On Tuesday, June 3, 2008, Max Mosley's fate was decided in Paris: the 222 FIA members voted on the president involved in the sadomasochism scandal. The statute does not compel Max Mosley to resign, but 37% were in favor of a vote of no confidence, 25% supported him, 29% abstained, and 9% were undecided. The FIA could ask Max Mosley to step down by the end of 2008, a year before the scheduled end of his term. On the eve of the vote of confidence, Bernie Ecclestone added his voice, urging the FIA president to resign.
"I've been his friend for forty years, but I have to inform him that everyone in Formula 1's top positions thinks the same way".
However, Max Mosley survived. The 55 opposing votes, coming from the most powerful automotive nations in the world, weren't enough to remove him from office. Neither did the 7 abstentions nor the 4 spoiled ballots shame him. Max Mosley remained at the helm of the FIA, exploiting the secrecy of the ballot. The extraordinary assembly in Paris, lasting about two and a half hours, passed the vote of confidence with 103 in favor, a final round of applause, and heartfelt emotion from someone who always believed himself to be untouchable, knowing he could count on a rich reservoir of support from countries in Africa and Asia to which the astute president had always provided substantial economic aid and numerous favors. It mattered little if his confirmation stirred a hornet's nest, if the German Automobile Club, the largest in Europe, withdrew its collaboration from any working group under an FIA led by Max Mosley, if the United States, led by their determined representative Robert Darbelnet, threatened to exit the Federation, proposing a sensational split. It mattered little if the Dutch delegate, Guido Van Woerkom, was infuriated to the point of making venomous insinuations:
"About the power of money and the influence it can have on those who receive these crumbs of bread, with the inevitable deference to those who distribute this bread".
The Dutchman didn't speak of corruption, and he specified:
"But when I see a president who finds himself against countries like the United States, Australia, Japan, with its 70.000.000 members of Automobile Clubs, Germany, it's difficult for me to talk about victory".
The poison flows, the division between those who chose continuity and those who dreamt of rupture is enormous, but Mosley cares little about all this. He wanted to stay in power at all costs, and he succeeded, even though his success leaves him a diminished president, a man forced to arrive at the FIA headquarters at 6:30 a.m. to avoid being seen (although, after gaining the vote of confidence, he calmly leaves in a taxi at 4:00 p.m.), an executive who will remain in office until the end of his term in October 2009 but has already sworn that he won't seek re-election, a leader who is unwelcome at many official events (in Monte Carlo, at the request of Prince Albert, he was replaced by his deputy, Marco Piccinini, at the awards ceremony for the Grand Prix) and who will now be represented by the two Italian vice-presidents, Marco Piccinini and Franco Lucchesi. A president saved but not safe, who won but continues to feel besieged. On Tuesday, while his enemies attacked him in every possible way, the English lawyer remained silent once again. His only public statements were made within the assembly, first in his heartfelt defense, where he reiterated the conspiracy theory against him and the terrorist attack on his privacy, and then in his gratitude for the trust he had received, concluding a debate that began with the report of lawyer Scrivener, the neutral party appointed by the FIA and former legal counsel for Saddam Hussein, who claimed not to see any Nazi implications (one of the most serious charges) in the hard video. It continued with a dozen interventions from delegates evenly divided between pro and con. Max Mosley never showed any signs of tension, as if he felt secure. Probably, he believed that the Italian sentiment, explained by Enrico Gelpi, the president of the Aci:
"We voted in favour of giving confidence, because the state's interests must prevail; the FIA as an institution must be stronger than individuals' private lives".
If only this sentiment were common to all, rather than Italy being the only major one not to turn its back on him. He made it through, but the doubt remains that his torment continues. Bernie Ecclestone's stance remains unchanged:
"I don't change my mind; he should have resigned. With all the enemies he has, he risks not making it through the end of 2008."
The uncomfortable Max Mosley embarrasses Luca Montezemolo:
"Max should consider the possibility of stepping back".
Until now, the president of Ferrari had not commented on the Englishman's reconfirmation at the helm of the FIA. The story is well-known by now. On Sunday, March 30, 2008, News of the World made public a video in which Max Mosley (his father was one of the founders of British fascism) stars in a sadomasochistic orgy with Nazi overtones: he's seen whipping a hooker (there are five of them, including the wife of a British MI6 agent) while counting the strokes in German. For two months, Max Mosley came under fire, becoming a persona non grata. BMW, Mercedes, and Toyota called for his immediate resignation. Ferrari was more cautious. In the meantime, Max Mosley sued the magazine but initially lost the case, and the video was not seized. His first public reappearance was at the Monaco Grand Prix. On Tuesday, June 3, 2008, the extraordinary assembly of the FIA ignored the case and reconfirmed him as president with 103 votes in favor and 55 against. But the verdict divided Formula 1. Luca Montezemolo commented:
"I'm glad that Mosley is still president, but I believe he should understand that sometimes it's necessary to leave certain positions for reasons of credibility".
