It's the start of the F1 season and Port Phillip mayor Bernadene Voss has been out encouraging Melbourne locals to complain about the noise and traffic the race brings to the fair suburb of Albert Park and environs.
"Noisier F1 engines this year will undoubtedly frustrate local residents further," Voss told the Herald Sun. No need to worry, Bernie: the other Bernie, who actually runs the car race and has spies including former lord mayors who read this column, says the race is too boring to watch.
"I wouldn't spend my money to take my family to watch a race. What's the point when you pretty much know — and the bookmakers know and they're not stupid — that Lewis Hamilton will put the car on pole and more likely than not win and the other Mercedes will be on the podium?" Bernie Ecclestone says.
The bookies have Mercedes odds-on for the drivers' and constructors' championships this year. In testing at Barcelona Mercedes dominated with Seb Vettel's Ferrari showing it could be serious on some circuits. Ferrari is at 5/1 with Red Bull out in the 20s and the tail-enders at 2500/1.
Good to welcome to Melbourne another driver from our back yard. Indonesia's Rio Haryanto will be sitting in the Manor Racing team car. Rio is the first F1 competitor from Indonesia and only the third from Asia.