Ferrari humiliated in Monza
About ten years ago the BBC ran a special documentary about Ferrari, its history, traditions and ethos. At one point the BBC team spoke to one of the Ferrari test drivers and asked him what he thought of his job. The cloud that came over his face spoke volumes. He couldn't begin to fathom the sheer inanity of the question. At length he said "I have the best job in the world." He meant it. The worst job in Formula One currently belongs to Mr Ron Dennis. McLaren are facing greater turbulence as a racing team than they have ever faced in their history. At the behest of a very angry Ferrari, the FIA have re-launched the dirty tricks investigation and a hearing is to be convened in Paris on Thursday. Meanwhile the drivers are putting on a demonstration of superlative race craft such as has never been known at McLaren. Producing a 1-2 is difficult enough at the best of times. To do so in times like these and ahead of Ferrari at Monza is the stuff of dreams. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! Ron Dennis is faced with the joy of seeing his drivers perform at the top of their game and the nightmare of impending doom on Thursday.
Fernando Alonso deserved yesterday's win at Monza. His qualifying lap on Saturday was so much better than anyone else's that you could see he was as motivated to go for a big win as he has ever been. Lewis Hamilton, racer of racers, did all he could to snatch the victory from his prima donna team-mate but it was not enough. Yesterday was Alonso's day. You have to hand it to Hamilton for trying, though. If tenacity and a faultless belief in oneself were all that were required to win a world championship, Hamilton would have the winner's trophy in his cabinet at home already. From second place, he lunged on the inside and tried to outbrake Alonso on pole and Felipe Massa in third for first place. The lad's bravery is a joy to behold. Massa got ahead of him by shunting him slightly to the left and Hamilton found his wheels on the run-off area. Not giving up, he came round the outside and re-took second place from Massa. He then had to do an even more astounding move later. After the second round of pit-stops Hamilton found that he had been leapfrogged by the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen. Still, he didn't give up. In a move nobody expected - least of all Raikkonen - he came screeching down the straight two laps later from about fifty yards back and effortlessly overtook the Ferrari. Vintage Hamilton. The lad has restored my faith in Formula One. This is what we want to see!
The tifosi were not pleased. To be humiliated at home on the weekend when they were mourning the death of Luciano Pavarotti was not what they wanted or expected. That it was McLaren - the team Ferrari accuse of stealing their proprietary data - enhanced the severity of the blow. The boos and whistles directed at the McLaren drivers on the podium were, therefore, hardly surprising.
Ron Dennis's other problem is the world champion. Fernando Alonso now never shirks any opportunity to sling mud at his team. His views about his personal contribution to McLaren’s success have made him deeply unpopular within the team. I realised two things about McLaren yesterday. First, the team are extremely close-knit. Ron Dennis left the podium with the constructors’ trophy in his hands and received a roaring cheer from the assembled McLaren mechanics. They then assembled for a team photograph and you could see the real sense of camaraderie among them. In these difficult times they are giving each other strength. Secondly, by contrast with his team, Alonso has cast himself as a solo man. He now drives for Fernando Alonso, not team McLaren-Mercedes - a fact Hamilton does his best to demonstrate by only ever talking about doing well for the team, not himself. At each of his previous wins, Alonso has moved his car to the right, just underneath the pit-wall, and acknowledged the cheers of his team. He did not do that yesterday. When asked in the press conference repeatedly what he thought about the current goings on and the implications for the constructors' championship he made clear that his chief motivating influence is a third driver's title. I think Alonso's mind is made up. He will not stay another season at McLaren but wants to leave as world champion.
A chap who can say goodbye to any world championship hopes is Felipe Massa. I cannot help but feel sorry for the poor fellow. He qualified ahead of his team-mate and should at the very least have been third yesterday but in another cruel blow for Ferrari in Monza, the usually indestructible Ferrari gave up the ghost. The sight of Massa's stricken car creeping its way to his garage brought out the tears among the assembled Italians. It was a miserable Monza for them - one of the worst in many years. The worst news for Massa is that it now seems as though his job for the rest of the season will be to assist Kimi Raikkonen. Soul destroying stuff.
