Formula One 2006, the V8 era.

Like I said, Schumi's woes at Suzuka just offset the ones Alonso had on several occasions which made him lose his healthy lead.

Germany 2000, I heard it was the last time he retired from a race due to mechanical failure...Well, the longer lasts such a spell, th closer it gets to its end. Old principle.

As for spinning out in a ditch ; in Sao Paulo the ditch is named Curva do Sol and Schumi knows it too well...

 

since June it appears that Fernando Alonso had plenty of time to practice his victory celebrations...

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Taking our marks at Fuji.

 

He survived 15 seasons in F1, now that he can have a proper family life, you don't expect him to go and kill himself on the Nordschleife ! Anyway, every year there are the Nürburgring 24 hrs race which are the poor man's Le Mans. Not that derogatory to say that since this is one of the few races where you can see professional drivers on race GTs amongst true amateurs and their 1980 BMWs...

Of course, I've 'raced' there only on a game console and the course is great and all, but besides the sheer challenge it represents you really feel like saying : "Just keep the best parts and scrap the rest please." The problem with such a natural course is that you don't have the designed 'tempo' and rythm you can enjoy on a more conventional circuit.

 

In a way, the pressure is somewhat mounting on Alonso's shoulders now. Sounds like a paradox since you can't be better placed to win the championship in a finale (otherwise, you are already champion !) but the other parameter is that nearly nobody can challenge Schumacher for the race win except yourself but you can't really throw everything in this case. So, whetever prevents him from finishing the race - which is far from unlikely - and Alonso will most certainly lose the championship !

Bah ! Everyone knows Fisi will win, no ?



No ?

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The F1 world is really like some greek tragedy. Look at Flavio and Schumi. Those were the old days...

 

[R] Re: Formula One 2006, the V8 era.

Well, mixed fortunes for Ferrari as Massa takes the pole and Schumi ends his quali session 10th due to technical problems. The already very difficult situation just went a notch or two higher on this count.

 

Unfortunately, funny celebrations have become a thing of the past in F1. The podium would look like a funeral if it wasn't for the Carmen overture theme...So much at stake and so much PC.

I remember Schumacher being criticised by some Italian minister or MP once because he was doing the maestro gestures during the national anthem...You don't get to see drivers hanging their flags on the re-entry lap anymore, the only thing they are still allowed to do apparently are the hand gestures in the car.

There's no chance for F1 fans to witness the crazy celebrations that Valentino Rossi can sometimes display with his gang in Moto GP. Of course, you would be able to do the same stuff with a car anyway but still, we can't get anywhere near that nowadays. I've seen a photo of Jean Alesi on a podium with a Batman costume once but it was either in French F3 or F3000.

 

Well, Massa somewhat proved me wrong today...

Frentzen once said that whenver a F1 driver farts it goes around the world and the press keeps on telling stories about it for weeks, not to mention all the possible distortion of the truth. So now, they just shut it, for that and for bland marketing reasons too. The problem being that it installs a vicious circle : the less they talk and the more the press behaves badly by making up stuff and the more they do that, the less drivers are keen to express themselves.

It all changed during the nineties, notably after Senna's death. Before that, at least in France, commentaries were far more light hearted with announcers making lame impersonations and stuff. It has come back a little but the general tone is much more serious with the inclusion of big auto makers...

 

This was certainly not the season too far for him. At least he retires on a high even if he might have attempted to do it on a fairy tale ending with two more years.

Now that's racing !

Frankly, I was among those who raised an eyebrow when it came to consider him as a future WC winner. I have to say Jean Todt and his son Nicolas (manager of Felipe) guessed it right. Massa is a potential champion, he had the speed and learnt to exert it with more consistency this year.

He took the best opportunity he had at the time of his decision. I hope it won't be the case but next year might be a difficult season for Renault anyway. Depending on success with McLaren, alonso might come back to Renault if Kovalainen and Piquet jr are not already in full bloom...

No sh... !