Michael Schumacher will not be in Australia.
"I’ll be in front of the TV cheering, crossing my fingers for my Ferrari".
The German will stay at home, and after many years he will avoid the endless journey to Melbourne, allowing Formula 1 to open a new era, the first World Championship without the dictator with a prominent chin, the first with two Ferrari drivers, Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen, who will start on equal terms, free to fight each other and their opponents, to try to win without conditioning, with the stopwatch as the only hierarchical tool. A championship with a new face, where the only points of contact with the past are Ferrari as the favourite:
"Judging by the tests it seems uncatchable".
Bernie Ecclestone, the stainless master of the Circus, immune to any political and regulatory revolution, and the desire to amaze of Fernando Alonso, already two-time world champion in the last gasps of the Schumacher era and ready to make it three with a McLaren that has not triumphed since time immemorial. Ferrari against Alonso is an old story, but timeless. The rest is unknown, starting with yet another splash of new rules. The most unusual detail is undoubtedly the use of a single tyre supplier. With the departure of Michelin, Bridgestone is left alone and will have the obligation to provide all teams with the same amount of tyres and the same specifications. With this monopoly comes to fall the competition between tyre manufacturers and the advantage (based on thousands of kilometres of testing) that a good tyre could give on lap times. It was thought that Ferrari could greatly benefit from the novelty (for years they had Bridgestone, Renault and McLaren had Michelin), but soon it was understood that the tyres were absolutely new for everyone and meant that the teams were all starting on an equal footing. Rather intriguing was the limitation that the FIA wanted to introduce in the race, with the obligation for each car to also mount a tyre of the discarded compound for at least one lap. The dry specs will always be two, one Soft, and the other Hard, Friday will be the day dedicated to the direction to take, but the teams cannot forget that during the race they will also have to deal with the other type of tyre.
It will be interesting to see whether teams will use the minimum necessary (resorting to an extra pit stop) or whether in the name of strategy, they will run the risk of slowing down for several laps. The rule of the single-engine for two races remains (relegation in the starting grid in case of a breakage), it will only be valid for Saturday and Sunday. What is more, development is blocked. Engines homologated at the end of 2006 will be used until 2010. Only peripheral modifications are allowed, except with the permission of FIA for structural interventions in case of chronic failures. When entering the track, from this year it will no longer be possible to return to the pits (for refuelling or changing tyres) until all cars are queued up behind the safety car. Positions will thus be frozen at the time of the crash that created the slowdown in the race. What changes is Friday. No longer two, but three hours of free practice, divided into two equal sessions. Each team will only be able to use two cars. The third driver will have to alternate in one of the two cars. The format of qualifying will remain unchanged, with the progressive elimination of the worst times. Ross Brawn, the winning Ferrari strategist - six Constructors' titles won from 1999 to 2004, five won by Michael Schumacher when the Formula One World Championship is five days away, says he is sceptical about the leadership chances of Kimi Räikkönen, the potential number one driver of the post-Schumacher era. Brawn left on October 26, 2006, and in an interview, his first since then, he says:
"I think Ferrari will be disoriented without Schumacher. He knew how to make the team work and I don’t think Kimi Räikkönen has the same personality. The Finn seems like the type of person who gets in the car and drives: if it’s fast fine, if it’s is not, there is nothing more I can do about it".
Brawn explains:
"Räikkönen is probably not as outspoken and straightforward as Michael was when he joined Ferrari, but Schumacher was a two-time World Champion. They are two different guys: Kimi is a quieter person and people like that should be listened to very carefully because they often have interesting things to say, you just have to give them a chance to say them. And then there are strong characters around him. The key factor of the championship remains Kimi: he is fast and makes few mistakes. It could be quite exciting for the team, certainly a new and challenging challenge".
The former technical director reveals that Ferrari had also thought about Fernando Alonso after the departure of Michael Schumacher.
"Two drivers have always been considered to replace Michael: Kimi and Alonso. Things went very quickly with Kimi. The view was that the team was strong enough and that speed was the most important thing. It was a choice between the two: one was available and the other, at the time, no".
Probably also tipping the balance in favour of Kimi Räikkönen was the opinion of the general manager, Jean Todt:
"Jean had a long history with Scandinavian drivers when he was in the world of Rally, he likes their introverted character, their calm approach to things. There is not this great distance between him and Alonso. The Spaniard has won two World Championships, but the reasons why Kimi didn’t succeed are not down to the driver".
So far it is not clear who will be, between Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa, the first driver of the Cavallino. As long as Michael Schumacher was there, the hierarchies were crystal clear. Ross Brawn explains:
"Michael established his superiority by the natural evolution of things: he was the fastest. It was never written in his contract. This is what will happen to Ferrari this season: a natural order of things will develop".
Last season the great potential of Massa came out:
"Michael kept it under control at the end of the season, but Felipe has made great progress and if he continues like this, he will be one of the most competitive drivers in Formula 1".
Brawn left Ferrari to take a gap year.
"When I was there we had good and bad seasons. You cannot always be in front. But the people who designed the car are still in the team and can carry the work forward. At Ferrari, we were able to instil a certain philosophy and all the men involved are still aware of this and will pass it on to the team. They are very sensitive people. The car? Today it looks pretty good".
We are Ferrari, we mean business, even if Michael Schumacher is gone. Felipe Massa said it, more than ever he fell into the uncomfortable role of heir of the German, more than ever convinced of his world title chances now that the dictator Schumacher has moved on and chose to see the races in front of the TV. Screaming it out, a few hours from the start of the world season on the circuit of Melbourne, is this twenty-six-year-old Brazilian, arrived in Maranello as a second driver with few ambitions, faithful page of His Majesty Michael, and instead proved to be a driver to rely on, protagonist of a captivating 2006, two wins, three pole positions and third place (behind Alonso and Schumacher) in the final standings.
He has been in Australia for a few days, determined to win the first race and all the others, but it is above all the stopwatch that proves it, with Ferrari very fast in the last winter tests in Bahrain, always ahead of everyone, in what rightly can be considered the real starter to the season that is about to begin, very reliable tests, because all the cars that count were on the track. In Bahrain Ferrari was competitive, to the point of receiving the solemn blessing of Bernie Ecclestone, and it is above all on this data that Felipe Massa rests his irrepressible optimism.
"We were very strong, the battle promises to be very interesting".
Also because behind him there was not only the McLaren of Fernando Alonso, who remains the number one danger despite having encountered some difficulties transitioning in the new team, but the two Renaults of Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen, slow and inconstant, a bit lost after the loss of the Spanish leader, but especially the other Ferrari, that of the taciturn Kimi Räikkönen, landed in Maranello to fill the gap left by Michael Schumacher and for the moment forced to chase his teammate. Bahrain gave very comforting signals to the Brazilian and rightly Felipe Massa gloats.
"I can’t wait to start, surely we are ready for the debut, both in terms of performance and reliability, having had no problems in the last race simulations. I don’t know if it is very important to have often been faster than Räikkönen, we are just at the beginning, it could be an insignificant fact, but certainly, my close relationship with the team is perfect, and this in the first Grands Prix can represent a great advantage over Kimi".
