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Monday, July 26, 2010

Ferrari on the top podium at World Motor Sport Council!


Well, well well, if it isn’t Ferrari again! After managing to stay out of the F1 controversy headlines for a considerable amount of time, the prancing horse’s latest trick has brought them back to the forefront. What have they done this time? Deliberately swapped their two drivers positions during the German Grand Prix. But can you also ignore Alonso who has had his fair share of controversies. The two F’s together have made a pitstop at the FIA headquarters and now are on the podium at the World Motor Sport Council.
As F1 fans will remember the Ferrari controversy in Austria 2002 where Barrichello was ordered to move over and let teammate and championship leader Michael Schumacher through for victory. Soon after that the FIA stepped in and ordered that such events be banned from Formula One.
Though 8 years later Ferrari at Hockenheim through Rob Smeadly Massa’s Race Engineer communicated to Massa “Alonso is faster than you please confirm you received that message!". Massa let Alonso through and Ferrari finished 1-2 with Fernando on the top Podium. Looking at the points it’s clear to see why Ferrari made the decision; Fernando was several points and positions ahead in the championship.
A lot of people have now started debating this overtaking/ giving way tactics at the German Grand Prix by Ferrari. There are two sides to the story a) Asking your driver to give way is punishable and this kind of move is now against the rules. It takes away the spectacle of racing and the fans have been robbed of a good battle between the two teammates. b) Previously Webber and Vettel got into a tangle trying to race each other, and what was to be a RBR 1-2 ended up with Webber finishing 3rd and Vettel being classified DNF! Why would Ferrari want to risk a situation like that?

Video Clip No1: Alonso - Massa Incident!





If you followed the race closely, Fernando was lapping faster than Massa and was catching him up! With traffic to follow and Vettel closing in, Ferrari took the decision to let Massa know that Alonso behind him was faster. Ferrari said “Alonso is faster than you i.e. The guy behind you is faster!!! If it’s your teammate u let him go ahead, if it’s someone else u drive out of your skin!! There have been so many instances where a rival team member is behind and the same message is communicated. Just because Massa gave way, doesn’t mean you take it as a team order issued to Massa. How many so called “team strategies” before the race actually communicate the same to their drivers.
I agree Felipe Massa was driving a strong race and if Fernando Alonso could not get past then I’m afraid maybe he doesn’t deserve the points. What’s the point in watching a racing league where drivers are ‘gifted’ victories without having to fight for them? But that’s the fan in me asking that question. Looking at the investments in the cars and the drivers, this was the most sensible thing to do! If Massa could match up to Alonso’s speed then why did he let Alonso through or not catch Alonso as the race progressed?

Massa’s engineer Rob Smedley said ‘good lad’ and ‘sorry’ to Felipe as soon as he had allowed Alonso past. After the race, both Rob and Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali said that Alonso simply ‘passed’ Massa on his own merit. Was Massa’s sorry face because he let Alonso overtake him or because Alonso was really quick. The pre-tests and qualifying showed Alonso to be the fastest man on the circuit. Well yeah, Smedley could have made the announcement much less obvious and Massa’s face after the race confirmed his anger.

The incident has the FIA fining Ferrari $100,000, and they will have to face the FIA World Sports Council where the fine could be higher.

Was this a case of real unsportsmanlike by Ferrari or fans feeling disappointed that a great race was ruined by Ferrari?

Monday, July 19, 2010

Kimi Matias Räikkönen - Will we see him again in F1?



There have been so many greats in F1 like Schumi, Senna, Prost, Fangio, Brabham and others. All of them had a distinctive character that separated them from the rest but nearly all of them courted controversy regularly. Even Alonso, Hamilton and the current pack of drivers have also had their brush with controversy. Amidst all this one man stood out - Kimi Räikkönen. Known as the Iceman for his cool composure pre, during and post the race.

Kimi made his debut for Sauber in 2001, though the FIA was against giving him a super license to drive a F1 car due to his inexperience. Kimi scored his first points in the season opener in Australia and as per sources Kimi was still asleep 30 minutes before the race.

Kimi was always seen as the guy with a "no attitude problem". Never spoke to much, never laughed a lot, never let him emotions get the better of him, and let his driving do the talking.

It's been about 10 years since Ive been watching F1, there has never been a driver with the class that Kimi showed. He starts 17th and finish on top of the podium in a McLaren that wasn't reliable in 2005. While growing up, all i saw him was in the silver overalls of the Mclaren where he missed being World Driver Champion because of an unreliable Mclaren in 2003 and 2005. No other driver other than Kimi suffered shunts, suspension failures, engine break down all in the final laps of a grand prix. His move to Ferrari was probably best for his because he won his first WDC after a great season of some great driving.







There are many moments in F1 which Kimi will be remembered for. His final lap overtake of Fisichella, his 4 victores at spa earned him - The King of Spa, Eating an ice cream wearing shorts and flip flops in the pit garage when all the others were sitting on a wet Malaysian track waiting for a restart, promising to drink the champagne rather than spray and waste it, the innumerable heart breaks at the dying moments of the race - Spa will be one of the many, driving through a wall of fire, driving through a wall of smoke with no visibility and flat out at Monza, winning the last two races in a row in 2007 to secure his first and only WDC, driving an unsuitable Ferrari to victory in SPA in 2009 after they had already started work on the 2010 car.

But he is famously remembered for The Brazilian Grand Prix quote which was the final race of the 2006 F1 season and also Michael Schumacher's last ever race. The most successful driver in F1 history was presented a trophy from the legendary Pele. When asked by Martin Brundle why he wasn't at the presentation, Kimi Räikkönen replied (On live TV) "I was taking a shit!"









After being one of the best drivers, Ferrari cut his contract short to bring Alonso and Santander into the team, he could not land a deal in 2010, and has since then moved to WRC, doing a pretty decent job as a rookie and will be staying there for another season.

Given the current crop of drivers who are individualistic, though talk about team spirit a guy like Kimi Matias Räikkönen is sorely missed in the paddock. While the drivers heave a sigh of relief, the fans are one who lose out.