Vettel v/s Alonso

Well, 2012 all boils down to these last 4 races, beginning with the Indian GP in India.

Most people have asked me who my money is on.

My only response is: the team that has the most consistencies in the last 4 races. If there is one, even ONE additional DNF, for either driver, then they have lost the race. Though, "mathematically" speaking you cannot confirm until the last one.

So, who is really better -- Vettel or Alonso? In all honesty, I cannot say. One can use the argument, that Vettel had the better car. But it can also be conversely argued that you need a good driver to drive a good car.

Among all these excitement, it's really sad to see Michael go. And the only one who has lost my respect is Ross Brawn. Unless, Ross had already informed Michael before he joined Mercedes 3 years ago, that he would just be doing car development.

Honestly speaking, let's see Hamilton and what he does there. Though, I am personally glad he has moved out from McLarean to Mercedes.

So, again the question is: Vettel or Alonso.

Well, I'm biased, but I'd say Alonso.

Massa and Rubens

What can I say, that has not already been said about these two. Both these so-called 'racers' are supposed to be fighting for podiums on the Formula One, the pinnacle of Motorsport.

We expect raw nerves, fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude. Instead we get something totally different. One of them is a whiner and the other thinks he is better than he really is. Far, far better. Under this circumstances, I can say to both of them that it's high time they retired. Not for themselves. But for the audiences, and the sanity of Formula One.

While Barrichello constantly whines and moans that its always his car's fault, Massa constantly continues to live, breathe and think that he is already a world champion. Twice over! Alonso, who's got a lousy car, is ahead of both of them. And Massa really has no excuse as he has the same car as Alonso. And if car tune-ups make so much of a difference, then hell, my respect for Alonso has just gone that many notches up higher!

You can look at their photos on the internet. The champions. And immediately make out that they were born different. Maybe its the way the pose. Maybe it's their eyes. Whatever it is, if you look at pics of Schumacher, Prost, Alonso and then look at Massa or Barrichello, you'll see the difference immediately. Massa or Barrichello don't look much to me like championship material. They look like they're fast because of their car. Take that away from them and they have nothing left.

While Barrichello is stuck in a dog of a car, I can at least grant him that his experience and the largest number of years spent in Formula One, at least allow him a leeway. Besides, whenever he whines, it always about his car. Never about his team, or the other drivers.

Massa is diametrically opposite. He considers it his birthright to become champion. And while I understand that champions are really tunnel-visioned in their quest to become world champions, he tends to imitate their mannerisms. And not their achievements.

Which is why, I don't like both these racers.

It's high time someone put them on the bench. Massa can go back to becoming a test driver for Ferrari again. That is all he was ever worth for.

What’s happening here?

I've actually downloaded a RSS feed reader. The apparent reason is to monitor continuously what is happening on the FOTA vs. FIA meeting. Truth be told, I hope FOTA kicks FIA's a$$. And more specifically, Mosley's.

Where does this guy go off imposing arbitrary rules. 2009 is the season where most rule changes were made. Most of them, not necessary. Either the orgies are getting into Max's head, or he's been without too much opposition for too long. Either cases, I hope things move in favour of the sport. I sincerely believe that limiting the choices of the premiere manufacturers is a bad idea to start with. And there are no backups. I mean, where are the teams? What are we going to see in the line-up if Mosely has his way – Team Somalia? And then what the heck, he might as well take out a rule that says no engines either. F1 will become go-cart. What is Mosley thinking?

I wonder what role Bernie is going to play at Heathrow. Probably to prevent both FOTA and FIA get physical. Mosely needs to see things clearly. And I wonder why Bernie is taking so long to explain things to Max. Is he undecided (budget DOES mean more money to him) or scared (of Max) or helpless (Luca vs. Max – what are YOU doing in between) or what?

I wonder if MS will attend. Heh!

Either way, I hope common sense prevails. And the FOTA come out trumps – No budgetary caps OR No two tiered racing.

On a side note, my sympathies to Max for losing Alexander. I wish it were not true. It's sad for a father to be burdened with the weight of his son. I don't stand with Mosely on the budget cap. But I'd like to offer my condolences for the son. Nothing in the world can replace that. God give him strength.

Stand up and applaud!!

 

That's what I did when I heard about Ferrari moving out in 2010 for budget cuts. Max and Bernie are nuts anyways to ask for budget cuts. Its like saying that we want more contenders in heavyweight boxing so instead of searching for BETTER boxers, the current heavyweight boxers will fight medium weight with their hands tied behind their backs.

 

Now let's see if Luca can REALLY follow up on this…

So, what do you say NOW, Luca?

Michael is gone. Todt is gone. Ross Brawn, the current genius behind Brawn GP *could* have remained at Ferrari. But Brawn wanted to be Team Principal. The role now donned by Stephen Dome. And what was Luca thinking? Letting a genius like Brawn go? Maybe too many Italian pizzas? If I were Luca, I'd have BEGGED Ross to stay back and given him whatever position he wanted. Heck, I'd have even let me DRIVE in the cars in a few races if he were so inclined.