Moving from one case to another, it seems that being a Formula 1 World Champion and a Ferrari driver isn't enough. Earning 30,000,000 a year and being an idol of the crowds isn't enough. Kimi Räikkönen has a Zen-like view of life in general and work in particular:
"The important thing is that I enjoy it. In Formula 1, there are many things that don't please me. When the things I like outweigh those I don't, it will be the right time to stop".
The Finnish driver loves to drive and despises the rest, the surrounding world of advertisements and repetitive interviews that force him to stand still in front of photographers or speak in front of an audience. How many times has he repeated:
"Things didn't go well in Monte Carlo, but we expect to do well in Montreal".
Or:
"The Ferrari is competitive, the World Championship is balanced, McLaren is the main competitor, then there's BMW".
And again:
"I like this track; without electronic aids, it doesn't change much, overtaking is difficult".
In every press conference, interview, or appearance for sponsors, the same questions come, and without fail, he receives identical answers. Because it's true that Kimi Räikkönen talks little, but he has never been silent. When he reaches the threshold of tolerance, he retreats to a corner with the standard phrase:
"Let's wait and see".
If he isn't interested in the subject, he makes it clear:
"Max Mosley's story concerns his private life. It's his business".
And woe to those who ask him about blatantly absurd rumors, for he will respond colder than usual:
"Bullshit".
So, it's surprising the calmness with which he talks about his future in Montreal, where the Canadian Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, June 8, 2008:
"I have a contract until the end of 2009. I haven't thought about what comes after yet. I might make a decision this season, or maybe in four years".
What are the options?
"If I decide to leave, I'll find something that I enjoy more than Formula 1".
Finnish, 28 years old, a past with McLaren after his debut with Sauber in 2001, the World Championship title in his first season at Maranello, and now the favorite for the current championship. His nickname is the Iceman. Ferrari wanted someone like him: fast, reserved, and impervious to the pressures that come with being Michael Schumacher's successor. Kimi Räikkönen has had a couple of somewhat disappointing races recently: in Turkey, he finished third while Felipe Massa led from start to finish; in Monaco, he made a series of mistakes and finished ninth.
"Everyone makes mistakes in life; the important thing is to learn from them. After the Australian Grand Prix, for example, we bounced back immediately. I hope the same happens here in Montreal".
Discussions about the future have nothing to do with results, as Kimi reiterates:
"I have a contract, and I will respect it".
Ferrari has asked him what he intends to do after 2010 without rushing him. But to find a possible replacement, they will have to act in time. From Spain, the hypothesis of Alonso is resurfacing. The former World Champion (now with Renault and in negotiations with BMW) will be free at the end of 2009. The alternative is Robert Kubica, the most promising among the young drivers (after Lewis Hamilton, who is tied to McLaren). Negotiations will begin before Kimi decides, as the driver market usually takes place during the summer. He sticks to the path he has outlined:
"In this year and a half, we'll see what happens. If you have to do too many things that you don't enjoy or don't want to do, then it's probably over. If, on the other hand, you're afraid of missing it, it's better to continue".
At the end of the next championship, Kimi Räikkönen will be 30 years old. Michael Schumacher retired at nearly 38, Rubens Barrichello is 35 and dreams of continuing in F1 past 40, David Coulthard (37 years old) hopes to be reconfirmed. But the Finnish driver asserts:
"Age doesn't matter. We're all here to race and have fun".
Speaking of leisure: on Wednesday night, he played hockey with Patrice Brisebois, captain of the Canadian national team and a motorsport enthusiast (he will compete in the Ferrari Challenge). The two exchanged advice. Is there a possibility that Kimi Räikkönen will change teams when his contract expires?
"Probably not".
Are you sure?
"No, probably".
