So in a sense, that’s that. The specialist press has been full of reviews, look backs and retrospectives of what has truly been a fantastic season. For Badger, it was our first, and we will soon be celebrating our one-year anniversary; it’s a very special time in the Sett and we hope you’ve enjoyed every minute of it as we have.

The truth is, amongst all this nostalgia, only one website can give you the season highlights Badger style, that’s erm… F1Badger. So sit back, get comfortable and relive the best year of your life.

Diffusing Tensions

Yes, it’s a little highbrow to begin with a quote, but bear with us.

“I explained that I felt we should have a different set of rules to simplify what needs to be done and I offered them and they were rejected.”

“Those rules that I put on the table would have stopped a lot of things. It would have stopped the diffuser and all those bargeboards around the front, it would have cleaned the cars up.”

“Nobody was interested then, they are very interested now.”

This was Ross Brawn speaking to reporters within the Sepang complex earlier this year. Discovering the loophole in newly prepared aerodynamic regulations, Brawn made sure to raise the matter with representatives of the Technical Working Group. Needless to say, following the Honda/BrawnGP debacle of months earlier, their rivals pretty much laughed at his suggestions.

For the life of us, we still can’t quite understand this diffuser malarkey, but if one thing’s for certain, the F1 chat rooms were suddenly awash with “expert” opinions on the matter. Yes, the great diffuser controversy was just the first of many exciting departures from on track action.

Felipe Baby

You nearly broke your stomach from laughing so hard; admit it. “Felipe Baby” was the rather affectionate radio message broadcast from Ferrari’s pit wall by everyone’s favourite Northern lad, Rob Smedley during the rather tumultuous, not to mention wet, Malaysian Grand Prix. Warming our hearts and repairing any damage done by the unintentionally hilarious “white visor” message, Smedley’s sentiments only went to illustrate the exceptionally close bond this pair developed in past years.

Transformed into this rather Christmassy song by Sidepodcast’s Christine Blachford, the saying became the Internet phenomenon to rival such classics as Karl Pilkington’s “I could eat a knob at night” and the sensational “Badger Badger Badger”

Barrichello Gets a Strop On

That’s strop on alright? It’s a phrase in t’north; we’re certainly not suggestion any deviance by the veteran Brazilian racer.

Following what was perhaps one of Rubens’ most exceptionally poor races, the rather emotionally-charged Rubhino let loose to assembled members of the sporting press in the German paddock following what he termed as “a great show from the team today of how to lose a race”. Touchy.

Regardless, it signalled a distinct u-turn in BrawnGP’s absolute dominance of the season, allowing us fans to once again become excited about a possible four-way title battle.

Return of the King

Following Felipe’s premature midseason exit and prior to Ferrari’s embarrassing appointment of Luca Badoer as a replacement, the world of F1 was awash with rumours of Schumacher’s imminent return.

Yes, the sport was a right bore during his reign, but the rather boisterous German did lend a bit of flair and unpredictability that was sadly lacking following his departure.

In the inexplicable case that you weren’t aware of this rather massive news story, it didn’t happen. As a result of a pesky neck injury sustained during a motorcycle accident in Cartagena, Spain, Schumacher’s manager Willi Weber confirmed that his driver would not take part in the European Grand Prix, nor any other race of the season.

But every cloud has a silver lining; if recent rumours are to be believed, Schumacher is top of the list to partner Nico Rosberg at the new German powerhouse Mercedes Grand Prix.

Superzuka

Fuji was good, but there’s possibly nothing like the sublimely sweeping chicanes that form the first section of Suzuka’s Grand Prix track in the rest of the calendar. Following a two-year hiatus at the base of mount Fuji, the Japanese Grand Prix made a welcome return wherein spectators were treated to a dazzling array of driver mishaps and dramatic crashes, usually at Degner Curve. It also saw Vettel in yet another stunning victory, but that’s another point.

Suzuka is back on the calendar next year, and it will mark the first anniversary of a rather impressive debut for Kamui Kobayashi, but more about that later.

Breakaway Series

Having such far-reaching consequences that Kelly Clarkson even wrote a song about it; the FOTA breakaway was the biggest news story of the British Grand Prix. What threatened to split the sport in two with several of the smaller teams unable to weather Bernie’s breach of contract litigation, eventually fizzled into nothing, but despite this its implications were vast; securing the prompt announcement that Mosley would not stand for re-election.

It all boiled down to costs, in what was essentially a drive to curb the exodus of teams in the wake of Honda’s winter pullout. No doubt it was well intentioned, and certainly Max will feel somewhat, if misguidedly, vindicated following both BMW and Toyota’s announcements earlier in the year but you just can’t threaten guys like Montezemolo and Brawn without it coming back around to haunt you.

Kamui “Krazy” Kobayashi

Kamui Kobayashi, Kamui “Krazy” Kobayashi, seriously, what a dude! We first saw signs of his talent during Friday’s free practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix, sitting in for a dicky-tummed Glock, but it wasn’t until he replaced the German at the season-decider in Brazil that we fully understood this chap’s immense… insanity.

Sure, he nearly killed Nakajima, and that’s not particularly funny, but when he wasn’t waging a one-man-war on compatriots, Kamui Kobayashi was amazing audiences with his daring overtakes and ability to hold seasoned pros like Button at bay. It was certainly in stark contrast to the efforts of the season’s other rookies.

Crash-Gate

Understandably, there’s still some slight ill feeling towards the instigators of what has imaginatively been dubbed Crashgate, but here at the Sett there is some indecision as to whether the crime truly fits the punishments for all involved.

Following Piquet’s ousting at the hands of a furiously impatient Flavio Briatore, Renault saw fit to partner Alonso with Romain Grosjean. He was nothing, if not consistent, perfectly re-enacting Piquet’s rather sorry-looking crash from the year before. No wonder Renault seriously considered leaving the sport; it has not been a good year for the French manufacturer.

At The BBC

A Formula One season is only as good as its broadcasters, and following the somewhat tired format on ITV, 2009 was a breath of fresh air where television coverage was concerned. No adverts, was perhaps the most noticeable difference, but it was the beeb’s all encompassing attitude to F1 that really made the difference. Snatching the exquisite Mr Martin Brundle from ITV, and introducing the ridiculously talented Jake Humphrey, the team was complemented by the untouchable comedy performance of David and Eddie.

It wasn’t all plain sailing, as most of you Badgers have let it be known over the past months, but personally, I’m quite looking forward to the return of Legard. But being controversial for the sake of it always was this writer’s favourite past time.

As they say in the biz; that’s all folks.