What a Busy Week!!

I'm writing this blog just 9 hours shy of the start of Practice 1 for the Chinese Grand Prix and the excitement is building again!! There has been no shortness in drama this week in the world of Formula 1, as we've seen the "fuelgate" saga was finally resolved in the courts, Ferrari replace Stefano Domenicali with Marco Mattiacci as team principle and Gene Haas has been granted an entry for next year's championship although it could be deferred until 2016. Plenty to talk about!

On Monday, Red Bull racing saw their appeal for the disqualification of Daniel Ricciardo from second place in the Australian Grand Prix rejected thus bringing to an end what has been a fascinating story from the moment it broke. This whole episode has gone on to prove how difficult the new rules are. The FIA's fuel flow sensor, designed to ensure that the fuel flow rate of the car
does not exceed 100 kg/h, was not operating properly and Red Bull decided to rely on their own sensor which they said was more accurate but this resulted in their fuel flow rate being too high according to the FIA's sensor. It has transpired that following the FIA's sensor was costing them around 0.4 seconds a lap in comparison to their own. I have to say I agree with the verdict. We have entered into a new era in Formula 1 and of course there are going to be technical issues at the start but it's the same for everyone. If this appeal had been won by Red Bull I think it would have set a very bad precedent for the season. There needs to be order because there are certainly plenty of technological genius' in many of these teams and people with a keen talent in finding loopholes in the rules so we could easily have seen the championship descend into technological chaos.

Ferrari have had a change of management in the form of a new team principle. Marco Mattiacci will head the teams assault from now on and judging by their recent form it is the right time for a reshuffle. We saw the look on Luca Di Montezemolo's face during the Bahrain Grand Prix and, as has been widely publicised, he left halfway through the race. It was obvious something had to be done. When Raikkonen re-signed for Ferrari the prospect of Alonso and himself going head to head was mouthwatering but with the cars they have at the minute an attack for race victories doesn't look very likely. As I've already said it's a very new championship so you never know where they'll be in a few races time.

Also it looks like Formula 1 is set to get a 12th team for next year (or possibly 2016) in the form of  Haas Formula. Gene Haas who is better known is Nascar circles is bidding to become the next American team to enter into the sport. With the inclusion of the Circuit of the America's track in Texas on the F1 calender a few years ago it's good the see the American input for the teams side as well. That being said who can forget USF1's attempt to enter into the sport. It wasn't very successful at all and by basing the team in America Haas certainly isn't making things any easier for himself. Still, an american team in the sport can be nothing but positive for F1's ratings in the US so here's hoping it's a sucessful one.

So thats it for another week. I hope to start this year's rallying blog next week. I'l look back on the Circuit of Ireland rally which is this weekend and I'll also look ahead to the 2014 Monaghan Rally, my home one! Enjoy the rest of your week motorsport fans!