On Friday, June 6, 2008, the first practice session began in wet conditions, causing most drivers to venture out onto the track in the latter half of the hour. Some drivers, like Lewis Hamilton, only emerged during the final minutes of the session. Ferrari's Felipe Massa recorded the fastest lap in this session, followed by Robert Kubica and Heikki Kovalainen. In the second session of the day, Lewis Hamilton performed well, with Kubica continuing to record good lap times at number two. Kimi Räikkönen recorded the third fastest lap time, an improvement from his fifth-fastest time in the earlier session. Timo Glock suffered a minor accident when he hit the wall on turn four. The number eleven is not Felipe Massa's lucky number. It's 3:11 p.m. in Canada, and at turn 11, there's an embarrassing parking situation. Felipe Massa, after setting the fastest time in the morning free practice session, is trying to repeat his performance when he realizes something is wrong with his Ferrari. He explains:
"It was a hydraulic problem; I noticed that certain mechanisms of the car were getting stuck, starting with the power steering. To avoid more serious trouble, I preferred to stop immediately. It's not positive, but if it had to happen, it's better that it happened on a Friday when the times don't count".
His Ferrari pulls over after stuttering for several hundred meters, and the scene that follows is rather clumsy, with race officials struggling to move the car, trying to find a gap in the safety fences to secure it. It's in a dangerous part of the circuit, and they need to act quickly, but the impression is that the personnel are becoming confused. This is what annoys the Brazilian the most.
"I will talk to Whiting, the race director. The officials were unprepared; they didn't even know how to put the car in neutral. They moved the car incorrectly; they should have done their job better".
At the end of the day, Felipe Massa is fifth, 0.661 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton, who topped the timesheets in the free practice sessions on the track where he secured his first career victory with McLaren last year. However, the Brazilian doesn't despair.
"The car, until the breakdown, was performing well. We are on par with McLaren and BMW in terms of performance. Like in Monaco, I expect a very tight battle for pole position because, in terms of performance, we are all very close. The difference is that here, perhaps, overtaking is possible. Let's say I would be happy with the top three grid positions".
Kimi Räikkönen also displays optimism, finishing fifth after the first session and third at the end of the second round, just behind Lewis Hamilton (0.341 seconds behind) but narrowly ahead (0.07 seconds) of the BMW of Robert Kubica. The Finn says,
"We've been quite fast; the car is not bad. I believe that lap times also depend a lot on the fuel load that others have in their tanks. Compared to last year, we are stronger; we can fight for pole position".
This is provided McLaren cooperates, but also with Robert Kubica's consent, as he is now firmly in the fight. Last year, the Polish driver had a near-fatal accident here but now claims,
"I don't remember anything about the accident. Erased. I'm only interested in winning".
This thought doesn't even cross Fernando Alonso's mind, who had a spin during practice. The crane that takes away his Renault is a perfect symbol of his season. Meanwhile, the latest news on the Max Mosley case arrives. Bernie Ecclestone had said,
"He was saved by Africa".
For the representatives of that continent this phrase seems racist. And now they demand a letter of apology.
Saturday, June 7, 2008, Nico Rosberg sprung a surprise by topping the Saturday session ahead of Räikkönen and Hamilton. The session was red flagged 45 minutes in when Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel hit the wall after losing control at turn nine, resulting in a number of drivers being unable to complete their flying laps. Further, Vettel's teammate Sébastien Bourdais suffered a crash at turn five. On the Saturday afternoon's qualifying Lewis Hamilton recordes the fastest time for the session, ahead of Felipe Massa and Heikki Kovalainen. Sebastian Vettel's poor season continued after he could not compete the qualifying following his crash in third practice session. Others eliminated in this session were Sébastien Bourdais, Adrian Sutil, Giancarlo Fisichella and Jenson Button. Bourdais received a five place grid penalty due to a gearbox change following the earlier practice session. Button too suffered a gearbox problem during his first lap run and clocked the slowest time for the session. Qualifying conditions were hampered by a disintegrating track, which caused most drivers to record slower times than in Q1. Track officials were seen clearing the track of debris in between sessions. Toyota's Jarno Trulli suffered significantly from these conditions, his car spinning twice during the second session. Trulli, along with Timo Glock, Kazuki Nakajima, David Coulthard and Nelson Piquet Jr., was unable to progress to the next session. Hamilton once again topped this session, with Massa and Räikkönen coming second and third respectively.
Hamilton recorded quick times during early laps of the session, which were only surpassed by Robert Kubica towards the end of the session. But Hamilton on his final flying lap overcame Kubica's time claiming his second pole position at Montreal. Räikkönen came in third with teammate Massa pushed down to sixth position. Fernando Alonso and Nico Rosberg exhibited remarkable performances, taking positions four and five respectively. Mark Webber, who also became a victim of the breaking track surface, could not compete in Q3 after damaging his car at the end of second session. The Ferrari team faces a setback as the asphalt at turn 10 begins to deteriorate, risking the Maranello cars ending up in it, resembling quicksand that slows down their pace, punches the stopwatch, and boosts Lewis Hamilton's Saturday. He is Ferrari's great rival in McLaren, the driver who always seems to be in his element in Canada, now comforted by the presence of his entire family for the first time:
"These are people who give me the right push and help me fly on the track".
