What a welcome sight it was to have Williams back on the top step of a Formula One podium last weekend in Spain. Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado drove an aggressive and mature race at Catalunya to secure Williams their first victory since Juan Pablo Montoya won in Brazil, 2004. Williams' recent restructuring of technical staff under the direction of Mike Coughlan and Mark Gillan is starting to transfer to better on- track results. What a great way to celebrate team founder, boss and gentleman, Sir Frank Williams' 70th birthday. Question is, will Bruno Senna step up and match or even beat his Williams team mate?
    However, more importantly, did Ferrari miss their chance of victory in Spain? At the second round of pit stops, Maldonado, running second, pitted before then leader, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. Curiously, Ferrari did not cover the Williams at the next lap and subsequently got bundled up behind backmarker Charles Pic in the Marussia, losing a substantial amount of time, and thus the lead. With the undercut successful, Maldonado was able to control the race and see off an Alonso counterattack to score his maiden victory.
    Why did Ferrari wait to box Fernando Alonso? With the 2012 season totally unpredictable and therefore race winning points at a premium, did Ferrari make a critical error and squander valuable points that could have serious championship connotations?
    formulafrontrow.com would like to know what you think. Send us an email at: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com or simply leave a comment.
    Monaco's next....  

    In Formula One the teams always say for a true form guide, wait until we get to Europe. With the first four flyaway races consigned to history and testing completed this week at Mugello, the picture is excitingly not clear. No doubt the teams have been testing new components this week with upgrades in mind for next week's Spanish Grand Prix. Now they have the bonus of evaluating their cars at their respective factories between races now that the European season is starting.
    For the first time since 1983, the first four races revealed four different winners from four different constructors. Congratulations to Nico Rosberg fulfilling his potential with a sensational maiden victory after a mesmerising qualifying lap in China. It was also his Mercedes team's first victory as a works team since 1955.
    With Catalunya opening the European season, followed closely by Monaco, it's certainly not unfathomable to have six different winners six races into the 2012 season.
    But with car development ramping up as the European races progress, it's not uncommon for the serious championship contenders to start to gap the field.
    So, will the 2012 Formula One season continue to be as unpredictable as it has been to date? Or will we start to see a definitive form guide emerge? Let us know what you think. Send us an email at: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com, or simply leave a comment.
    Monaco is a race that formulafrontrow.com waits for with great anticipation. The cars have long since outgrown the circuit. The race goes close to the 2 hour limit. The walls are close and unforgiving, and the driver can really make a difference. It's the race they all want to win, and every F1 fan wants to watch. Special...   

    Wow! Can't believe it's virtually race day in Malaysia already, and formulafrontrow.com has just caught our breath from a fantastic season opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix. Congratulations to Jenson Button and the McLaren team in securing a scintillating victory. In what was a mesmerising race with sterling drives and tales of woe up and down the pitlane, Jenson Button and McLaren's control of the race was awe-inspiring. In true Albert Park fashion, there was the familiar Safety Car intervention. However, they kept their composure, and when racing resumed, quickly scurried to safety outside the DRS detection point, thus eliminating any counterattack. Maintaining a race winning gap, it was truly a dominant display.
    Inevitably there was contact in Turn 1 when the lights went out, of which the two Australians were involved in. Forced to pit and rejoining in last place, Daniel Ricciardo hauled his pulling to one side Toro Rosso into the points in what was his Albert Park racing debut. Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber made a sluggish start and subsequently got bullied into Turn 1, but still achieved his best Australian Grand Prix result to date with 4th place. Typical feisty drives from the two Aussies.
    The question we'd like to raise concerns safety. The releasing of lapped cars behind the Safety Car to rejoin at the back of the pack sounds good in theory, but it certainly looked ugly in the race with the chance of contact seemingly high with leading cars weaving to warm their tyres. Communication between the pit wall and the drivers needs to be quick and precise. Also, the newly introduced electronically operated LED light flag marshals, whilst undoubtedly provide immeasurable assistance to drivers and marshals alike, seemed to be mounted a lot lower on the fencing this year. Surely they could be fixed on the top of the fencing and angled down? They are extremely bright, would still be in the driver's peripheral vision and would certainly not protrude.
    Lastly, with the BBC only showing 10 races live, of which Australia was not one, and the rest delayed extended highlights, surely this finally puts to bed the argument about the time difference and the Australian Grand Prix's starting time. Those that want to watch all the races live can, on Sky Sports. Let us know what you think. Email us at greenflag@formulafrontrow.com or simply leave a comment.
    The atmosphere at the circuit was electric tinged with uncertain anticipation. Melbourne looks spectacular on TV. The Australian Grand Prix Corporation should be highly commended for producing another stunning event and showcasing Australia to the rest of the world.
    Thanks Melbourne. Can't wait for 2013....    

    As the 2012 Formula One season opener in Melbourne looms and winter pre-season testing revealing little, can't help but wonder what will be this year's must have component.
    In 2009, in an effort to slow the cars and improve racing, the cars were stripped of numerous aerodynamic appendages. The F1 teams countered the lack of aero grip by exploiting a rule ambiguity that allowed a double diffuser. In 2010, the double diffuser was outlawed, but this time the teams came up with the F-duct. This was deemed a moveable aerodynamic device and subsequently banned for 2011. Last season, we had hot and cold exhaust gas blown rear diffusers, whereas exhaust gases were still feeding the rear diffuser even when the driver was off the throttle. Now they've been banned for 2012, with the governing body decreeing a common position for exhaust exits.
    Has the governing body finally achieved what they endeavoured to do in 2009, or will the teams come up with a must have component for 2012? Send us an email at greenflag@formulafrontrow.com or simply leave a comment.
    Melbourne is a fantastic location to start the Formula One season and showcase all Down Under has to offer to the world. We truly love our sport in Australia, and wholeheartedly embrace Formula One as the world's premier motorsport. 
    formulafrontrow.com is heading down early with Nikons in tow to soak up all the atmosphere. Our next post will display images from the 2012 Formula One Australian Grand Prix. See you in Melbourne........

    With their 2012 challengers revealed, winter pre-season testing in full swing, it's merely a blink of an eye before the world's Formula One teams descend Down Under to Melbourne's picturesque Albert Park to recommence hostilities.
    And what a mouth-watering prospect this season beckons to be. It'll be fascinating to see who will be crowned 2012 F1 World Champion. An unprecedented six world champions line up on the grid.
    Will seven-time champion Michael Schumacher continue to improve and once again challenge for wins? Or will he be outscored again by his Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg, who incidently is still hungry for his first win? 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen returns to an F1 cockpit after a two year sabbatical, but will he and his newly renamed Lotus team have the package to fight for the title? Will double world champion Fernando Alonso and his beloved Ferrari team elevate themselves to where they think they rightfully belong; number one? Not to mention it's a make or break year for his Ferrari team mate, Felipe Massa. The McLaren partnership of 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton and 2009 champion Jenson Button is a hugely competitive one. Will their seemingly amicable working relationship still be evident if they're both going for the title by the time the season washes up in Brazil? Will Bruno Senna help propel the illustrious Williams team back to the sharp end? What about the exciting pairing of Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg at the ever improving Force India? Two Australians on the grid is something formulafrontrow.com is extremely excited about. Will Daniel Ricciardo be a regular point scorer for Scuderia Toro Rosso? Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber still has a thirst for the title, but can he quench it?
    All this begs the question. Can 2010 and 2011 world champion and Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel do what only Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher have done? That is, win three Formula One world championships in succession? 
    Mouth watering isn't it? Lights out. Let's race!