The Fascination with Formula 1

The 2007 Formula 1 season is upon us! After months of reading off-season news, it's time to see This weekend marks the return of F1 to Melbourne, and this year, the championship is really up for grabs. Schumacher retired, Alonso to McLaren, Raikkonen to Ferrari. Promising rookies, seasoned veterans. Everyone with something to prove.

Caroline (and most women, for that matter) can't understand what is fascinating about watching cars go around the same track over and over again for 67 laps or so. I don't blame her. To the untrained eye, yes, it does seem monotonous and repetitive.

However, once you understand F1... you know what to watch, and you know what the fuss is all about.

You see it in the in-car cameras, as the sense of speed dawns on you, and you feel just how fast these machines are travelling, and how close they are to each other on the track.

You see it in that split second when a driver pulls out of the slipstream in order to perform a daring overtaking move.

You see it in the precision that a pit crew moves to change the tyres and refuel the car in less than 7 seconds in order to hang on or even take over the lead.

You even see it in those moments when a driver or mechanical error occurs, hopes of a win or even a podium finish go up in smoke or wreckage.

We watch F1 for those moments. The moments of brilliance, of glory, and yes, the heartbreaks. And since you never know when these moments will happen, it is always worth watching from the start of the race all the way to the chequered flag.

Life... is Beautiful.