Hamilton is like a rocket in his silver suit, leaving everyone behind with a flurry of tenths, securing the pole position just like last year and in 2007. Now he dreams of a repeat victory in the race, on the track where he clinched his first win of the season 12 months ago. He's a lightning bolt while the Ferraris suddenly appear to be snails, even trailing behind Robert Kubica. He's another driver with a unique history on this circuit, having risked his life in a spectacular crash last season. Now, he's on the front row, although at a respectful distance from Hamilton, 0.612 seconds, a significant gap that leads him to say:
"I've already achieved a great feat here, and I don't believe I have the right pace with my car to win".
However, he's still ahead. To find a Ferrari, you have to go back to the third position, the second row. The only consolation is the clean side of the track, with Kimi Räikkönen clearly disappointed. He's the first to criticize the asphalt:
"I'm angry because we had the car to secure pole position. In the last session of free practice, we were doing well, but suddenly, there was a blackout. Everything changed, and the circuit conditions became completely different. At turn 10, a tricky corner, there's a lack of grip and traction, and I lost a lot of time".
Eight-tenths of a second, according to Ferrari's engineers, account for most of the massive gap to Hamilton, the 0.849 seconds that the Finn has had to contend with in these embarrassing hours leading up to the Canadian Grand Prix. Kimi Raikkonen, who has started negotiating an extension to his contract with Ferrari following Friday's strange message, doesn't mince words and takes a jab at the organizers with irony:
"They had promised to fix the asphalt after the problems in recent years. Considering what they've done, if they want, I can suggest someone who can certainly do a better job".
The jest doesn't hide his frustration. The Finn is clearly annoyed, even though he has no intention of giving up:
"Being third isn't ideal, but you can still win. The important thing will be to avoid the disastrous start of last year".
When he started from the fourth position, a space now occupied by the surprising Alonso with Renault, the dirty track held him back. Felipe Massa is more direct, using humor as well:
"At turn 10, there's a beach; it felt like we were at Copacabana".
But then he doesn't hold back in his criticisms either. Maybe it's because he's down in sixth place on the grid, even slower than the outsider Nico Rosberg. His words are fiery:
"It doesn't matter if the asphalt is new; they did a terrible job. In these conditions, securing pole position was impossible. Our cars would come to a complete stop at that point".
According to Ferrari's technicians, Massa may have left six-tenths of a second on that blamed turn with a chicane.
"I don't know how Hamilton did it; he was the only one who passed at full speed without problems. It must be a matter of racing lines. Anyway, if they don't fix things, I expect a strange race, where anything can happen, and starting from the third row or the first row might be the same".
Strange, in the sense of a lottery. But is it also dangerous? Massa believes so, even though it should be noted that the cars go through the turn at 90 km/h. However, the Brazilian has immediately called on the other drivers:
"We can't settle for this. The track didn't help us; there's absolutely no grip at turn 10. The asphalt there looked like a beach; I was losing everything I gained in other parts of the circuit. If the situation remains like this, we'll see a strange race tomorrow. We need to protest, do something".
Kimi Raikkonen, in turn, returns to the issue of the road surface:
"The car has been good up until today. Maybe this morning it was a bit less good, and it showed in qualifying. It's a shame to lose seconds because of the imperfect asphalt. Unfortunately, I couldn't improve, and I'm a bit disappointed because we could have secured pole position. Let's see how the race goes because if there have been issues after three laps, I don't know what might happen in the race".
The complaints of Ferrari's drivers are echoed by others, like Jarno Trulli, who says:
"The track is deteriorating. It's better to go off the track than on it. That's why there have been so many incidents. The asphalt is coming up in most parts of the track, at turns 1, 6, 12, 15, and many other places. It was impossible for everyone to improve. I don't know how the race will be tomorrow under these conditions".
Flavio Briatore also shared his opinion on the matter:
"It's impossible to race in these conditions; the asphalt is filled with potholes just like last year. It's vital for safety that everything is fixed before the race".
And Robert Kubica, despite his second-place finish, had this to say:
"I'm happy, but we all struggled immensely because of the condition of the track".
Only Lewis Hamilton seems to be immune to it all.
