Understated

Formula One isn’t known for understatement. Just one example. The British American Racing (BAR) initial entry into F1 was with the sponsorship of, coincidently, British American Tobacco. Despite being against the rules the two cars debuted in different paint schemes. Joining Jacques VILLENEUVE at Craig POLLACK’s squad was rookie Ricardo ZONTA. One car was painted in the colors of Lucky Strike; white and red. The second the blue and yellow of fag brand 555. The typical F.I.A. kerfuffle followed. Rookie Arvid LINDBLAD is having a great year. Yes, the Racing Bulls have improved but the lad has made Q3 eight times this year. Occasionally lurking in the lower ends of race points. Matching Liam LAWSON blow for blow. No hoopla or hysterics on the radio. Just quietly getting the job done. He looks to have a long runway ahead. The most unremarkable looking car on the grid must be Audi. Steel grey, black and a deep red. It’s like they more or less want to blend into the track; like camouflage. Nothing to see here. But think about it. Audi started with the remnants of Peter SAUBER’s original creation that had gone through lots of hands. Next they had to build an F1engine from scratch. Selected unspectacular - to say the least - Nico HULKENBERG and sensational Gabriel BORTOLETO. For the first time a Brazilian who wasn’t mouthy. Imagine. All led by Mattia BINOTTO who looks like e should be teaching chemistry some where while living with his mother. Sadly we are loosing Zandvoort. Probably moving to where the race will still be held on sand dunes but closer to the oil. But you have to love a track with a corner named Tarzan. And the fans. Not quite Koningsdag (27 April) but close. I read someplace that over 70% of the attendees get here by public transportation or on their personal bicycles. Don’t get me started on tall blonde Dutch girls with long shapely legs. All that bike riding. Then again you might like the looks of the misses waddling into Dollar General from a grey Dodge Minivan in in tights made for a woman named Luchia not BettyLou. However brief our interlude was Zandvoort, we’ll miss you.