Briatore praises Pirelli impact

With Formula One having a little break, with the next race in Turkey over 2 weeks away, it seems as good a time as any to take a look back and reflect on the opening three rounds of the 2011 Formula One World championship.

This season already seems to be flying past and that is thanks to how exciting the spectacle of Formula One has become this season.

Obviously the main part of motor racing is that it remains competitive, while a sport can introduce as many new regulations as it likes to improve the event, if it isn't competitive then many will switch off.

Thankfully this season we once again have at least two teams fighting for the championship, with Red Bull leading the way with wins in the opening two races, ahead of McLaren who fought back to take the win in China.

Ferrari, Renault and Mercedes are also threatening to get in the mix at some stage in the season.

In previous years though, even equally matched cars flattered to deceive, with drivers unable to race on the track for a variety of different reasons, which prompted the regulation changes for 2011.

This season KERS was re-introduced to F1 to give drivers a boost button of 80bhp for 7 seconds per lap, also the DRS [Drag reduction system], which is implemented by a driver enabled rear-wing, which acts as an overtaking aid on one area of the track and finally the new tyre manufacturer's brief which was given to Pirelli to design tyres which would create an ever evolving pit strategy which would prove entertaining to the spectators.

After an unimpressive start in Australia, the new regulations really showed what they could serve up in both Malaysia and China, much to the delight of everyone who is connected to the sport.

'I've seen the race on TV and I confess that I've never enjoyed myself so much,' Former Renault team boss Flavio Briatore told Gazzetta dello Sport and quoted by Autosport Magazine.

'We used to get bored with car processions: who got off ahead [from the start line] would stay there until the end, if he didn't make mistakes.

'Instead every option is open now: Webber starts in 18th place and ends up just seven seconds off the winner, and with a few extra laps perhaps he could have won.

'A driver's ability is brought out by both his driving and his tactical reasoning because in the end, if you look at the classification at the finish, the best emerge.

'So I must say that the new rules have finally made F1 a thrill. Before it was depressive, while now there is unpredictability. The tyres have changed things for the better.'

There won't be many who would argue with Flavio, although strangely the person who has gained the most from this - Mark Webber who dragged his Red Bull from 18th to 3rd with his tyre strategy doesn't appear to be a huge fan, but for everyone watching we all seem impressed!