"It's been an exceptional Saturday. We set good times, and I've been feeling good in the car since yesterday. Even though there are some issues with the asphalt, I managed to carry out these qualifications positively. Kubica? The problem was maybe Kimi; I thought he could do better than me. I did my best, the best lap possible. Certainly, I lost some time due to debris, especially in turn 10. The speed was always very high. I feel great, I have the same feelings as last year".
Where, after the victory, he said he felt on top of the world. The orbit of the invincibles. In the meantime, the protests seem to have had the desired effect. After the practices, the officials of the Montreal circuit have decided to resurface certain parts of the track. In particular, the section corresponding to the Herpin corner, the hairpin of the Gilles Villeneuve circuit, where road surface issues had been reported, causing difficulties for the drivers in keeping their cars on track. The executive vice president of the event, Francois Dumontier, has assured that by the time the race starts tomorrow, the track conditions will be optimal. Meanwhile, the Mosley case continues to be a hot topic in F1. On Friday, the teams had gathered to seek a valid solution to renew the so-called Concord Agreement, which regulates technical and, above all, economic aspects of the World Championship. There was also talk of a possible alternative championship outside of the FIA. Ecclestone denies this possibility, saying:
"I can't steal something that is already mine".
Ferrari stays out of the dispute but emphasizes that the sport must still have a referee, represented by the Federation, which cannot be excluded from negotiations. On Sunday, June 8, 2008, at the start of the Canadian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton held onto the first position, followed by Robert Kubica, Kimi Räikkönen, and Nico Rosberg, who passed Fernando Alonso, the only change in the top positions. Lewis Hamilton immediately tried to pull away from the group behind him, and after ten laps, his lead was 5 seconds over Robert Kubica and 9 seconds over Kimi Räikkönen. Felipe Massa closely followed Fernando Alonso while Heikki Kovalainen struggled to fend off the attacks from Nick Heidfeld. During lap 12, Nelson Piquet Jr., who was making a comeback, passed Jarno Trulli with a slight contact. After getting his tires up to temperature, Kimi Räikkönen began to set the fastest laps, closing in on Robert Kubica. However, during lap 17, the Safety Car was deployed due to Adrian Sutil's retirement, as his car was engulfed in flames along the track. During lap 19, the pit lane opened, and all the leading drivers entered the pits for refueling. However, at the pit exit, Robert Kubica and Kimi Räikkönen stopped because the traffic light was red, an anomaly on the Canadian circuit. Lewis Hamilton failed to notice this and collided with Räikkönen's car, leading to both of their retirements (Hamilton would later be penalized with a ten-place grid penalty for the next Grand Prix). Nico Rosberg also failed to notice the red light and lightly touched Lewis Hamilton's car. However, the German was able to continue (he would also receive a penalty). Felipe Massa, who had refueled immediately after Kimi Raikkonen, had to return to the pits one lap later because no fuel had been dispensed during his first pit stop due to a malfunction with the fuel rig. Returning just as the race resumed and sliding to the back of the pack. Later, the Safety Car pulled into the pits, and at the front of the race was Nick Heidfeld, followed by Rubens Barrichello, Kazuki Nakajima, Mark Webber, David Coulthard, Jarno Trulli, Timo Glock, and Giancarlo Fisichella. Robert Kubica was in tenth place, but he was the first of the drivers who had already made their pit stops. The Polish driver led Fernando Alonso, Nelson Piquet Jr., and Heikki Kovalainen. Nico Heidfeld increased his lead over Rubens Barrichello, who, in turn, slowed down the rest of the group. During lap 28, Nelson Piquet Jr. spun at turn 3, managed to avoid the wall, and continued.
