until he gets out on the track at the Marina Bay Circuit. He will feel he has let the team down, let himself down and potentially cost himself the title.
'If I had to pick a winner right now, I would go with Mark Webber'
He may well have. If I had to pick a winner right now, I would go with Mark Webber and I will tell you why. First, he has a five-point lead. Second, as we have noted before, the final five circuits predominantly suit the characteristics of Red Bull's car. Singapore is a street track like Monaco where Red Bull got a one-two earlier this year, while Suzuka is made for the RB6 with its high-speed cornering through the Senna Esses and 130R.
Interlagos and, to a lesser extent, Abu Dhabi will also be good for them, while Korea is an unknown. Sebastian is 24 points behind his team-mate, so Mark is the logical favourite.
But nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Monza was made for McLaren and look what happened there; Fernando has the massive psychological advantage of not racing his team-mate; while Sebastian and Jenson will throw caution to the wind.
Jenson said as much following his brilliant second place on Sunday and I think he's right. He would never forgive himself if he fell short by two or three points in the final reckoning. He has proved he can be cavalier. Now let's see him really go for it.
Any of these guys could emerge as champion. But then what do I know, eh Max?
DC is a columnist for the Daily Telegraph in London. Keep up with Scuderia Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing.
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