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Indian sport has often been accused of being one dimensional. The love, passion and numbers it throws at a sport like cricket are nowhere to be seen in any other sport. So how does any sport that wishes to find its feet in the second most populated nation in the world come around? If you are looking for answers, just turn the clock back to a year and look at the inaugural Formula One Indian Grand Prix. It was hailed, across the globe, as a massive success. And it announced the arrival of one of the most eagerly awaited moments in India’s sporting calendar. The men, the machines
and the madness are back again as the second edition kicks off on
October 26. With expectations higher this time around, the margin for
error has reduced considerably. There were stories of bats, dogs and
rats in different corners of the circuit last time around, but these
were excused as teething problems. This time, though, nothing that
falls short of the lofty F1 standards will be spared. A lot more is at
stake now.
There was concern that Hermann Tilke’s designed circuits on the calendar had removed character from the sport, but Buddh proved otherwise. The paddock buildings are nowhere close to Bernie Ecclestone's vision for F1, but they manage to host a grand prix unlike any other in F1. The organisers took the basic Tilke ingredients, which are actually pretty sound, and added their own flavour to make something unique. Ironically, part of the circuit's built-in character came from its unfinished construction, such as a staircase that lead to nowhere, paths that wobbled underfoot and drain covers that didn't quite cover drains. But the character mainly came from the enthusiasm of the organisers and fans, which bodes well for the future of the event once the cosmetic flaws have been ironed out. Everyone will be hoping that come October 26, the Buddh circuit will roll out its stylish carpets and put its best face up.
Driving them nuts on the track, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel’s win at the Korean Grand Prix has thrown the Driver’s Championship race wide open. Vettel trailed Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso by four points going into the Korean GP, but a win for the German means that he now leads by six points. With only four races to go in the season, a lot can go right or wrong. Vettel was the standout driver last year. There was no other driver who came anywhere close to him last season. And the way he drove at the Buddh circuit must be giving sleepless nights to all his competitors this season as well. It was here, in India, that Vettel became the youngest driver in Formula One history to score a grand slam (pole position, win, fastest lap, and led every lap) at a Grand Prix. It was total domination, and that does put the resurgent Red Bull driver in an enviable position here. But Fernando Alonso can also find some comfort looking back at his third place finish last year. The Spaniard needs to be in the bigger point positions if he wishes to ensure that the championship stays within his reach. He has been putting in commendable performances every race weekend, and his ability to get the max out of his Ferrari have been lauded by one and all.
There will be other drivers too in the fray. Namely Jenson Button, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and the erratic Mark Webber. Button had finishes second here last season and going by driving trends, circuits do seem to favour certain drivers a lot more than others. The feel of a place and the connection that a driver forms with it, go a long way in deciding the ultimate result. For Formula One legend Michael Schumacher, this will be his last Indian Grand Prix. The German has called time on his legendary career after the 2012 season. It will be an equally big moment for the passionate millions who pour in over the weekend as the former World Champion has a sizeable following in India. For Lewis Hamilton, who replaces Schumacher at Mercedes, this will be about proving a point or two. He has been rather unlucky to find himself trailing so far behind in the driver’s championship, but a frosty relation with Mclaren team has been seen as many as the core reason behind it. He, being the champion driver that he is, would definitely want to round up things perfectly and leave on a high. For Mark Webber, this
has been a season of many wasted opportunities. Still Red Bull’s
Australian driver has managed a decent enough position on the table
and that tells you how much more he could have done, had he kept up
some of his consistency. But there is still time for him to, if not
jump, then at least move a little higher on the charts and prove that
he still has the drive in him.
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But let’s take nothing
away from last year’s show. The world found it hard not to declare
it a success. And the charm of India, and its people, plastered over
any visible cracks.
But all that was last
year, and the real measure of how far has India learnt will be known
only now. There were driver concerns last year about some corners and
also the gradient at some turns. They might not have been addressed
but an overall better package will at least help drivers get
familiarised with the feel of the circuit.
He will need all of that
experience and grit as the current season takes a last turn, with the
Indian grand Prix placed at a pivotal juncture.
