Its been a sad day for Ferrari. They lost at F1 in Hockenheim 2008. Yes I know Massa had a podium finish, so technically they managed to "salvage" their pride. But it was not the top step. And that is all that makes the difference.
Ferrari lost.
Before we go into details, let me tell you I am a Ferrari fan. And as it comes naturally, I hate McLaren. And have a practiced nonchalance for their fanboy, Lewis Hamilton. Is Hamilton bad? I don't know. I never had the time to get to like him. Maybe the guy is good. Maybe he's a flash in the pan. I really don't really care. I adore Michael Schumacher. I guess that spells it all.
But on this day, Ferrari lost.
I would not be this upset with an occasional loss by Ferrari. Heck, even Schumi lost occasionally. What upsets me however, is the dread I feel, the feeling that these losses are adding up to something more sinister. The dread that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The dread that creeps up on you when you just "know" instinctively that the glory days are nearing their end. The victories of Ferrari are just the leftover of the warm glow of the Schumacher era. Much as it hurts me, I predict the ascension of McLaren. Ferrari are going to be relegated to the second place for a long time now.
I wanted to share why I think Ferrari has already begun its downward spiral. And surprisingly, it has nothing to do with how fast the red cars are!
Ferrari has become akin to a big company. A company that has enjoyed unprecedented success, and which sooner or later takes itself for granted. Begins to view itself as invincible. Starts to give importance to its own internal "processes". And like all such companies, mistakenly believe that if "processes are followed" then "results will follow." And like all big companies, Ferrari has made the BIGGEST mistake of all: Started assuming that it is their precious scarlet cars that win races and not the drivers inside them. Their logic? "Put -anyone- in our cars and he'll be on the podium." Ferrari has become a mass of "process followers". Who cares about drivers. Our F1 cars are where its at. And that is PRECISELY why they will lose.
Schumacher had once tried out a Minardi for a test run. And he shaved 3 seconds (no, that's not a typo) off the laps consistently! And yet, Ferrari has mediocre drivers. Kimi Raikkonen is a "fast" driver. He is not a "great" driver. A difference that is sadly, lost on Ferrari. A great driver is a whole package. Attitude, ability to take hits, fight when there is no hope, huge mental fortitude and so on. Kimi just drives the car as fast as he can. That is why he will never be counted amongst the "greats". And of course, his ability to NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY is the mark of a pedestrian driver. I mean, you've heard it all " I did the best I could. But the car was bad." Yeah right! Try catching Michael saying that sometime. It hurts my pancreas no end to admit that Lewis Hamilton, "may" have that spark of a "great" driver. Damn Ferrari! Were you guys sleeping? And there is the "pretender", Massa. The guy is useless. He has no mental fortitude, no gameplan and frankly, no ability to do anything other than say "for sure" everytime he's asked something. He was good as Schumacher's blocker. Other than that, Jean Todt had no business extending his contract to 2010. He will -never- win a world championship. Ever.
At the moment, no one looks as great as Lewis Hamilton. He has one thing which both Ferrari drivers lack. Gargantuan amounts of mental strength and never give up attitude. I'm going on a limb here and say that Fernando Alonso, is the ONLY one who can match Hamilton, and yes, decimate him. Sadly, Alonso has a long history of acrimony with Ferrari. My advise to President Luca Cordero di Montezemolo is to stop making ridiculous statements like this years championships are "a championship of poisons" and do something constructive instead. Like thinking how to get Fernando Alonso in Ferrari. If this happens, by any chance, Fernando can blow the hubcaps of Hamilton any day, any time.
So, kick out Kimi, who needs his privates filled with red hot coals just to show some emotion, re-assign Massa to blocking cars behind him for his Number 1, and for God's sake, get that lady Stephen Domicili out! He is too mild and useless to be managing the races. He lacks the ruthlessness of Jean Todt.
Forza Ferrari!!!
(Ferrarifan, if you ever see this blog, email me! I want to know what happened to your site?)
