It has been a great start to the new season.
Two races in, and Formula 1 2012 is already proving even better and more unpredictable than expected.
In many ways, the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix have posed as many questions as they have answered, but what exactly has been learned so far?
LOOKING GOOD FOR McLAREN
McLaren have been the most consistently fast team. The fact they have locked out the front row of the grid in both races shows the car has raw performance.
They are leading the constructors' championship thanks to Jenson Button's victory in Australia and two third places for Lewis Hamilton.
McLaren will have come home pretty happy, even if they have not got as many points as they will feel they might have.
MIRACLE START FOR FERRARI
Ferrari are leading the championship, which nobody expected.
It shows that if you give Fernando Alonso that little bit of a challenge he never lies down. He is just waiting for an opportunity to drag something out of the car.
Nevertheless, Ferrari have pulled a rabbit out of the hat because there is something dramatically missing in the performance of the car.
That win in the conditions in Malaysia will have created more questions than answers.
The main one will be over the torsional stiffness of the car, because in the wet a more flexible structure is a more compliant car, which can be a benefit.
At the other extreme, McLaren always run the car very stiff to control the aerodynamics.
It's quite likely that this is the reason the Ferrari went very well in the wet conditions and McLaren dropped off.
The question those at Ferrari will be asking is why the car doesn't go well in the dry, when the grip levels are high.
Two races in, and Formula 1 2012 is already proving even better and more unpredictable than expected.
In many ways, the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix have posed as many questions as they have answered, but what exactly has been learned so far?
LOOKING GOOD FOR McLAREN
McLaren have been the most consistently fast team. The fact they have locked out the front row of the grid in both races shows the car has raw performance.
They are leading the constructors' championship thanks to Jenson Button's victory in Australia and two third places for Lewis Hamilton.
McLaren will have come home pretty happy, even if they have not got as many points as they will feel they might have.
MIRACLE START FOR FERRARI
Ferrari are leading the championship, which nobody expected.
It shows that if you give Fernando Alonso that little bit of a challenge he never lies down. He is just waiting for an opportunity to drag something out of the car.
Nevertheless, Ferrari have pulled a rabbit out of the hat because there is something dramatically missing in the performance of the car.
That win in the conditions in Malaysia will have created more questions than answers.
The main one will be over the torsional stiffness of the car, because in the wet a more flexible structure is a more compliant car, which can be a benefit.
At the other extreme, McLaren always run the car very stiff to control the aerodynamics.
It's quite likely that this is the reason the Ferrari went very well in the wet conditions and McLaren dropped off.
The question those at Ferrari will be asking is why the car doesn't go well in the dry, when the grip levels are high.