In other words, he is realising what was his great project: starting strong, to be assigned by Ferrari the role of first driver. In the first year of the post-Schumacher era on the red planet, there is also this novelty of two drivers who start on equal footing, without predetermined hierarchies, free to fight each other and with opponents, with the stopwatch as the only judge to establish roles. Both can aim for the title, it will be the standings later on that will say who will have to help the other and Felipe Massa is counting on arriving at the solemn moment with more points. It was the dream of October, whispered immediately after the triumph in the last race in Brazil, now it must become reality.
"I have to win now, Australia is a crucial step. I really like the circuit, it should exalt our gearbox, I just hope that bad luck will leave me alone since here I was involved in an accident at the start twice. If it goes smoothly, I can leave my mark. I feel great responsibility. But also great chances".
The same, however, that Kimi Räikkönen has, more silent, but no less optimistic.
"My feeling with the car is already very good".
The Finn lets those who judge him with scepticism know. He would not have been afraid of Michael Schumacher, he cannot fear Felipe Massa.
"No matter who my opponent will be, whether Massa or Alonso, I respect everyone, but I am ready to fight everyone".
And it will be good for Ferrari not to underestimate Fernando Alonso, the man who for 30.000.000 euros must bring McLaren back to the triumphs of eight years ago. The low profile suits him little:
"We are behind, but we are working well to catch up".
Translated: Ferrari should not be delusional, I will still be in the way, like when Michael Schumacher was around. And starting from Sunday, March 18, 2007, in Melbourne. In the first fiery battle. The Circus is starting again and who better than Luca Montezemolo can predict what will happen?
"The first Grand Prix without Schumacher: it will be a very strange feeling. Ross Brawn will also be missing, but today Ferrari has people ready to take more important positions. It is the strength of our company to have number twos ready to take over".
Having lost important pieces, such as Michael Schumacher and Ross Brawn, in Luca Montezemolo’s opinion, Ferrari still has replacements up to par. Although between Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen, the hierarchies are still unclear.
"I am happy with Felipe’s growth, but I am equally sure of Räikkönen’s great qualities. We’ll see".
Contrary to what happened in the Schumacher era, Ferrari will start without any established hierarchies.
"The first and second drivers will be determined by the stopwatch. And then the second or third drivers will still go on track for Ferrari. I’m interested in Ferrari winning, where there are no first or second drivers".
The opponent to beat on the eve, despite the transition from Renault to McLaren, always seems to be Fernando Alonso:
"First race without Schumacher? I don’t know, I think I won’t miss him".
The two-time Formula 1 World Champion looks ahead and says he does not miss former rival Michael Schumacher, who retired at the end of last season. On the eve of the Australian Grand Prix, the first round of the 2007 World Championship, the Spanish champion who moved from Renault to McLaren says he is ready to win and confident in the qualities of his new team. Fernando Alonso explains in the traditional Thursday press conference:
"I found a great atmosphere at McLaren. Everyone is focused on returning to success and regaining a dominant position in Formula 1. I have to thank the team for the great work they did during the winter. They were able to develop and improve the car enormously compared to last year. I think we arrive in Australia with a very competitive car, and I think we can fight for the victory because I am extremely satisfied with my choice and confident for the championship".
This year F1 will have a single tyre supplier, Bridgestone.
"There’s a big difference with the new tyres. I think it’s the same for all teams. We lost something in terms of grip, and the driving style became a bit more complicated for all the drivers who used Michelin before. In this sense, new drivers can be advantaged because they haven’t had to change their style".
Last year Alonso won the race in Melbourne and hopes to repeat this year:
"I hope to start from the first place on the grid and repeat the result of last season. To be honest, I’ve always had great races in Melbourne. I started 16th in 2005, if I’m not mistaken, and finished third. I won last year".
However, the Spaniard foresees, at least initially, a tough and complicated championship.
"This year I think the World Championship will be very open, especially in the first races. Ferrari seems to be the strongest team for what it showed in the last part of the winter tests, but also last year we saw that Ferrari was strong in the tests and then in the race we were all very close. The most important thing is to be among those fighting for victory and for this, we must do our best work".
Recently there has been talk about the possibility of holding Grands Prix at night, but Alonso is not particularly in agreement.
"I was on track at night when we launched the new car in Valencia last January, and it was particularly difficult because you could not see the road well. It is hard for me to believe that they will be able to have such powerful lights for a race, but Formula One can always surprise you. From a driver’s point of view, it is better not to say anything until you are on the track".
Friday, March 16, 2007, the first day of free practice at the Melbourne circuit did not hold too many surprises: with the novelty of the extension of the sessions (from an hour to an hour and a half) and with the possibility of changing the engine for Saturday’s qualifying and the race, the Australian weekend began under the banner of the Spaniard who had moved to McLaren. Fernando Alonso, in the first session, was the fastest with a 1'29"214, beating Felipe Massa at the first chance. In the first practice session, the Brazilian did not get much done: only 7 laps, with a delay of 1.493 seconds from the World Champion. But Ferrari immediately redeemed itself with the second session, scoring a one-two. First Felipe Massa (1'27"353, after 32 laps), followed by his teammate, Kimi Räikkönen. The Finn, who in the first session with seven laps had put together only the nineteenth best time, pushed harder in the second round getting closer to the Brazilian (1'27"750). The star of British driver Lewis Hamilton also began to shine: the twenty-two-year-old McLaren rookie was third with a time of 1'27"829, ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella’s Renault (1'27"941). Seventh time for Fernando Alonso, who lapped in 1'28"040. The uncertain weather welcomed the cars: in the first session, the wet track caused some off-track runs without consequences. In the second session, there was a spin for Rubens Barrichello’s Honda: red flag and a fifteen-minute stop. At the end of the first day of testing, Felipe Massa is cheerful.
"Who is strong in the tests, cannot collapse in the race. It will be a great battle, but it is fair to say that Ferrari is favoured. In Bahrain we were fast, impossible not to be optimistic".
Kimi Räikkönen is more taciturn, or perhaps just sly, ready to put his foot down, even though so far the stopwatch has often seen him behind Massa.
"Testing is one thing, Grands Prix are another. I like this Ferrari. I have only one goal: to win. In Australia and the rest of the world".
Matter of heart. It is not there, but it is as if it were, according to one half of the sky, the red-coloured one, which worshipped Michael Schumacher for years and continues to venerate him even as a super consultant, which is certainly a more elegant way of describing him than a former driver. There is not, and hardly anyone notices, the other half of the sky, that of the enemies of the German or those who, unwillingly, for more than a decade have had to suffer his domination. Michael Schumacher is not in Melbourne and will not come.
This is a fact. The rest are points of view, of those who, like Ferrari, feel orphaned, and will in any case turn to him from the first race for ever-valuable advice, and of those who instead see themselves freed from a burden and have already provided for the forced removal of his cumbersome shadow from their thoughts. The German is in Switzerland, in his golden hermitage of Vufflens Le Chateau, gigantic villa, horses and family, and on Sunday a comfortable armchair to enjoy the Grand Prix in front of the TV. Only one jarring note, the terrible alarm clock (when the race starts, in Europe it will be 4:00 a.m.), but Formula 1 has been his world for too many years, Ferrari is still his team, the glory still recent, fresh memories well worth a sacrifice. And then his new role also demands it of him, the consultant who must give enlightened opinions if asked, the manager who wants to be made aware of everything, still participates and cannot be found unprepared precisely on the most important detail, the race. If he wanted to, but it is not known if he will, he could see the telemetry in real-time, as it happens in Maranello, live the race with headphones on the head, to listen to what is said in the pits, the conversations between the two drivers and the team, behaving as if he were at the track.
