The 2010 Formula One Grand Prix season started, as it will finish, in sizzling Middle Eastern style at the weekend at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The world’s motor racing fans desperate for any clue as to how the season will develop between now and the end of the season when f1 will return to the desert for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Alonso and Massa made the most of the Ferraris they have to drive this season, bagging first and second place respectively. Britain’s Lewis Hamilton landed the last space on the podium after starting fourth on the grid.

With the new season, of course, new rule changes were brought in. This year the changes were not quite as wide ranging as those introduced in 2009. The most obvious change is in re-fuelling – there is none! Since 1993 the planning of fuel strategy involving pit-stops has been an integral part of F1 racing. Now the cars must start with all the fuel that they calculate that they will need at the outset. If a driver has used up too much of their fuel they will have no choice but to slow down for the remainder of the race, allowing more cautious drivers to pass them. This raises the possibility of some fascinating ‘tortoise and hare’ scenarios.

In addition to some minor technical changes to do with weight, tyres and aerodynamics the other main change is to the scoring system. Previously only the first eight finishers in a race secured points. In the revised rules this is extended to the first ten to pass the finish line. The points awarded will be will be25 for first place, 18 for second and 15 for third. Off the podium the rest of the points will be 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1. The reason for these changes is to take account of the new enlarged grid, which now boasts a total of 13 teams.

There are a number of new teams competing this year. American start-up US F1 has failed to get any kind of car ready for the start of the season, so we will have to wait to see how they shape up. Other new teams include Lotus F1, who had a promising start with their superstar driving line-up with Heikki Kovalainen managing to finish in a race that had no less than nine retirements, including teammate Jarno Trulli.

The next stop on the F1 world tour is Melbourne. The whole circus will be boarding flights to Australia and heading down under. As the season progresses doubtless we will have a better idea about the relative strengths of teams, drivers and the effects of rule changes. Can Schumacher’s return to F1 match the dizzying heights of his earlier career? Only the white-knuckle ride of the season ahead can reveal the answer.