We are now two races into the 2018 season with another, from Shanghai, this very weekend and in a time zone that makes for very relaxed viewing here in New Zealand.
Neither race so far has been won by a Mercedes driver which might sound a little bit cruel to say but it is something that the entire paddock feels extremely happy about.
Most of the paddock that is with the glaring exception of those associated with the three pointed star and those in the Mercedes corporate suite suddenly cut off from the free champagne.
It is a relief to see another team win a Grand Prix, two in fact, in a straight fight, and if that team just so happens to be Ferrari, well nothing is perfect in this world.
The Red Bull team are competitive and look capable of threatening both Ferrari and Mercedes, despite a disastrous race performance described by the team in quite understated fashion as "extremely disappointing".
The mid field runners have all closed the performance gap and are now led by the Haas team and at long last it seems like McLaren have some on track speed to match the highly grandiose statements of late.
That team and team principal Zak Brown must be casting glances over their shoulder (or should it be envious looks at the rear end of the Toro Rosso – Honda much further ahead of them) at the performance of rookie driver Pierre Gasly with the clearly improved Honda power unit.
Brendon Hartley did not have a good weekend but without penalties and car damage he may well have also finished in the points.
The first two races have provided some good news for the midfield runners and consequently some good racing.
The over rider here is that in Melbourne the result was skewed by the failures of a couple of the top runners and in Bahrain the total failure of the Red Bull team as well as the pit lane accident that caused a broken leg for one Ferrari mechanic and the withdrawal of the car of Kimi Raikkonen.
So, the 'on track' part of the optimism will carry on to the next race but what also gives cause to look to the future of the sport with some sanguinity is that Liberty Media, owners of the sport, have finally put forward some basic proposals as their vision for the future direction of the sport.
It is all encompassing and by no means will this blueprint be the final word on the subject but at least the conversation has begun.
All concerned seem sworn to secrecy, which is only right and proper and the whole issue is seemingly being talked of behind closed doors, once again only right and proper but the amazing part about it is that none of the teams seem, so far, to be stamping their little feet about the proposals being "unfair" or "impossible" but are actually talking in encouraging terms.
The discussions are wide ranging and include proposals about...
* The power units (simpler, louder, cheaper and more powerful whilst being standard enough to attract and encourage new entrants).
* A budget cap of sorts (that will be a major sticking point for both Ferrari and Mercedes).
* The way the revenue is distributed among the teams. (That will surely bring the boss of Ferrari, Sergio Marchionne swooping in and screaming like a spoilt child and threatening to leave the sport with the teams 'preferred status' being in jeopardy).
With music ringing in my ears Liberty Media also want to redesign the cars in order to "make cars more 'raceable' to increase overtaking opportunities".
With one sentence rising above them all when they say "Engineering technology must remain a cornerstone but driver's skill must be the predominant factor in the performance of the car".
Halleluiah! My optimism cup now overfloweth!
All these changes, and many more, will take time to discuss, amend and finally agree no doubt but the dictionary definition of optimism is "hopefulness and confidence about the future or the success of something".
I am optimistic.