While on lap 29, Nick Heidfeld pitted, taking on the fuel needed to finish the race. The German rejoined in front of his teammate. However, Robert Kubica overtook him at the beginning of lap 31, with minimal resistance, just as Mark Webber also pitted for refueling. At the halfway point, Rubens Barrichello led the race, followed by David Coulthard, Jarno Trulli, Timo Glock, Sebastian Vettel, Robert Kubica, Nick Heidfeld, and Fernando Alonso. Meanwhile, Felipe Massa, in a comeback effort, passed Mark Webber. Rubens Barrichello made his pit stop halfway through the race, followed by David Coulthard a couple of laps later. The Scot re-entered the track behind Nick Heidfeld and Fernando Alonso. Now, the Toyota drivers, Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock, who had started with a heavy fuel load, led the race. During lap 39, Jarno Trulli pitted, while Felipe Massa overtook Kazuki Nakajima and Jenson Button, moving up to eighth place. Timo Glock slowed down Robert Kubica until lap 42 when he pitted for refueling. Kubica took the lead with an 11.5-second advantage over his teammate. In a few laps, Robert Kubica extended his lead by taking advantage of the battle between Nick Heidfeld and Fernando Alonso. Alonso made a move at the hairpin but was repassed on the exit. However, on lap 45, he lost control of his car, possibly due to a gearbox problem, and crashed at turn seven. The track was very dirty with many marbles off the racing line, making life difficult for everyone. During lap 49, Robert Kubica made his second pit stop and re-entered the track in front of Nick Heidfeld, with David Coulthard comfortably in third place. Behind the top three, Rubens Barrichello tried to resist Heikki Kovalainen and Felipe Massa. During lap 51, the most spectacular position swap of the race occurred when Kovalainen attacked the Honda driver at the Epingle hairpin. However, both drivers ran wide, and Felipe Massa passed them both on the inside. Now, the Brazilian was in fourth place, trailing David Coulthard by 8 seconds. However, during lap 53, Felipe Massa (like Heikki Kovalainen) made another pit stop and had to bid farewell to the podium, while Rubens Barrichello returned to fourth place. During lap 59, Barrichello made a mistake at the first chicane and was passed by Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli.
During lap 61, Nico Rosberg attacked Sebastian Vettel on the outside of the final chicane and was passed by Heikki Kovalainen, who then ran wide on the following lap and gave the position back to Rosberg. On lap 62, Felipe Massa passed Rubens Barrichello and moved into sixth place, quickly regaining another position by passing Jarno Trulli. In the end, Rubens Barrichello stoically resisted Sebastian Vettel and Heikki Kovalainen, earning points for the second race in a row. Meanwhile, Robert Kubica won the Canadian Grand Prix, celebrating his first-ever Formula 1 victory on the same circuit where he had nearly lost his life in a terrible accident the year before. Additionally, he became the first Polish driver to win an F1 race, and he was propelled to the top of the Drivers' World Championship, ahead of Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton. BMW also celebrated its first-ever one-two finish in F1, with Nick Heidfeld taking second place. Third was the impressive and fortunate David Coulthard, marking his final career podium. Fourth was Timo Glock, who managed the single pit-stop strategy brilliantly. Then came Felipe Massa, who staged a remarkable comeback despite the fuel rig issue during his pit stop, which forced him to pit again. Sixth was Jarno Trulli, followed by Rubens Barrichello and Sebastian Vettel. Once again, Heikki Kovalainen disappointed, finishing only ninth. If life is a wheel, imagine Formula 1. Here, the wheels are a crucial element, and it's no surprise that in Canada, where a year ago he had risked ending his career due to a terrible accident, Robert Kubica achieved his first-ever victory. The Polish driver, devoted to Pope John Paul II, fulfilled his dream at the end of a race where everything happened, and he was the only one to stay out of trouble. It was an immense joy, one he repeated at least a hundred times after the race. But more importantly, it was historic, not just for him but also for his country and the team he raced for, BMW. They secured an unexpected one-two finish and now had their driver leading the World Championship. Incredible Robert Kubica, with another BMW driver, Nick Heidfeld, coming second. In the Constructors' Championship, BMW was in second place, only three points behind Ferrari and a comfortable 17 points ahead of their rival, McLaren. A fantastic Sunday for the BMW team, their members couldn't believe their eyes. All this while chaos reigned around them: controversies, low blows, accusations, anger, and apologies. Ultimately, there was one culprit, Lewis Hamilton, the McLaren prodigy who had dominated the race for the first 19 laps but then made a reckless move when exiting the pits while the Safety Car was still on the track.
At the end of the pit lane, there is a red traffic light, which had been fatal for Felipe Massa the previous year when he ignored it and received a black flag. Kimi Raikkonen, faster than Lewis Hamilton during the pit stop, sees it and stops. It seems like you're in the city; the Finn pulls up alongside Robert Kubica, who is also lightning-fast in the stop. Lewis Hamilton is behind, outsmarted, and this likely distracts him. He accelerates quickly but with his eyes closed, plowing through everything, directly into the Ferrari of the Finn. In turn, he is struck by the Williams of Nico Rosberg, who was the fourth driver returning to the pit lane for refueling. At the end of the race, Lewis Hamilton apologizes:
"It's my fault, I'm sorry for Raikkonen; in the heat of the moment, I lost track of everything, didn't see the red light. I'm sorry for him; I didn't do it on purpose. I was so focused on maintaining the lead that when I saw the red light, it was already too late".
In the heat of the moment, however, Lewis Hamilton even risks getting a beating from the Finn. Kimi Raikkonen gets out of his car, approaches him, and says:
"Do you even have eyes?"
