Admit it. Most of the time we rejoice if a Formula One season offers one snapshot moment, one mental image we can savor as time wears on: The Pass, Belgium, 2000. The Defense, San Marino, 2005. Montoya, Brazil, 2001.
But 2008 gave snapshots aplenty: The Flying Glock, Australia. The Kimi Tank Slapper (you know you've got something when you have to borrow a phrase from motorcycling), Monaco. The Stop Light, Canada. The Hamilton Masterclass, Britain. The Fuel Hose, Singapore. The Final Corner, Brazil. And who's going to forget The Final Two Laps, Belgium? And time and again: Vettel.
Once more, we were treated -- or subjected -- to a season in which two teams were technically, mechanically and financially -- especially financially -- superior to the rest. That's practically a script for Snoreville. And it nearly happened. One of those two cars won each of the first six races of the season. After a break for one of those teams having crashed out the other in Canada, we were again shown six victories by those top-spending marques. The three other teams that won races did so through valiant efforts and against the odds. They made us wake up and cheer. That at times, near the end of the season, a second and a half covered the entire field spoke to the brilliance of all of those who strive to compete on any budget.
That we did not see a Schumacheresque grip on the proceedings owes much to Lewis Hamilton's youth and inexperience, and Felipe Massa's national inferiority complex. Some might opine that a drifty world champion played a part as well. But I submit most of us can't appreciate what goes on with Kimi Raikkonen because he's too good for us. He isn't willing to set up diagrams to indicate what it is he does that moves his driving from science to art. That's why so many journos complain that his post-race interviews are monosyllabic and dull. No, they aren't. Or why a certain commercial rights holder complains he isn't a good world champion. Nuts to that. Kimi busted it to retain that title and when the contest slipped away, he backed the effort of his gritty teammate. That he would need to do that demonstrates what an absurd situation Ferrari finds itself in without Michael Schumacher. Two drivers equally capable of winning one championship? Haven't we been shown that tends to end in tears? Luckily, Ferrari likes winning World Constructors' Championships, too.
Read more ... ( click here )
Date 2008-11-08
By J.K. Thompson - Motorsport.com
But 2008 gave snapshots aplenty: The Flying Glock, Australia. The Kimi Tank Slapper (you know you've got something when you have to borrow a phrase from motorcycling), Monaco. The Stop Light, Canada. The Hamilton Masterclass, Britain. The Fuel Hose, Singapore. The Final Corner, Brazil. And who's going to forget The Final Two Laps, Belgium? And time and again: Vettel.
Once more, we were treated -- or subjected -- to a season in which two teams were technically, mechanically and financially -- especially financially -- superior to the rest. That's practically a script for Snoreville. And it nearly happened. One of those two cars won each of the first six races of the season. After a break for one of those teams having crashed out the other in Canada, we were again shown six victories by those top-spending marques. The three other teams that won races did so through valiant efforts and against the odds. They made us wake up and cheer. That at times, near the end of the season, a second and a half covered the entire field spoke to the brilliance of all of those who strive to compete on any budget.
That we did not see a Schumacheresque grip on the proceedings owes much to Lewis Hamilton's youth and inexperience, and Felipe Massa's national inferiority complex. Some might opine that a drifty world champion played a part as well. But I submit most of us can't appreciate what goes on with Kimi Raikkonen because he's too good for us. He isn't willing to set up diagrams to indicate what it is he does that moves his driving from science to art. That's why so many journos complain that his post-race interviews are monosyllabic and dull. No, they aren't. Or why a certain commercial rights holder complains he isn't a good world champion. Nuts to that. Kimi busted it to retain that title and when the contest slipped away, he backed the effort of his gritty teammate. That he would need to do that demonstrates what an absurd situation Ferrari finds itself in without Michael Schumacher. Two drivers equally capable of winning one championship? Haven't we been shown that tends to end in tears? Luckily, Ferrari likes winning World Constructors' Championships, too.
Read more ... ( click here )
Date 2008-11-08
By J.K. Thompson - Motorsport.com
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