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Pit Stop

What a start to the grand prix season. Melbourne was truly magnificent and for that we have to give thanks and praise to Max Moseley.

This column is not often kind to the FIA, the sports governing body that he heads, but in banning driver aids this season they were absolutely spot on.

What we saw in Australia was a good old-fashioned race.

Drivers, without traction control or engine braking, had to take responsibility for making a good start from the grid and actually getting around corners in one piece.

The result was some ragged driving in places and although the drivers may not have been too thrilled (less than half the field finished), for the fans it was exciting from start to finish.

The start was enough to tell us the landscape of F1 had changed from last season. Some dealt better than others with having to control potential wheelspin. Inevitably, those faster off the mark came together with slower cars and we had our first burst of excitement.

On-board cameras showed the effort drivers had to put in to keep their cars on the track around corners. Gone are the days when you pointed it into the corner and let the electronics do the rest. As former driver Martin Brundle remarked: 'Skill is rewarded, mistakes punished'.

On-the-edge racing had you on the edge of your seat, at last a race where you felt unable to go and make a cup of tea without the danger of missing something.

Even the top drivers suffered. I'm sure Kimi Raikkonen would have loved to have a spot of engine braking as he overcooked an overtaking manoeuvre and ended up in the gravel.

With rule changes so often either bad for the sport or making no difference, it was great to see a step in the right direction. The changes to aerodynamic rules next year should help with increased overtaking. Along with what's happening now it should make the sport much more exciting.

Mind you, Australian fans may soon be in the dark - literally. Bernie Ecclestone (pictured) wants the Oz GP to take place at night under lights. The Aussies aren't too keen and are digging their heels in, in which case big bad Bernie will take the race away after 2010. The reason for the floodlit fancy? The powers that be want European audiences not to have to get up too early to watch the race on TV, bless them.

Just goes to show where the balance of power lies in terms of F1's fan base, despite the rush to race in new markets. But it all seems a little unfair on Australia. Why shouldn't locals there have the chance to sit in the sun and have a proper day out like their European counterparts? Does it really matter if fans in Europe have to get up early once in a while? Well I suppose it does if you are an all important sponsor or TV advertiser.

I'm not too sure it wouldn't suck the atmosphere out of the grand prix. If you caught the MotoGP race under lights in Qatar recently, it might as well have been held on the moon. You could see nothing bar the track and the racing. Of course, that's the important part, but like at Albert Park, it's nice to see the city of Melbourne in the background, to see the sun glinting off the lake from the helicopter shot.

Singapore has already signed up for a night race, and I think that is the right decision. After all the city is at its most impressive at night with the concrete jungle lit up, and it's a new race that knew the terms before it signed up.

Malaysia is showing interest in putting up the floodlights and don't be surprised if China follows suit. They are relatively new tracks with not much to show beyond the barriers, but please Mr Ecclestone, let's keep the Australian Grand Prix, and keep it running in the sunshine. It seems the Australian thing to do.

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