He will not be able, even though the strangest legends are circulating in his shadow on this eve of the race, to go into details about the set-up of the car, to give his imprimatur to the drivers, because at home he does not have the simulator (it is in Turin, at the Fiat centre, a valuable tool during the winter for drivers and test drivers, but not yet so sophisticated to become a household appliance that can be transferred to Switzerland on race weekends), he has never driven the new Ferrari, never worked with these new tyres. He is not a Martian, it would not be serious if he spoke about the driving style of his colleagues or the development of the car, and in fact, the men in red have no intention of asking him. His is and must be a different role, listening, participating in technical meetings (via radio he can do so even in Australian ones), and speaking his mind when it is deemed necessary. Ferrari relies on him but does not want there to be a conflict of competence and points out that such a risk will be impossible. On the track there are those in charge, Jean Todt first of all, and then Mario Almondo and Stefano Domenicali: they will decide. Michael Schumacher is an important opinion and should be handled in the best possible way, when the situation is delicate and it is necessary, with the right word, to tip the balance on one side or the other. That said, the Ferrari men miss him terribly. And he is missed by those who, like Felipe Massa, at the moment the fittest driver, have been around him a lot.
"I hear from him often, I spoke to him even after the tests in Bahrain. He already knew everything, our strengths, and our weaknesses, and he knew my ideas perfectly. He has been a charismatic guide and will continue to be so for a long time. His experience will help us a lot".
Kimi Räikkönen, who knew him only as an opponent, cannot have the same enthusiasm.
"Yes, we talked, but I haven’t seen him in weeks. His advice can only be valuable, but let’s be clear, I drive in my own way".
In their own way, ruthlessly or ironically, the others, those who challenged him on the track, also dismiss him. Jarno Trulli weighs in:
"Formula 1 devours everything quickly. He privileged privacy more than human relations and for this, he will be forgotten almost immediately, unlike Senna. When we had a disagreement, I always told him things to his face, others instead have kept everything inside and now they are happy not to see him anymore. Great was the driver, a little less so the man".
Concept also expressed by David Coulthard:
"Unstoppable champion, but we cannot forget his misdeeds as well".
Undigested as the continuous triumphs. Mark Webber is honest:
"We could not stand to see him win with the cigar in his mouth, while the others struggled".
And so the fatal shadow shortens or lengthens according to taste. Unless sarcastic Jenson Button is right:
"No one can miss him, because he is all everyone keeps talking about. Even if he is thousands of miles away".
Something has changed: without Michael Schumacher, there is only one World Champion on track, Fernando Alonso, ready for the challenge with his new team, McLaren-Mercedes. So, we will not see Michael Schumacher on the track again.
"And I won’t miss him".
Long live sincerity and, just to continue: nostalgia for Renault?
"I think I’m better off than Renault, and I’m happy about that".
An authoritative tone, words of a leader.
"To be honest now things are a little easier".
Why are you the champion?
"Because I am the World Champion and I am ahead of everyone".
And how many things have changed?
"The approach to the races. Now I know how to prepare them, both mentally and physically".
Anything else?
"Let’s say I am listened to more carefully now. When I express an opinion, I see more attention and straight ears".
You said you felt superior to Renault, but there was another team that did better: Ferrari.
"Yes, but winter testing is hard to read. Of course, right now we have to be honest and realistic and say that Ferrari was stronger. Then we’ll see".
What will we see? What should we expect?
"The first race is a little different, you never know what can happen and there can always be some unexpected surprise. I think that to see the real potential of a car we should wait three, if not four Grands Prix".
But you do not make any predictions.
"No, but I repeat that the last tests before Melbourne have guaranteed us some reliability and I can guarantee that we will be very competitive".
From this year the tyres will be the same for everyone: the engines will be decisive.
"On the contrary, I think the Bridgestones will influence".
What do you mean?
"It would mean that all the drivers of the former Michelin teams will have a handicap".
It is old news now.
"I’m not talking about the tyre-to-car ratio, but the driving style of the drivers. Switching from Michelin to Bridgestone has meant a change in driving style. I think this is not just for me but for everyone".
One advantage for Massa, then.
"Not only. Also for the rookies, like Hamilton or Kovalainen. They didn’t know the old tyres, they didn’t have to change their driving style. It’s a big advantage".
Do you consider it such an important factor?
"Sure. Driving will become more complex, not as natural as it has been in the past. Certain mental mechanisms will have to be changed. These 2007 tyres also have less grip".
Do you know this could be the last Australian Grand with sunlight?
"I think all the worst of this night-time Grand Prix proposal. And I speak from experience: in January we presented the car in Valencia, and we improvised a circuit in the city: I struggled to see. But we also know how Formula can surprise the world".
Did you give advice to your rookie partner, Lewis Hamilton?
"I reminded him of my debut, with Minardi. I came to the first race without tests because the team didn’t make any. I sat in the car right here in Melbourne and I remember the pit lane like it was yesterday: I pushed every possible and imaginable button and I was also in shock. Here, Lewis has not had and will not have these problems".
One last thing: at McLaren now you will forget Italian.
"Why should I?"
Because you are only going to speak English.
"This isn’t true. Have you seen how long my press conferences last?"
Honestly, no.
"Forty minutes. The other drivers get away with twenty. That’s because I speak in several languages".
Do you know which driver did that in the past?
"No".
Ayrton Senna. He would walk around in the paddock and talk to everyone in different languages.
"No. I don’t do that, and don’t even ask me".
Flavio Briatore demystifies:
"Ferrari doesn’t scare me".
But the first to contradict him is Giancarlo Fisichella, one of his pupils.
"Lucky him, they seemed uncatchable to me. Solid and fast. The best cars, at least here in Australia".
Yes, because from the first taste the two Maranello cars went like rockets, less rapid than Fernando Alonso and his McLaren on Friday morning, in a first session conditioned by rain and a wet track, but definitely on another planet in the afternoon, when the great favourite Felipe Massa set the best time and Kimi Räikkönen was behind him, just under 0.4 seconds, with the leader’s time dropping the Renault of Giancarlo Fisichella to over 0.5 seconds and Fernando Alonso to 0.7 seconds. If the first clues have a logic, this season for Ferrari seems to be born under a lucky star. The last tests in Bahrain could have been a tremendous illusion, but the track in Melbourne confirmed everything, reiterating that Massa is in fantastic form and that Kimi Räikkönen is adapting with exciting speed to his new adventure. It may be true, as some say, that the announced winner always has something to fear: but why should Felipe Massa hide, when over the single lap he runs like a charm and even in the race pace he shows impressive? The Brazilian, a tribute to superstition, the closer the debut race gets and the more he tries to keep a low profile:
"Because in my career, I have always had to fight like crazy to get something, I never let it get to my head, even in the minor categories, when I won everything, and I will not change my attitude right now".