I can imagine the genius of Ross Brawn married to the money made by Ferrari. Unfortunately, Luca could not imagine this. What a waste! Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING that is being done now at Ferrari is an excuse. We have poor excuses for drivers. We have a poor excuse for a Team Principal. We have poor excuse for Race Engineers. We have poor excuses for the crew. We have poor excuses for pit. Heck, we even have a poor excuse for a President of Ferrari! Any president, no matter how much money he makes for the company, CANNOT be considered good if he let Ross Brawn go. What was he thinking? And now that Ross is decimating everyone here and there, all I have to ask is – So, what do you say NOW, Luca?

I have no ideas why the man was chosen to currently lead Ferrari when he is clearly nowhere in terms of performance of either Ross/Michael/Todt. Why Luca, why? Would Luca consider taking Ross Brawn as Team Principal now? He is not only a team principal, he also has his own team now, a team that's showering the useless and dull drivers of Ferrari with so much aerodynamic smoke and dust!

So, how do we resurrect Ferrari? I have a simple 3 step plan:

1. First, get back Ross Brawn. The Ferrari team's discipline and attitude is taking a siesta this season. And give him Team Principal position. Spend money like water, buyout his Brawn GP. Fight and beg. But convince him to lead Ferrari team.
   
2. Get Fernando Alonso as No. 1 driver and get Jenson Button as No. 2. Forget Vettel and Hamilton and other 'young, cute boys' and get REAL winners in the team. If you sympathise, maybe you can give Kimi and Massa the job to clean up the cars before the race. That's all they are fit for. Either case, I don't think Kimi is going to stay long...
   
3. Be present at EACH AND EVERY Ferrari race. I'm sure you don't need to get in day-to-day business of Ferrari now. So be there at all races and get some Ferrari PR done. Everytime a red car races the track, people expect Schumi to step out. Instead we have his blocker and the robot monotonously grunting some nonsense in the face of reality.
   

PUT SOME MEAT INTO THOSE DECISIONS OF YOURS LUCA.

Please. Don't let Ferrari go down in F1 this ingloriously. Please.

So, what’s gonna happen in Spain?

 

One thing for sure. Ferrari are *not* going to make a comeback as much as Stephen dome wants to believe it. And Luca… ah, Luca! What a bad strategic decision for a president of the prestigious Ferrari to NOT include great drivers, but just fast ones.

 

There is a talk. Of big team resurgence. Ferrari, BMW, Mclaren… et al. But I doubt it. Red Bull or Brawn, take your pick. The reds, the whites and the blacks are not going to be winning this time around, NO MATTER what aerodynamic package or wind tunnel simulations they have undertaken. Hope floats eternal. So do dead bodies. And dead thoughts. To hope to win is one thing, to actually win is something else. Ferrari are disorganized, lack direction and frankly they think that being 'FERRARI' they have a right to win. No more.

 

I wonder if Schumi is going to quit the reds. Highly LIKELY. Though it will be at the end of this year. Will he go with his buddy Ross? Doubtful. Make that doubly doubtful. And then! THEN, Ferrari will be with the back markers. Of course 2011-2014 will see them content with being in the midfield. Unless, Luca sulks and says the 40 M USD cap on the research budget is too less and unfair therefore Ferrari quits (we know the real reason however, don't we? ;)) then Ferrari will be spared the shame of being a mediocre team.

 

The ONLY way to save this heap of a company going down is to take Fernando Alonso. Nothing and I mean NOTHING will be able to stop Ferrari then. And for god's sake, get Massa OUT. Along with Stephen Dome. Get a team principal with a backbone. We want to see mean, domineering, SOBS leading teams, not spineless girly men who want to 'get along' with others on the paddock and who want to get a reputation of being 'easy going.'

 

Luca, are you listening?

So what’s the big deal?

Yeah, so Ferrari managed to scrape points in Kimi. That was not what was expected from the once-existing giant. What was worrisome was the way they managed to screw up Massa's KERS analysis. First they say its faulty and call him in before LAP 15! Then, they say its OK. What the heck was Stephen Dome doing in this scenario? Heck, since Luca was also there, I hope he kicks some righteous a$$.

And yet, Luca gave an interview subsequently stating the reasons for Ferrari's failure. I was very disappointed by that. Note that he gave reasons, NOT STEPS TO BRING FERRARI BACK INTO CONTENTION!!

I wouldn't blame him. If you're clueless about what your place in the technology is, if you have taken success to your head so that you cannot correctly interpret the rules on the diffusers, if you have two lousy drivers – one of them having a penchant for eating ice cream and getting photographed globally – during a race, and if you REALLY STILL have no ideas what it is that is not enabling you to become competitive, you generally tend to spout nonsense the way Luca did during the interview. All acceptances of the problems, but YET NO SOLUTIONS.

I don't see Ferrari resurging. Period.

Whether Luca was there during the first bad period or not. But maybe, just maybe, Luca should look at Ferrari's history and what I have been saying all along. The BEST PARTS of FERRARI's HISTORY were when they had FANTASTIC DRIVERS – Prost and Schumacher.

Maybe Luca just doesn't get it yet. Maybe he cannot accept it. Maybe he can, but actually has no replacements. Maybe he has no choice. But either way, there is EXCESSIVE focus on the car, not enough on the drivers. Both Ferrari's drivers at the moment are mediocre.

Only hope? Alonso for Ferrari 2010. 'Nuff said!