This anger doesn't subside in Kimi Raikkonen's mind even after the Grand Prix. He thinks, who cares if the judges penalized him, and Lewis Hamilton will drop ten positions on the starting grid at Magny-Cours.
"I could have won here, and he took me out. A mistake can happen, I made one in Monte Carlo, but one thing is on the track, another in the pit lane. More than angry, I'm astonished. I don't understand how this could have happened. It's a stupid mistake".
Raikkonen is furious, and his gesture right after getting out of the car was telling: he went to Hamilton and pointed to the traffic light, which was still red at that moment:
"What Hamilton did today is inexplicable, it's even stupid. I'm not the most appropriate person to comment on a collision, but how is it possible that he didn't realize the light was red? I'm almost glad that BMW won; better them than others... the way things were going, I was definitely in contention for the victory. But Hamilton ruined everything".
However, it happened, and Kimi Raikkonen's race was over. Just like Felipe Massa, who returns to the pit lane, and the team can't put the right amount of fuel in his tank due to a broken valve in the refueling rig. They call him back to the pits immediately, but the double pit stop plunges the Brazilian to P17. Saturday's asphalt, Sunday's refueling—Felipe Massa can't catch a break. What follows is a festival of overtakes and a fifth-place finish achieved through sheer force.
"Four valuable points given how it started".
However, the Brazilian is quite disappointed. Because, let's not beat around the bush, as Stefano Domenicali, Ferrari's team principal, puts it:
"This could have been a dominant victory".
Instead, accidents, opponents' blunders, and bad luck gave birth to a mediocre Sunday. Robert Kubica is deeply grateful for all of this. Now, the Polish driver truly begins to believe in winning the world title.
"I'm in the lead, and the team will help me, even though we still don't have the pace of Ferrari and McLaren".
But he never makes mistakes, and that's a virtue. Even when the race is a direct elimination, where David Coulthard returns to the podium after a long time (third place), where Timo Glock's Toyota narrowly beats Felipe Massa, where Jarno Trulli, Rubens Barrichello, and Sebastian Vettel all earn points. And where Ferrari, after so much misfortune, enthusiastically welcomes its return to Europe.
"I'm grateful to Hamilton. He chose Raikkonen over me to play bumper cars".
In this quip lies everything about Robert Kubica, who will turn 24 on December 7, 2008 - the new man of F1, the driver who works tirelessly, who almost never makes mistakes (beyond the triumph in Montreal, if he's leading the World Championship, it's because of his consistency, four podiums in seven races), but above all, he always knows how to downplay things, not taking himself and the world around him too seriously. Robert Kubica wins the first race of his life and, getting out of the car, he says:
"How boring it was in the final laps. I had no one in front of me, a big lead over second place, nothing to fight for, and I was at risk of getting bored".
Perhaps it's superfluous to point out to him that in those last kilometers, a page of history was being written-his first career victory, the first for a Polish driver, the first for BMW, the team that, with a masterful move at the end of 2005, managed to snatch him from Renault, outsmarting the shrewd Flavio Briatore for once. Robert Kubica was very young back then, but he has always been precocious and destined for greatness. Guided by his manager, Morelli, he didn't hesitate to jump the fence. Goodbye, Renault, despite his friendship with Fernando Alonso:
"I consider him the strongest driver out there".
Goodbye, France, and hello, Germany, the nation of his current team. In Montreal, the Germans couldn't contain their excitement; they had won both on the track and on the football field (against Poland, no less). Mechanics and technicians kept toasting. As for Robert Kubica, an almost teetotaler, with a toast of orange soda as the height of his transgressiveness, he played the role of a consoler for his fans in Krakow, the city where he was born, the same city as Pope John Paul II, and in Warsaw. According to the Polish press, Robert Kubica has shown football players how to win, and now he'll continue because he's leading the World Championship and could clinch the title. Kubica, who saved national pride. If you tell him something like that, he'll definitely laugh. Because he hates any kind of speculation. He has always loved Pope Wojtyla and for years, he kept his name on his helmet until last year when, after surviving the terrifying accident in Montreal, he was dubbed the miraculous driver.
"You don't joke about these things, so I removed the name from my helmet. I only wear a golden cross on my chest. Wojtyla was the most important figure Poland has ever had; I revered him like a rock star. But religious feelings are private matters, and I don't want to put them on display".
However, the coincidences remain, and even he has to admit that they are astounding:
"I won where I risked my life; it's incredible".