But the first data from the slippery asphalt of Melbourne show that he has an extra gear for the moment. To relax no, it would be wrong, also because this is a long race, full of pitfalls, with the twist always lurking, but maybe Michael Schumacher was right when he pointed him out to the team as a possible heir. The little Brazilian must have taken those words tremendously seriously, as he managed to finish as provisional leader on the first Friday without the German after so many years, and now he is eager to repeat himself in the race. A belligerent spirit that is well present also in the head of Kimi Räikkönen, not very talkative but certainly more smiling after having overcome the unknown of his debut. Kimi finally shows a little enthusiasm:
"We are working in the right direction, the harmony that drives the team is exceptional, and can be a great help, and frankly I needed an atmosphere a little sweeter after so many painful seasons".
And according to some experts, he has great opportunities to leave his mark immediately, as he completed many laps at a good pace, proving to be even quicker than his teammate in the race simulation. Competitiveness, in the long runs, which Giancarlo Fisichella also displayed, though he was forced to despair after his Renault broke down, parked on the side of the track after the fuel pump failed. A problem, in view of the race, that worries the French team, given that the rookie Heikki Kovalainen, the Finn called to replace Fernando Alonso, suffered the same fate. Two Renault stopping, an uncomfortable novelty compared to previous years, a sign that perhaps the wind has changed, that the happy air of the golden seasons may have dissolved. On the other hand, McLaren does not seem to have reliability problems (this too is a novelty), so watch out for Fernando Alonso, who Ferrari continues to consider the most dangerous rival.
"From the data I saw, I think we are among the favourites".
Sentences the Spaniard with a smile, and if he has decided to raise the bar in the statements it could be a bad omen. Usually, when he does badly, he recriminates, but here in the first round he closed in the lead and the gap he suffered in the second session did not upset him that much.
"We have to work day and night, but it doesn’t scare us".
The feeling is that, whatever happens, Flavio Briatore has already won his personal World Championship, as Forbes' cover man, a sort of honorary degree.
"Not bad, is it?"
On the track, it will be hard to make it three in a row.
"It’s all to see. You never know loads during testing. But the numbers say Ferrari".
Ferrari is the favourite, then.
"They finished well in 2006. Indeed, we won the World Championship with an inferior car".
That is the provocation.
"No, just my observation".
What is Renault going to do in 2007?
"A good championship. Despite the changes".
Without Fernando Alonso.
"Without Michelin".
You admit having difficulties with Bridgestone tyres.
"There are no secrets, we went slower than McLaren".
So what?
"Aggressive development awaits us".
In the past, you started off strong.
"For once, we change the menu, so everyone is happier".
Any setback could affect the rest of the year.
"But if Ferrari came back last year. Almost...".
Michael Schumacher is not here, new generations are advancing.
"We await them at work".
Bernie Ecclestone criticised young people, accusing them of only thinking about money.
"I do not endorse the statement. Today’s young people think about their youth".
Meaning?
"I think Alonso would gladly give up 30% of his income to avoid appearances and have more free time".
Speaking of Fernando Alonso, did you send him a gift?
"Why?"
He is married.
"I don’t know".
You are getting married too, right?
"And that’s it".
Did you not want to be a dad?
"You do things when you are ready. Family, fatherhood...".
If that happens, will you go back to Italy?
"No. In London, 100%".
And does your fiancée, Elisabetta Gregoraci, agree?
"She knows how I feel, and I don’t give her any options".
In Italy, you are loved by the people and avoided by the higher-ups.
"What are you referring to?"
The most recent case: Minister Melandri’s denials at one of his parties, for example.
"Everyone can do as they please, I don’t care".
Better England, then.
"In Italy every time you express an opinion you are attacked immediately. So I came to a conclusion".
Which one?
"You cannot choose where you are born, but where to live yes. In Italy it is better to come on holiday".
After these personal premises, it is clear that it will be the last year in F1.
"In my contract there is the word happiness. Really. As long as I am happy I remain".
Can you be happier still?
"Actually: amazing what we did from 2001 to today: a unique palmares".
Maybe you can inherit Ecclestone’s role.
"Bernie was the last great boss. Not any anymore, there’s CVC. No, I don’t see myself in that role. It is the team that gives you satisfaction, the team is the heart of F1, the heart of the show".
Three Grands Prix, and then it is your birthday.
"I hope Fisichella wins the Grands Prix, this is the gift he has to give me".
Will there be an heir to Michael Schumacher?
"I don’t know, but F1 needs stars. The last one was Ayrton Senna. Montoya too, if you like".
You forgot the German.
"I don’t forget anything. He was a great champion, not a star".
The barrier is about to fall, it will happen on the starting grid of Formula 1: ready to start there is a driver, of Caribbean origins, sitting in his car. Lewis Hamilton, a 22-year-old, English by passport but with Caribbean DNA. He will be the one to break the last taboo:
"I am following my dream".
A sentence reminiscent of another far more significant, but Lewis utters it without political references or racial proclamations.
"My skin is a subject I don’t care about".
Lewis says this to avoid exploitation, but he is well aware of the model.
"Nice if black kids will approach F1".
There are no other concessions on the subject, at the moment there are other sensations, and adrenaline absorbs almost everything. And the third time set with his McLaren in Friday’s free practice leaves him free to fly, to fantasise. The fact remains that the gap is therefore filled, a wait lasted twenty and more years: in 1985 the Circus came close to the first entry of a black driver, Willy T. Ribbs, an American, aided by Bill Cosby (the actor), he carried out a test at Estoril, driving a Brabham Bt54.
The experiment died out. It took a stubborn and determined young man, more mature than his age, already head over heels. He was eleven years old, this kid living in Tewin (a small town in Hertfordshire) who loved karting and, at an award ceremony, bumped into Ron Dennis and asked him: when will you let me drive an F1 car? A fact, not a legend. As it is also true that he is fast, smart, stylish, nice, kind and professional. And of flesh and blood, not virtual reality. A half miracle, in short, a flower sprouted despite the reality of an English province where surviving was hard. But Lewis also told of the separation of his parents. Of school bullying by his classmates. Of the suffering of his beloved little brother (suffering from spastic paralysis). All explained gracefully and without victimisation. With intelligence. Because it must be remembered, that Lewis Hamilton was not born poor. He did not come from a slum. His dad, Anthony, is a computer programmer, and F1 was his favourite video game as a kid:
"It’s my life now".
A prize he earned: no one can afford to say that Lewis Hamilton is someone with the right connections, helped by the colour of his skin: he won everything there was to win. But all this will be nothing in the face of sitting on the grid:
"In front of the red lights that slowly become green. There, that will be the most beautiful moment of my life".
Lewis Hamilton has lived the last three months intensely, and also dangerously. In January he crashed hard in Valencia, for example, smashing his car and getting out unscathed.
"I’m absorbing, trying to learn as quickly as possible. I wasn’t ready for a Grand Prix before, but now I think I am".
Being the first black man does not matter:
"I want to be first overall. At least, try".
