Not the right formula

Racing circuits are supposed to get your adrenaline shooting, with competition and a good probability of magic happening. Formula one has been going from bad to worse in that department over the seasons and in spite of tinkering with the rules every year, is losing out on both on the television and the turnstiles. Racing on the water logged Suzuka track led to a sickening crash for the Frenchman Jules Bianchi and brought to the fore front safety issues plaguing the summit of motorsport. While one may argue that all protocols were followed in the wake of Adrian Sutil's crash and it was a freak accident, double yellow flags were probably not enough as coincidence showed us. In conditions where it was not possible to airlift a driver suffering from head trauma, the race still went ahead and a safety car wasn't deemed fit following a crash. There seems to be too much emphasis on getting on with the game even in the face of imminent danger. While this may be good for the coffers of the broadcasters and in turn the organizers, the lives of those who put the show together are put at stake and that certainly cannot be the right way to go. 

Sebestian Vettel has decided to leave the Red Bulls and enter uncharted territory with Ferrari. While his reasons for switching teams for a change may be true, a down swing in fortunes seemed to have played a bigger role. Having won four consecutive titles, the German has had to play second fiddle to the Mercedes duo of Hamilton and Rosberg this season. That should have hurt a bit for the ultra competitive Seb and the change looks like a step to jump a slow car. Who would his team mate be come March next year is a moot question. Fernando Alonso would surely be the one and that means new avenues beckon Kimi Raikkonen again.  The Mercedes team wrapped up the constructor's title at the inaugural Russian grand prix amidst much fanfare but the fight between the two white draped men is still on. Lewis Hamilton became only the fourth driver to win nine races in a season starting from pole and with Nico winning four more for the Brackely based outfit, only three of the sixteen races have gone to another team. Tellingly, even all of those three have been won by the defending champions. In summary, it has been another one sided season, albeit with a different car leading the points table. Red Bull has been found wanting and would surely want to strike back sooner than later. Hami has opened up a seventeen point lead over Rosberg and with just three races to go and just 100 points up for grabs, the driver's title is for the Briton's to lose. 

In pole position

The Shanghai masters had proved elusive for Federer over his career. That changed today with a hard fought win over Giles Simon. Having beaten Novak in the semis, the Swiss ace was the favorite to land his second masters 1000 title of the season and it surely didn't come easy. It took two tie breaks to settle the final and with a busy end to the season beckoning, a jump in the rankings is a welcome result for the now world number two. He would certainly play his home tourney in Basel followed by the Paris masters. The ATP world tour finals and an enticing Davis cup final is all in line for the great. Its lining up to be a strong show leading to the new season and another fight to add to that tally of seventeen.