How much must he have benefited from logging his first kilometers in a kart at the Czestkowa track under the Black Madonna? Or moving to Italy at a very young age - he still spends many months in Tuscany and speak Italian very well:
"Because it was easier to race here, spare parts cost less than in Poland".
Or giving up Christmas gifts for two years at the age of four for a mini motorized jeep. His father couldn't resist; he couldn't deny it to him. And he could repay the favor by becoming the youngest World Champion in the history of Formula 1.
"It was an exceptional race for me. It wasn't easy for the track to hold up throughout the race, and I also had slower cars in front. In the end, I made it. The last laps were tough; the team told me not to push too hard, and I felt like I wasn't pushing enough. I have to thank the team for giving me an amazing car. The race was fantastic for me, for the team, for my country, and for my fans".
Then Kubica recounts how it went when exiting the pit lane while he was side by side with Raikkonen's Ferrari, which was rear-ended by Hamilton's McLaren:
"At the pit stop exit, both Kimi and I stopped, I heard the crash and saw that the Ferrari had been hit. It was difficult to navigate that situation".
The other BMW driver, Nick Heidfeld, also struggled to contain his emotions:
"For me, it was a perfect result, especially because the decision to make only one pit stop turned out to be wise. The track? There were no problems on the sides, but a Formula 1 circuit shouldn't be like this".
He then spoke about the one-two finish achieved by his team, with Robert Kubica taking the first position. The German driver said:
"It was beautiful. Today's result means that we are moving in the right direction".
A year ago, Lewis Hamilton entered Formula 1 looking like Ayrton Senna: charismatic, victorious, and captivating, with the added novelty of being black—a first for the sport.
"It's a shame he's not Muslim".
Bernie Ecclestone once said, praising him. Going from the altar to the dust was a swift transition. The missteps in late 2007 were somewhat forgiven by critics, attributing them to youthful mistakes. But the collision in Montreal universally entered the top ten of spectacular errors. The camera shot from the car aimed at the driver was unforgiving: poor Lewis stretched his arms out, apologetic.
The British driver didn't notice the red light or the two stationary cars. He didn't even have the speed excuse because pit lane speed limits are 80 km/h. Ferrari and BMW mechanics had been quicker during the pit stops, and he got agitated, losing the minimum clarity and self-control that could have prevented the collision with Kimi Raikkonen. In the end, even McLaren accepted the penalty. Martin Whitmarsh, CEO of the British team, said:
"A harsh but correct penalty. We're sorry for Kimi and Ferrari".
At first, the reaction was irritable:
"Double standards were applied; Raikkonen should have been disqualified for rear-ending Sutil in Monte-Carlo".
But by Sunday night, the anger had subsided. Martin Whitmarsh and Norbert Haug, head of Mercedes-Motorsport, wrote a letter of apology to Stefano Domenicali. The British press, which had once adored Lewis Hamilton, now tore him apart. The Daily Telegraph referred to him as a crash test dummy, comparing him to the mannequins used in crash tests. The Daily Star gave him an L for learners.
"Like father, like son".
The Daily Mirror emphasizes the recent car accident involving Lewis Hamilton's father, Anthony. The Sun and The Times bluntly label him as stupid. This is what happens to early talents. Child prodigies create expectations they don't always meet. Lewis Hamilton made his debut above his capabilities. He undoubtedly has talent, but he was also luckier than Ayrton Senna or Michael Schumacher because last year he had a winning car at his disposal and a teammate like Fernando Alonso, who knew how to set it up perfectly. The 2007 movie didn't have a happy ending. Lewis could have become the World Champion, the first to win on his debut, the youngest ever, the brilliant product of the British school, following in the footsteps of Jim Clark and Nigel Mansell. Instead, he set far less flattering records, like losing a championship despite having a 17-point lead with two races to go. And in the worst way possible: in the penultimate Grand Prix, he stubbornly continued on rain tires on a dry track and got stuck off-track when trying to return to the pits. In Brazil, where he only needed a fifth-place finish to become champion, he risked an accident with his teammate in the first lap and then made mistakes with the controls on his steering wheel, slipping to the back of the field. And what about his role in the spy story? If he hadn't caused a controversy during the Hungarian qualifying, Fernando Alonso wouldn't have gotten angry, and the compromising emails wouldn't have come to light, and McLaren would have avoided a $100 million fine. Imagine the same story in reverse: Lewis Hamilton makes a couple of mistakes but then improves, learns, and recovers to finish just one point behind the winner, becoming the beloved, talented, and unlucky hero. Same result, opposite effects. Now he's forced to rebuild. He has to regain the trust of his audience. And his own.