Nothing much changes in Formula One…and why should this year be any different…one Mika's gone but another one's back and I'm already starting to eat my words. After righting off the Finn and his team, he goes and puts himself sixth fastest after the first day of practice …yeah I know practice times count for little but it's pretty impressive straight out of the box all the same!!

Nothing much changes…Irvine will still be happy to finish the race and hope to pick up a point …but from where he is on the grid an awful lot of people will have to drop out before that dream is realised…both Jags are sandwiched between the Minardis at the back of the field. An interesting little aside here is that on F1 Digital Plus (or Bernie Vision to you and me), they are running a competition to win the 2002 R3 chassis…already proving that they have to give it away and hinting that it will probably make a far more useful garden feature for someone!!

Nothing much…Jordan have, yet again, left the Irish luck back in the UK. First someone forgot to tell Sato that the traction control was there to help STOP sliding - he put it in the wall in practice - then the T-car breaks down on him in qualifying…the usual baptism of fire that attacks Rookies.

Nothing…the commentators are still getting it wrong (perhaps Murray is replaceable after all)…and they are still as tactless. To qualify that statement (unusual for me I know, but it's the first race of the season and I'm still enthusiastic…this may dwindle tomorrow when being up in the middle of the night loses its appeal!!) Not only did they heartlessly interview Eddie Jordan just after he'd watched a million dollars go up in smoke but John Watson had the audacity to describe Sato's remains of a car as having superficial damage when there were quite clearly several wheels hanging off and half the nose missing…well he is getting on a bit now perhaps his eyesight isn't what it was so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt…for now.

NMC (Got the hang of this now??)…Montoya's still trying too hard…having been told in practice to cruise into the pits due to a brake problem…he promptly smoked in to the garage with them on fire…we may be "down-under " but it's hardly "barbie" weather just now. Williams however got their own back by sending him out when it was still drizzling…he was not a happy bunny but I swear I could hear sniggering on the pit to car radio…

NMC…Ferrari have brought the 2001 car with them (just to prove my theory) and as Michael put it "because not enough kilometres we have done" yet they are both still top of the time sheets with the used vehicle (one careful owner). And despite being second on the grid our pit commentators felt sorry for him because he went out on used tyres then never got a chance to run on new ones…for goodness sake, the only car in front of him is his team-mate which we all know if Ferrari-lingo means a pace car for the rest of the field once he's let Schui through…or am I just being too cynical too early in the season…time will tell…a shame really as Rubens is looking pretty sharp…and that from me is a compliment!!

NMC…Sauber have got another school boy on their team who looks to all intents and purposes to be the match of Raikkonen's performance last year…look out DC there's another one lining you up for the chop!!

NMC…Paul Stoddart is still whinging at all and sundry…Tom Walkinshaw his main target this week (it will change periodically…I'll keep you updated) all because he bought or arranged the purchase of Prost (allegedly). Now whether as he states this is because he finds the whole thing immoral or whether it is sour grapes that TWR have reportedly paid several millions LESS for a fairly decent outfit than he did for…well Minardi…I'll leave that one to your imagination.

NMC…The top three teams take the top six places on the grid, Jenson Button is out-qualified by his team-mate as is Nick Heidfeld and Alex Yoong brings up the tail of the field.

But, you will be pleased to hear, there are a few differences this year…we now have a Scot in the field who actually has a personality (McNish) and therefore can be described as British win or lose…Ralfy has lost weight and is looking really fit…if this is due to a new training regime or due to the effects of the bad press he's received over the off-season is anyone's guess but I'd go for the first option…after all he's pretty used to being sniped at on and off track…let the rubber do the talking Ralfy.

And you thought it was going to be soooo different this year…sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I predict a Ferrari one-two and one McLaren and one Williams breaking down (probably both)…and Monty had the cheek to criticise the Italian team for bringing the old car…bet he'll be eating his words by this time tomorrow (or I will…again). The only spanner in the works as I see it is the very talented driver, Sato, at the back of the grid (if he's allowed to start). He's inexperienced and quicker than many in front of him…an accident waiting to happen if you ask me…which of course I'd understand if you didn't.

It's past my bedtime and I'm missing all the parties, so I'll bid you farewell.

Enjoy!!

Reproduced with permission from PenelopeF1.com

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