Well Max & Bernie wanted to make people watch the qualifications and a fair judge will conclude that they succeeded in their quest. 
No question that it makes for more exciting television. And given the silliness of racing F1 machines around Hyde Park Corner (the equivalent of the Principality of Monaco), anything to keep the fans awake is to the good.Because it's Michael (not J.V. or J.P.M.) who makes a cock up with something less than a minute to go, naturally there is an up roar. Again, this just plays into Max & Bernie's hands: because it CREATES interest and controversy where, without such shenannigans, there is more pious ramblings about history and tradition (to say nothing of the fabulously wealthy and good-looking and parties on the yachts) than there is real racing interest --or controversy.
It's nice, yes, that the Cozzie-Williams managed to find enough balance & grip to put the Webber in the first two rows (maybe even on the first one, if they do disqualify Michael), and it's fun to see Toyota doing better than Honda for a change. But is it really racing?
I remember racing motorcycles over in Japan back in the early sixties. The "track" was laid out on a space little larger than a football (I mean Soccer, not American football) field. There were a couple of "straights" that were maybe 60- 75 yards long and a mix of bends and jumps to keep it fun. Most of us were racing our 250cc Hondas or Yamahas --and one of the guys had a 500 cc Triumph. We'd zip by him on the slow parts of the track and then every time we came to one of the straights, the Triumph would roar past the field only to brake down for the turns and jumps, where we would promptly overtake him again. Watching the cars straining through the course this morning so reminded me of that big Triumph jerking around like a 50 foot sloop in a bathtub.
Unless Fernando decides to simply run over Michael on the way to Turn 1 tomorrow and take himself out along with the hated German (thus keeping his points advantage over him), we all know that the race will be a procession.
So, this way, there will be arguments (and slo mo replays) over this "incident" for years to come -- especially if it ends up playing any part --howsoever slim-- the WDC this year!
Since one can declare with absolute certainty that what he "would have done but for" in the qualifying, you may rest assured that the same persons will have no hesitation in saying what "would have been" (not, notice ever "might" have been; always would have been!) the case but for Teutonic Perfidy.
Actually, as I've written up this post it has occurred to me that probably Max & Bernie WILL DisQualify Michael. Because that (putting both Ferrari's in the last row) might actually succeed in making the race fun to watch!
How long will it take Michael and Felipe to get past the Aguri's and Torro Rosso's? What about JV and Nick? What about Jenson and the Brazilian?
It would also take the wind out of the sails of those (like Flavio) who rant endlessly about FIA Ferrari "bias".
Yes. I'm calling for making the Ferrari team start the race from their garage. With blinders on.
Why am I so blase about this? you ask: Because I didn't get to the Pole N 8 before the deadline expired! So I'm stuck with Fernando for the pole and win, Kimi-2cd; Fisi-3rd, Michael-4th, Monty-5th, Felipe-6th, Nico-7th & Jenson-8th.
After Spain I was ranked 241. After Monaco I expect to slip into the the third or fourth century!
Jim Watt