On Saturday, March 17, 2007, Räikkönen followed up his performance in the morning practice by topping the times in the first part of the qualifying session. Mark Webber set the first benchmark with a 1'27"799, but Lewis Hamilton was a tenth quicker with a lap of 1'26"674 - his personal fastest lap before Räikkönen took control. Rubens Barrichello and David Coulthard were eliminated from qualifying, along with Toro Rossos and Spykers. Fernando Alonso took the lead in the second half with a lap of 1'25"326 to put him on top, with teammate Hamilton close behind in third. BMW's Nick Heidfeld split the McLarens with second. However, Felipe Massa was eliminated from qualifying after a mistake at turn nine and ten stopped his Ferrari, meaning he would start the race from 16th, which would later become 22nd on the grid due to an engine change. Super Aguri's Takuma Satō made it into Q3. But, along with Massa: Anthony Davidson; both Williams cars of Rosberg and Wurz; Renault rookie Heikki Kovalainen and Honda's Jenson Button all out. Alonso again set the benchmark in the third part with a time of 1'27"050. But he was soon beaten by Räikkönen, who went a second faster with a lap of 1'26"072. Räikkönen retained pole position, with Alonso second, but Nick Heidfeld was third after Lewis Hamilton had a messy middle section that saw him finish fourth. Robert Kubica was fifth, with Giancarlo Fisichella sixth. Red Bull's Mark Webber was seventh with the Toyotas of Ralf Schumacher and Trulli eighth and ninth. Super Aguri's Satō completed the top ten. Felipe Massa’s Ferrari misstepped, but Kimi Räikkönen’s one flew and will start ahead in the Australian Grand Prix. The Finn immediately put his signature on the Albert Park circuit, setting the first pole position of the new season: the driver, called to replace Michael Schumacher was the fastest in qualifying and will start in the front row.
At his side will be the World Champion, Fernando Alonso, who must chase the car of Maranello. The qualifying day immediately gave surprises, because the pole candidate was indeed Ferrari, but that of Felipe Massa. Unlucky the Brazilian, who after showing a superior pace to all since the winter tests, finds himself starting in the eighth row. A broken gearbox (a problem he had already had in the third practice session of the morning) forced him to stop during the second quarter of an hour of qualifying. His race will be a comeback race.
"I’m disappointed, it was very hard. Too bad because with the car we have and especially knowing that I had a great pace and the chance to take pole position. We must try to make the most of it and may luck be with us because today there wasn’t any".
Enjoying the first point to his credit is Kimi Räikkönen:
"Everything can happen, but of course the goal is to win".
Immediately behind the two teams that already announced themselves as the protagonists of the battle for the 2007 title, BMW: third place for the German Nick Heidfeld who will start from the second row in the company of what is already the revelation of the new World Championship. Lewis Hamilton, a rookie at McLaren this year, finished fourth in qualifying. In the third row still a Bmw, that of the Polish Robert Kubica who preceded Giancarlo Fisichella on Renault. The Italian driver himself, at the end of qualifying, says:
"Quit? No way. I’ve never felt so fit in my life, both physically and mentally. I am 34 years old, Schumacher retired at 38, and I can go even further. In F1 age matters little, the stimuli decide and I still have plenty. I love this sport, as long as I prove fast and reliable I have no intention of stopping".
The umpteenth new life of Giancarlo Fisichella, the first year without the uncomfortable presence at his side of Alonso, starts with a certainty: the present and the future are still the same, a driver who is struggling on the track and trying to give Italy a world title that has been missing for more than fifty years since Ascari triumphed in 1953. But Giancarlo Fisichella, order of Flavio Briatore, must also live with another irrefutable fact, that that just begun is the season of inside or outside, his last chance, he cannot fail, because he drives the World Champion Renault and another opportunity to put everyone behind in the final standings will not happen again. Giancarlo Fisichella is aware of this, even if he prefers not to give such a solemn tone to the championship that has started. It is not just about the expiring contract.
"The young Piquet would like to take my place, he said things that I didn’t like at all, but I don’t think Renault can do away with me, entrusting their cars to two inexperienced young people like him and Kovalainen. That doesn’t take away that I am now the leader and have great responsibilities. Before Australia, I went to the factory to spur the mechanics. If they give me a great car this year, I will not betray them".
The Italian who beats Ferrari, the divided people. If he became World Champion, there would be no lack of poetry. The crowning achievement of a long career that began back in 1992. A story that at that point would have one huge regret, never having been able to drive a red car.
"Racing with Ferrari is the dream of all Italians, it would have been a fantastic combination, unfortunately, the failed marriage is not my fault. I would have agreed, the whole country could have cheered me on. To think that in 2004 I came so close, the negotiations were well underway, someone decided that it was better to cut it off".
What do you mean, sorry?
"The objective data cannot be questioned, Massa and I were at Sauber and I was always in front of him, but he was the one to go to Ferrari. Someone who really counts wanted to hire me, I even have a nice clean red suit at home, it didn’t get dirty at all. President Montezemolo announced that he would let me try the car, but nothing happened. They were the ones looking for me and they dumped me. Evidently, Massa had a good manager (the son of Todt, ed.) who made the difference, conditioning the choice more than the stopwatch".
But Giancarlo Fisichella ended up in Renault, which allowed him to win two Constructors' World Championships.
"It’s not the same, Ferrari could have marked my life. But now I want to beat them".
Sunday, March 18, 2007, the race day saw a crowd of 105.000 people attend the opening round of the 2007 season, and the first race of the post-Schumacher era. The only changes before the race were that Felipe Massa started last after an engine change, and Christijan Albers opted to start from the pit lane. At the start of the Australian Grand Prix, Räikkönen got clear off the line. Alonso was passed by Heidfeld on the left and was stuck behind Räikkönen to his front. Hamilton was also briefly stuck behind the leading three before taking the outside line coming into the first corner to take third place; Alonso dropped to fourth position. McLaren team principal Ron Dennis would later accuse BMW of showboating. Anthony Davidson stalled on the grid and after getting underway hit Adrian Sutil, but managed to keep going. By lap three, Räikkönen was starting to pull away from Heidfeld and by lap five the Finn had a two-and-a-half-second lead on the German. Meanwhile, debutant Lewis Hamilton was still holding onto third place from teammate Alonso. Christijan Albers in the Spyker became the first driver to retire in the new season, missing his braking point at the Sports Center corner and hitting the tyre barrier. The first to make a pit stop was second-place Heidfeld on lap fifteen; four laps later Kimi Räikkönen pitted and came out in fourth behind Hamilton, now leading on his Grand Prix debut; Alonso and Robert Kubica. Alonso was the first of the two McLarens to pit, suggesting that Hamilton was on a heavier fuel load than his Spanish teammate. The Briton's McLaren pitted a lap later and rejoined behind Räikkönen, who had now reclaimed his lead, but ahead of Heidfeld, who had now dropped to fifth position, and Alonso, despite being held up by the lone Spyker of Adrian Sutil, who received a drive-through penalty for the infringement.
