What is going to happen if Ferrari and Michael fail at San Marino? More
importantly, what is going to happen if Michael’s baby brother fails there?
Three races, 8 points each, that’s hardly a fair indicator of the
relative talents. Michael has uncharacteristically failed to excel and Ralf
has characteristically survived. Michael has not kept the run of luck that saw
him sweep all before his invincible Ferrari last year but he could still turn
that around. He needs the new car, if only to re-establish the supremacy of
the marque. I am actually still not convinced that the current Ferrari isn’t
the best car on the paddock. Michelin has had their hot and wet away tracks
and now Bridgestone should be back in their comfort zone, with cool, dry
European circuits tilting the field in favour of the red cars. Some are saying
that Michael lacks motivation and there is even speculation of early
retirement. Bullshit!
He is still the fittest and most focussed driver in the circus and will
come back with a vengeance. I have never liked Chop (Schuey!) but I’ve also
never underestimated either the talent or the drive of the man. He will win
many races in 2003; will certainly stay favourite for the Drivers World
Championship and he’ll probably start his charge at Imola. While the heart
supports Kimi, the head is firmly in the Schumacher camp. Even another poor
performance at San Marino won't mean a please explain letter for MS.
As for the other brother, his days are numbered. Sir Frank, despite his
perpetually forgiving and supportive fatherly nature towards his drivers, must
be getting just a little tired of Ralf’s lack of performance. Ralf cannot
have too many more brownie points to use up. If he manages another superb
qualifying effort only 10 places behind Juan Pablo at San Marino that might
just exhaust them.
Any driver that straps himself into an F1 car is very good. Those drivers
however must be measured against their peers, not Fred Average. Ralf’s
pedestrian efforts to date support my long held belief that, in this company,
he’s a loser. He has had the benefit of a name that got him into a very
quick car and he’s now managing to combine the speed of that car with his
minimal talents to scale the heights of mediocrity. How much longer he can
survive in the face of the Columbian onslaught will be down to Sir Frank’s
reluctance to admit he made a mistake. I, for one, hope that the brain
controls the ego very soon and Ralf gets relegated to a position more
appropriate to his talent – as a spectator!
Want to
comment on this article ? We'd love to hear from you. Fill in the form below.
(only your first name and last initial will appear under your comments)
Reader's
comments:
If as you say Michael requires the new Ferrari to regain his dominance on
the track, then you have to question the supposition that he is the best
driver on the F1 circuit today.
I think he is an excellent driver, who while at the head of the pack excels
but cannot drive under pressure, which to me is the mark of an excellent F1
driver. I think more and more this year as the new rules level the playing
field somewhat we will see errors keep him off the podium and break Ferraris
dominance.
*whisper* And I don't like him either - Mel - Australia
Mel,
I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. Michael performed
flawlessly at Imola under unimaginable pressure, only some of which was on
the track. If ever he was going to make either forced or unforced errors
(ok, he made one brief excursion over the lawn but I don't think he was at
any risk of losing it) then San Marino was the perfect place for them.
No, I still don't like him but he proved his talent yet again. I
suggested he needs the new car only because, at that stage, it was assumed
the new McLaren would be in use soon. Until that car appears the F2002 will
do just fine. Michael has the talent and the car to win many more races,
unfortunately for him Kimi does too. Michael is still, in my opinion (and
since it's my soap-box thats the one that counts) the premier driver but the
new scoring system means he will have to perform superbly to gnaw away at
the gap Kimi has built.
I believe everyone else is irrelevant, it's down to those two to
provide a champion for 2003. and to quote a brilliant commentator
"While the heart supports Kimi, the head is firmly in the Schumacher
camp" - The Quali-flyer
I surely agree that Ralf is the spoil sport at Williams. Sir Frank must do
something fast and i hope the Columbian spoils MS's party for long. Damn that
German is good but i love Juan Pablo more - Marshall - Zimbabwe
Marshall,
Maybe Ralf has heeded the wake-up call, he's in front of JPM on the
grid again in Spain. I can't see it lasting though. Who knows whether its
that he is coming to grips with the car (I doubt it) or just that he is back
in his comfort zone with tracks that he knows very well (far more likely).
Either way I think think this is a short term change and he'll be back to
being the hopeless Ralf we all know and can't love pretty soon - The Quali-flyer
Join
8 'n'
Pole and see how your predictions stack up against the others. Register
NOW!
