Brilliant Chinese Grand Prix promises a thrilling F1 season [View all]

For a couple of hours or so we were given respite from the topic which presides menacingly over Formula One like a thunder cloud, which is Bahrain and the abject folly of the decision to race there next Sunday.

In this period of remission we were reminded of the fact that Nico Rosberg is a driver capable of sustaining a combination of speed and precision over 56 laps.

And, even more importantly, we were nudged further towards the happy suspicion that this could be one of the vintage seasons in F1, with the world championship unlikely to be dominated by any one driver, as was the case with Sebastian Vettel last year.

The three races so far have been won by three different drivers and three different teams. McLaren may lead both world championships but they are not permitted to swagger just yet, certainly not before Barcelona next month when all cars will be upgraded in varying degrees.

Mercedes have looked good in qualifying in all the events, only to fluff their lines on Sunday afternoon. But here they established themselves as serious players. And it was not all because of that refined F-duct.

Rosberg – who had already proved himself to be quicker than his team-mate Michael Schumacher over a single lap – is fast, and so is his car, without any controversial additives.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/apr/15/chinese-grand-prix-thrilling-f1