Honda's Jenson Button also received a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Toro Rosso's Scott Speed became the race's second retirement after two of his tyres deflated and he crashed at the Clark chicane on lap 31. Six laps later at the same chicane Nico Rosberg overtook Ralf Schumacher for seventh place and soon pulled away from the Toyota. On the same lap, Kubica became the third retirement of the race after problems with his gearbox, which was the part of the car the Polish driver had been most worried about during the pre-season. At the front, meanwhile, Räikkönen was increasing his lead over Hamilton, his lead now over 18 seconds. Heikki Kovalainen was having, in comparison with Hamilton, a disappointing first race: spinning at the Jones chicane on his 40th lap, which led to him losing a place to Felipe Massa, and running wide on several occasions during the early part of the race. Renault team chief Flavio Briatore described the Finn's debut as rubbish. Teammate Giancarlo Fisichella was having an uneventful race, as he was not involved in any racing incidents. Back at the front, Räikkönen made his final scheduled pit stop of the race and rejoined in third, behind the two McLarens of Hamilton, now leading the race for the second time, and Alonso. Unlike the first set of stops, it was Hamilton who would be the first of the two McLarens to pit, allowing Alonso to lead the race for the first time. Alonso pitted a lap later and this time rejoined ahead of his rookie teammate, while Räikkönen took his lead back. On lap 48, David Coulthard's attempt to pass Alexander Wurz ended with Coulthard's car vaulting over the Williams, narrowly missing the Austrian driver's head. Both drivers escaped unharmed.
Kimi Räikkönen won the Australian Grand Prix on his debut with Ferrari, having dominated since practice and having scored the fastest lap as well as pole position, getting the first hat trick of his career. Fernando Alonso saved the honour by not being beaten by the debutant Lewis Hamilton, who confirmed the expectations of the eve with a sensational race. Nick Heidfeld was fourth, followed by Giancarlo Fisichella, Felipe Massa, Nico Rosberg and Ralf Schumacher. It is early to say that the fairytale has started again, Michael Schumacher with Ferrari has won five world titles, collected 72 victories and 58 pole positions, has climbed 116 times on the podium and somehow, perhaps with the voice through a mobile phone, he still ends up there, as he called Jean Todt a moment before the prize-giving ceremony. Michael Schumacher gave the whole planet his legend for years, but in Australia, Kimi Räikkönen has shown that with Ferrari everything is possible. You can win by staying in the lead from start to finish (apart from the short period of the pit stops with the two McLaren drivers, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton), you can take home the round win, the fastest lap in the race and pole position, you can leave your mark on the whole weekend, you can drive the pit mechanics and Ferrari fans around the world crazy with joy, you can annihilate opponents and dream of the world title. And you can, finally, even let go of your instincts, let go of unbridled joy after the finish line, let go of the wheel and shake your hands, when in the nine previous victories (all with McLaren) you had at best opened your mouth, grimacing in what was meant to resemble a smile. It is too early to sing triumphal choirs, but Kimi Räikkönen (apart from the wheels on the grass due to a distraction on lap 47) has made it clear that he can give his contribution and be able to collect without too much trouble the heavy legacy of the German. His race was extraordinary. Good at not getting tricked at the start, taking the lead at the first corner, perfect in the two pit stops, and able in the final with the soft tyres (he started with the hards, but this year during the Grand Prix it is compulsory to use the discarded compound at least for a few laps).
Impeccable in the final kilometres in managing the advantage and saving the engine, which he will have to be good at even in the torrid Malaysia. The cold Kimi Räikkönen did nothing wrong and behind he did not have any two drivers, but Fernando Alonso (second at the finish) and the revelation Lewis Hamilton (third), the two McLaren talents who helped form the youngest podium in F1 history. The Spanish and the Brit tried to make life difficult for the Finn, but soon they had to realise that here in Australia there was nothing to do, that Ferrari was from another planet. And good for them (and also for Nick Heidfeld, fourth with Bmw, and Giancarlo Fisichella, fifth with Renault) that Felipe Massa started from the last place of the grid, after having added to the gearbox change (the cause of his troubles in qualifying) also the engine change. While Kimi Räikkönen basked in his winning role, Felipe Massa in the back pushed like crazy, to recover as many positions as possible. Only twenty-one cars ahead are too many, more than a miracle for the Brazilian, already eighteen at the end of the first lap, could not be asked for, the sixth place (also reached because of a strategy with one less stop) is the best he could get. Fernando Alonso, mocked by surprise Lewis Hamilton at the start, limited himself to not making a mistake and with the help of strategy he overtook his teammate on lap 45, Lewis Hamilton took this overtake in his stride and held off the Bmw of Nick Heidfeld, scoring a historic podium, Giancarlo Fisichella (fifth) had the merit of taking advantage of the retirement of Robert Kubica (the BMW’s have grown a lot, but the Pole surrendered to gearbox failure when he was fourth) and of stopping Felipe Massa's comeback, unable to overtake him on the straights. It cannot be said that the race abounded in emotions. Only on lap 47, there was a real battle and it ended badly, with David Coulthard (Red Bull) ramming Alexander Wurz’s Williams. In this case, it went well for Ferrari, if Wurz had not managed to get out of the corner in a hurry, the safety car could have entered the track, which would have wiped out the lead. Instead, Kimi Räikkönen was able to sprint to the finish line undisturbed. His hands let go of the steering wheel, shaking wildly. There must be so much happiness because in McLaren he had never behaved like this after a victory. Kimi is radiant, Kimi has done it, he replaced Michael Schumacher all the way, he led to the triumph of Ferrari, and he crossed the finish line first. Räikkönen, be honest: did you expect such a fantastic debut?
"It was a wonderful Sunday, I can’t deny it. I want to thank the team that made my life so easy. It might have looked like a walk in the park, but it wasn’t. I know what bad luck means, I realised I won, only when I passed the finish line, even if I already had good feelings on Saturday. If you start from the front, with this fantastic car it takes little to win. It’s enough not to make a mistake on the grid and stay ahead of the first corner. The rest comes by itself".
It may not have been a piece of cake, but the fact of not having any problems is certainly a great help.
"Actually there was a problem, the radio broke down just before the start, I was racing without being able to communicate with the pits. Luckily, we had planned everything, the strategy was excellent, and I only had to follow the plans. This team is extraordinary, I’m very happy with my choice, to have arrived at Ferrari. Everything is beautifully organised, before, during the race and after, everyone contributes to making your life easier".
By winning here, did you realise you could win the world title?
"Give me a couple more races, before making such a clear-cut judgment, but the premises are certainly exciting. Surely we can do better, and we must always improve, but in this race, we were clearly the fastest. My only concern was not to make mistakes. I was in front, I knew I could stay there with peace of mind, so much so that in the final laps I slowed down and I thought only to bring the car to the finish line. Saving the engine was a good thing: it will also have to withstand the heat of Malaysia".
Actually, you did have a thrill in the finale when he put his wheels on the grass and almost ran off the track.
"It was my mistake, I take full responsibility for it. I had created a gap, it was no longer necessary to push to the limit, and I got distracted. I looked away and found myself out of the right trajectory".
Who knows what Michael Schumacher must have thought.