This whole dirty tricks business is an unwelcome distraction to a brilliant championship. I do hope it is sorted out and goes away at the end of this week. There is far too much excitement on the race track this season as it is. There are only 3 points separating the two McLaren drivers. With four races to go, the world championship could easily go either way.
Spa next weekend, here we come!
Gitau
10 September 2007
Fernando Alonso deserved yesterday's win at Monza. His qualifying lap on Saturday was so much better than anyone else's that you could see he was as motivated to go for a big win as he has ever been. Lewis Hamilton, racer of racers, did all he could to snatch the victory from his prima donna team-mate but it was not enough. Yesterday was Alonso's day. You have to hand it to Hamilton for trying, though. If tenacity and a faultless belief in oneself were all that were required to win a world championship, Hamilton would have the winner's trophy in his cabinet at home already. From second place, he lunged on the inside and tried to outbrake Alonso on pole and Felipe Massa in third for first place. The lad's bravery is a joy to behold. Massa got ahead of him by shunting him slightly to the left and Hamilton found his wheels on the run-off area. Not giving up, he came round the outside and re-took second place from Massa. He then had to do an even more astounding move later. After the second round of pit-stops Hamilton found that he had been leapfrogged by the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen. Still, he didn't give up. In a move nobody expected - least of all Raikkonen - he came screeching down the straight two laps later from about fifty yards back and effortlessly overtook the Ferrari. Vintage Hamilton. The lad has restored my faith in Formula One. This is what we want to see!
The tifosi were not pleased. To be humiliated at home on the weekend when they were mourning the death of Luciano Pavarotti was not what they wanted or expected. That it was McLaren - the team Ferrari accuse of stealing their proprietary data - enhanced the severity of the blow. The boos and whistles directed at the McLaren drivers on the podium were, therefore, hardly surprising.
Ron Dennis's other problem is the world champion. Fernando Alonso now never shirks any opportunity to sling mud at his team. His views about his personal contribution to McLaren’s success have made him deeply unpopular within the team. I realised two things about McLaren yesterday. First, the team are extremely close-knit. Ron Dennis left the podium with the constructors’ trophy in his hands and received a roaring cheer from the assembled McLaren mechanics. They then assembled for a team photograph and you could see the real sense of camaraderie among them. In these difficult times they are giving each other strength. Secondly, by contrast with his team, Alonso has cast himself as a solo man. He now drives for Fernando Alonso, not team McLaren-Mercedes - a fact Hamilton does his best to demonstrate by only ever talking about doing well for the team, not himself. At each of his previous wins, Alonso has moved his car to the right, just underneath the pit-wall, and acknowledged the cheers of his team. He did not do that yesterday. When asked in the press conference repeatedly what he thought about the current goings on and the implications for the constructors' championship he made clear that his chief motivating influence is a third driver's title. I think Alonso's mind is made up. He will not stay another season at McLaren but wants to leave as world champion.
A chap who can say goodbye to any world championship hopes is Felipe Massa. I cannot help but feel sorry for the poor fellow. He qualified ahead of his team-mate and should at the very least have been third yesterday but in another cruel blow for Ferrari in Monza, the usually indestructible Ferrari gave up the ghost. The sight of Massa's stricken car creeping its way to his garage brought out the tears among the assembled Italians. It was a miserable Monza for them - one of the worst in many years. The worst news for Massa is that it now seems as though his job for the rest of the season will be to assist Kimi Raikkonen. Soul destroying stuff.
This whole dirty tricks business is an unwelcome distraction to a brilliant championship. I do hope it is sorted out and goes away at the end of this week. There is far too much excitement on the race track this season as it is. There are only 3 points separating the two McLaren drivers. With four races to go, the world championship could easily go either way.
Spa next weekend, here we come!
Gitau
10 September 2007
posted by Gitau at 12:26 pm
<< Home