Motor racing is 99 per cent downs and one per cent ups. It's a huge challenge, as there are so many things that can go wrong.
Fitness will be a major factor in the first race and I think that will play into the hands of drivers who have been racing recently, rather than people like me who haven't raced properly for a decade. I'am not one of the favourites to start with.
The first race is really just something that we will all need to get through. Until people see the cars in action I don't think they will understand how quick they will be, which means they are going to be tiring to drive.
Racing a thoroughbred grand prix car in front of a home crowd will be a surreal and mighty experience.
It seems to me a lot of drivers have lost their personalities or are not able to express themselves. However, it's a very commercial market, and manufacturers have a far bigger say than ever before.
We didn't have any simulators. We had to do it on the track all the time. Now they've got simulators for everything. And, if they have an accident or go off, then you just press a button, re-set, and away you go again.
The format of the race weekend is also very well thought out. We have enough practice time to get the cars well set-up and have a proper qualifying session where we can do as many laps as we like, which is great for the drivers and spectators.
Firstly the cars aren't too complicated. They have no traction control, for example, which means you can spin if you try too hard and damage your tires if you're not careful with your driving style.
In our day, the driver probably had more input into the car. We didn't have power steering or fully automated gearboxes. We didn't have all the technical whizzes that are on the car now, so we actually controlled the car far more than the drivers today.
The preparation, commitment and desire to win will be no less than the last time I drove a grand prix car in anger.
It seems to me a lot of drivers have lost their personalities or are not able to express themselves. However, it's a very commercial market, and manufacturers have a far bigger say than ever before.