"So far I’ve had few opportunities to talk to him. I met him only twice, in Maranello, the day of the presentation of the new car, and in Barcelona, during a test. Every time he walked into a room, I went out, and we have hardly seen each other. It must be fate: even this time I know that he called on the phone, but the line was disturbed and I did not recognise him".
Who knows what emotion in listening to the two anthems, yours and the Italian one.
"I have to admit that I was no longer used to mine, has been heard often in recent times, even if it was not because of me. Anyway, it was a pleasant feeling, I hope it’s just the first of many. Our goal is clear: we want to win as many races as possible".
Do you consider this victory a reward for the misfortune of the past years?
"It’s two different stories, my McLaren adventure and my Ferrari adventure. I love living in the present. But I’ve never been successful in the first race. I hope it’s a good omen".
A promise to Malaysia?
"We have a great package. We will certainly fight to win, also because important news is coming. I can’t say more: let me get in the car and we’ll see. Racing with Ferrari is fun. And it often makes you win. I hope this story will continue for a long time".
While Felipe Massa went from last to sixth place. In his own way a feat:
"Although honestly, I was hoping for something more".
There were other dreams. The victory, at the beginning of the weekend, at least the podium on Sunday, when he realised that he would have to start at the bottom of the grid because the mechanics had decided to change the engine. Gilles Simon, Ferrari engine manager, says:
"It was a precaution. To replace the gearbox the engine had been subjected to a brutal entry; for safety’s sake, we preferred to fit a new one, since it will also have to withstand the heat of Malaysia".
With a new gearbox, after having broken two on Saturday, and a new engine, Felipe Massa set about overtaking as many opponents as he could.
"We showed how great our potential is; Räikkönen won, I overtook sixteen cars. I believed in the podium, but there were too many opponents in front and the Renault of Fisichella ended up blocking my comeback. I was faster, but overtaking him was impossible because his straight-line speed was impressive. I’m still happy because I managed to limit the damage. Räikkönen won, now it’s my turn. Was he cold on the podium? I will explode with joy. Just give me some luck and you will see".
When he is in a good mood, and Sunday morning he has every reason to be, Luca Montezemolo willingly indulges in jokes. A classic is to pretend to be another person on the phone:
"This is Mr. X from so-and-so television, would you mind commenting on Räikkönen’s victory in Melbourne...?"
Then a barely-choked chuckle at the other end of the telephone wire reveals the deception. And Montezemolo reveals himself: but it is he who has to respond and comment on the first race and the first victory of Ferrari in the new season. President, did you see that?
"Great, everything was amazing. The car, the team, the drivers".
Even Massa?
"But did you see where he started from? His performance was superb. But let’s face it, we got Massa when he was very young. He has learned to work well with Schumacher, he grew up and now he’s a value for the team. He broke something: well, I didn’t really understand what but in short, a race like this is remarkable and we are just at the beginning. Massa reminds me of the footballer Zola who always told me he learned everything from watching Maradona. I’m delighted, it was a triumph. I had high hopes because I knew things were going well but I didn’t dare to say so because, just in case, it’s always better to keep your fingers crossed".
And what about the cold Räikkönen?
"If he keeps up like this, I’ll settle for cold, freezing cold. Victory after always being in the lead, pole position and fastest lap. What more could you want?"
Is the new F2007 going well from what you’ve seen?
"I want to talk about the rest because the car already speaks for itself. The team. For ten years Ferrari has always been the car to beat. Once with Williams, once with McLaren, then with Renault, we have a year in which, because of the tyres and other things we were not doing well, but we are always the ones to beat. In these ten years, we either won or we lost at the last minute. Schumacher’s gone and we keep winning, Ross Brawn’s gone, but still do well. This means that there has been internal growth, a school: everyone has learned and you can continue to do well, to work well, profitably. There has been internal growth, we created replacements, which means that the school worked".
Is it going to be an easy year?
"Please, we don’t say these things. We started well but over the years we also happened to start badly and then recover. In fact, every year we have shown that we can improve. But this can happen to others, and so there is nothing taken for granted. It is important that we got off to a good start. Now we have to improve the performance and reliability because nobody stays still in Formula 1. We knew we had a great car but then the first race is always the moment of truth, not to mention that something can go wrong for a thousand reasons and therefore it is better to be cautious. Today I can say that we really have a great car but we have to work and stay focused".
Did you talk to Schumacher who was staying at his house in Switzerland?
"Not yet, I will do it now and I am sure that his contribution will continue because he has taught us many things. We’ve all learned from him in these fantastic ten years we’ve spent together, and he will continue to be vigilant. I invite you to reflect on a fact: with the sole exception of Räikkönen, all the others who make up the current Ferrari, have worked with him, the team has grown around him and also thanks to him".
How did Massa pull off the miracle of climbing through the field to take points?
"Because he is good, because the car allowed him to do so but also because he made a great strategic choice: since he started from the back he chose different tyres and in fact, he did one less pit stop, which certainly allowed him to recover. In short, nothing was due to chance, they all worked well, including Massa. And then let me add another thing: Felipe Massa is not only good, he is a wonderful guy, with the right attitude".
The World Champion has limited the damage, but from the Australian Grand Prix for Fernando Alonso there is more bad news than good. The Spaniard can console himself by thinking of Flavio Briatore, who admitted to feeling nostalgic for him, and the slightest delay in the standings. What is perhaps more unexpected is that Alonso risks having another threatening rival at home, teammate Lewis Hamilton. The Spaniard finally managed to stay ahead of him, but he had to suffer a lot.
"I was lucky to get past him after the second pit stop. It was a very strange start, obviously not good for me. I was keeping an eye on Heidfeld, and too late I realised I was fourth".
Fernando Alonso tries to be optimistic:
"We took as many points as possible. Ferrari is ahead, and if we want to win we have to work even harder. But we proved one thing: McLaren is not here to play and relax".
It was not a debut for Lewis Hamilton in F1, it was a coronation. Niki Lauda says:
"Never seen anything like it, he’s the best".
And Nigel Nigel Mansell adds:
"He will become World Champion in three years".
Only the British tabloids try to spoil his day, telling of an alleged (forbidden) love story, getting in exchange to upset his dad Anthony. And, for a day at least, the sporting result makes the boy who bears the name of another great black of the sport, Carl Lewis, forget the questions about the colour of his skin. The dream goes on.
"Ecstatic. I can’t stop being so. It was already a dream to be in F1, now also the podium".
At the first Grand Prix. The last Englishman, Mike Parkes, to debut with a podium finish dates back to 1966.
"Having such a sweet start is something you do not expect".
And he kept Fernando Alonso behind for a long time.
"Not bad to be in front of the World Champion, right?"
You even overtook him at the start.
"Actually, I just reacted to Kubica’s move, who had overtaken me. I moved to the left and my move was right: I gained a couple of positions and from that point on things went smoothly. Before the start, I had focused on all the possible solutions of the start".
You also led for four laps.
"Intense, it was intense to be in the lead".
A long race for a rookie.
"Oh yes, a lot. But I was well trained physically, and the many tests I did in winter can confirm this. But it’s not all down to me".
And whose?
"I have to thank the team and also the mechanics who are in the factory, if the car was competitive, properly prepared. I know they worked day and night, they were all great. Things don’t happen by themselves".
Was everything perfect or is there something to review?
"There are many things to improve. I made some mistakes, but it’s part of the training. I have to improve, but it’s all experience".
Then Alonso took second place.
"Yes, I remember Fernando pushing hard, and I was trying to keep up the pace. Then there were the blue flags, I ended up behind some lapped cars and lost precious time. He then made up the gap and then overtook me after the pit stop".
In the end, you seemed slower.
"The last five laps, to be exact. I had problems with the tyres that were loosened and so I just thought of taking the car home, without forcing or risking”.
No recriminations, then.
"No kidding, I am happy with the work I have done, I think I have done enough for my first Grand Prix. I think Melbourne is a great starting point, fundamental for the rest of the season".
And now, at Easter, Malaysia.
"I’ve never been there, so far, and I’m excited about it. We’re strong, we hope we can close the gap with Ferrari".
The feeling is that this time the jokes and provocations of Flavio Briatore will serve very little. Renault does not have the polish and form of the last two winning years. Fifth Giancarlo Fisichella, tenth Heikki Kovalainen.
"Guys, we’re the fourth force here".
They admit in the French team that, in addition to Ferrari and McLaren, they are also behind BMW. And probably, if Felipe Massa and Robert Kubica had not had problems, Fisichella would have closed the Grand Prix even further behind. The Italian driver at least managed to defend himself from the last desperate attempts of Felipe Massa, but that is something that can be useful to his morale, but it certainly does not change the general situation. And the analysis of the driver is indeed harsh:
"We are far away. There is a lot to work on. On what? Aerodynamics and grip".
Words spoken in the heat of the moment, which leave Briatore perplexed:
"Come on, when do drivers ever get it right? Fisichella went well in the first and third part of the race, not in the second. You have to look at the telemetry".
An hour after this, Giancarlo Fisichella replies and closes:
"We have seen and analysed the data, Briatore is convinced that there was no human error and that the problem is the car, so the solutions must be sought elsewhere".
The gap to close, however, seems heavy for Renault and time does not play in their favour:
"Do not expect anything new in Malaysia, there is too little time available. This is the car, let’s hope for the best".
However, a development is planned for Barhein, assures the general manager:
"Yes, there is an important aerodynamic step".
But for Flavio Briatore, there is also another problem, and it concerns the other driver, Heikki Kovalainen (managed by the general manager) who made an unexpected flop. Knowing full well what criticism he is exposed to, Flavio Briatore scolded the Finn at length:
"A judgment? Which one? There wasn’t one".
The grade is merciless:
"He’s done everything wrong, don’t talk to me about pit stops or whatever. It’s rubbish. And I don’t need to protect anyone. Maybe it was his brother. Let’s say it’s the first race, but it’s not excusable in any case beyond that, nothing is accepted. I want the real Heikki".
Kovalainen was at his debut, of course, the comparison with Lewis Hamilton, who ended up on the podium, goes without saying.
"Exactly. How is it possible? It is not".
The person concerned cashes in and does not react:
"Did he say those things? Very right, I made too many mistakes too and I realise it too".
It is still not correct to use the word crisis (we are on the first day of the championship), but the season - if not compromised - is certainly scaled down.
"We knew the beginning would be hard, now we’ll roll up our sleeves".
And if before the rumours gave Giancarlo Fisichella in the balance, now at risk is the Finnish. On the bench is Nelson Piquet Jr., who is ready to wear the overalls: he was thinking in the Italian's place, maybe he will get the second car. The defendant, Heikki Kovalainen, tries to play it down:
"As a debut is to be forgotten. The only positive thing is that the next race can not be worse than this".
At the Ferrari garage, the phone rings. Jean Todt puts his hands in his pocket. It could be Luca Montezemolo, the president’s call is a classic as soon as the race is over. The voice speaks English and has a German accent. Michael Schumacher is on the phone. Jean Todt smiles and hands the phone to Kimi Räikkönen. He will then tell the Finnish:
"I think it was Michael, but the line was very disturbed, I didn’t understand anything".
Jean Todt’s enthusiasm is greater:
"Hearing him was a great emotion, it shows how much this team is a real family. Schumacher did not forget us, he got up late at night, suffered in front of the TV and immediately wanted to congratulate himself".
If the Kimi Räikkönen seen in the Australian Grand Prix is the same, that is, the drunkard, about which the winter reports have spoken, then we can rest assured. Someone who races like that from the first to the last lap would pass unscathed on every breathalyzer. First race of the Formula 1 World Championship in Melbourne and the first victory of the Finn who replaced the legend, that of Michael Schumacher, at Ferrari. To avoid being taken as a model by too many rowdy Saturday nights, it is good to say one thing from the outset. And that is that many had expressed serious doubts during the winter that had just ended when it was reported that he drank too much today here tomorrow there. He was photographed singing at the top of his lungs, kissing someone, maybe arguing. But on this matter of the Räikkönen handling the glass too casually, frankly, it all seems a made-up lie. Someone who races like that, with such surgical precision, cannot be one to indulge in alcohol. At some point in the race, the cameras caught what may have been a slight mistake, a slight skid in the curve with no other consequence than a small loss of time. Not the mistake of a drunk driver making a lane change. How could be that he drinks and that for the whole race, all he does is beat the lap record, himself? But no, it had to be a whole story to keep the attention on him waiting to measure up after his first race in Ferrari. Now that the first race is done, Kimi Räikkönen can only be given straight tens. Even if you want to be picky and nitpick, you cannot criticise him. In short, the post-Schumacher era is off to a good start. Everyone was a little shaken, even inside Ferrari, at the idea of facing this aftermath without the guarantees of Michael Schumacher. But it all started well.
Too bad for those technical troubles that happened to Felipe Massa, who forced him to start from the back but even in these cases you can see what a driver is worth. It would be exaggerated to say that Massa with this debut is well underway in the footsteps of Barrichello and his other predecessors because a broken gearbox (if it was the gearbox) can also be expected when starting with a totally new gearbox, which winter testing can never have put to the test like a real Grand Prix. And Fernando Alonso, the reigning World Champion who just changed teams? Since this time McLaren has not broken anything, we can say that we expected more even if the second place suggests that the focus of the championship that just started will be the duel between Ferrari-McLaren and the Räikkönen-Alonso duel. A nice surprise came from Lewis Hamilton. It makes you think that there will be a good fight between drivers both within McLaren and Ferrari. Because the success of Kimi Räikkönen is not that now you officially consecrate him as the first driver. Felipe Massa will certainly want to make up for it. As Fernando Alonso will want to prove to his rookie teammate that he is still a World Champion. Perhaps what many were saying is already true: that it will be a hard-fought championship with more cars and more drivers able to compete with each other. Of course, Ferrari had a brilliant start, both in practice and in the race. In short, Ferrari, as Luca Montezemolo says, has all the air of being once again the car to beat, the benchmark. And frankly, at least in this beginning, it is comforting that it is Ferrari winning. Then we will have time to cheer on Kimi Räikkönen or Felipe Massa. The sympathies already push towards the Brazilian but if the Finn turns out to be precise and relentless like Michael Schumacher in the end, likeable or not, you will end up siding for him.