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Ferrari forever. The Bild, a popular German newspaper, has no doubts: Schumacher will end his career with Ferrari because he has received an attractive renewal offer from the Maranello team that he is about to accept. Ferrari, according to the newspaper, has offered him a two-year contract at 35.000.000 euros per season, the same amount the driver currently receives. Beyond the rich salary, the deal would have two special clauses, one extremely beneficial to Schumacher and one designed to protect the Maranello team. Under the new contract, the driver would be bound for two more years, until December 2008, but he would be free to end his relationship and consequently, his career should he win an eighth world title, a privilege that would be triggered as early as this year and that could be exploited all the more in 2007. If Schumacher were to suddenly lose the will, Ferrari would release him immediately, provided that he took his car back to the roof of the world. In the proposal, however, there is another important note, which would allow the Maranello team to prevent the driver's transfer to another team. Schumacher may quit, but by signing the new agreement with Ferrari he could not in case of retirement then decide to settle in another team. Bild claims that the team's proposal has already arrived in the hands of Weber, Schumacher's manager, and that the driver's signature could come as early as May 7, 2006, the Sunday of the Nurburgring race. But Ferrari dampens enthusiasm and speaks of the usual journalistic speculation.
"The Imola victory did not change anything, when there is news about Schumacher's future, we will make it known".
Willi Weber himself lowers the tone:
"I haven't started any negotiations yet, because first I have to know Schumacher's decision whether to continue or not. Of course, if I were him, I would race two more years".
Forty-thousandths difference, a whisker. A few centimetres of distance that presage another fiery duel, more spectacular than at Imola because at the Nurburgring you can overtake and leave the messages of faith for the cheering public unchanged. Friday, May 5, 2006, at the end of the first day of practice, Fernando Alonso is in front, if it were not for Alexander Wurz, Williams test driver, Williams test driver, he would be the king of Friday, but Michael Schumacher is right behind, more motivated than ever in the pursuit of the Spaniard in the Renault uniform. Alonso does not change his mind:
"So far, we have been strong everywhere, and in Germany, we can also make a breakthrough".
But neither does Schumacher, who has recovered from a nagging sore throat in record time, correct himself:
"We can repeat the triumph of Imola. By now we have understood how our tyres work, it is no longer a challenge to find the correct balance of the car, and when this Ferrari has the right set-up, it becomes almost uncatchable".
If anything, the approach of the two rivals is different. Alonso so far has always failed on Saturday. Never a pole, never a front row, it can be trouble, because when you start in the middle of the pack, the first corner can become very dangerous.
"However, this does not mean that you have to chase pole at all costs, perhaps emptying the car's tank. Saturday glory alone is useless. And I have always made a difference with strategy in these first four races. I will behave the same way here: maybe I curse after qualifying, but then I laugh on Sunday".
Schumacher, on the other hand, at least at the start, prefers to be greedy:
"Pole is less important here than at Imola, strategy is key. But the car is going strong, why should I limit my dreams?"
Especially since there are already 73.000 Germans ready to push him to glory and it is estimated that in the entire weekend, Schumi fans should exceed 300.000. An incredible multitude, attentive to catch his smiles and also the McLaren’s anger, looked upon fondly for its Mercedes engine, which yesterday appeared to be down in the dumps. Schumacher would rather have Räikkönen around.
"He might take points away from Alonso, but I'm afraid he can't help me here".
And the Finn's nervous look only confirms this.
"The car is swerving all over the place, it’s undriveable. In these conditions finishing in front is impossible".
Felipe Massa would like to succeed, but for now, he has been satisfied only with the change of race engineer. At Imola, during qualifying, he had quarrelled with Delli Colli, for years Barrichello's invaluable assistant; from this Grand Prix, his engineer is Englishman Rob Smedley, with a past in Jordan, where he was Fisichella's chief mechanic.
"I work better with him".
Massa sentences. While with Delli Colli, the relationship was by then on the brink. Qualifying aside, Lauda's frightful accident on the Nurburgring circuit will be remembered thirty years later. Merzario will be there, invited by broadcaster RTL. It was he who saved Lauda's life. Taking him out of his burning Ferrari. On Saturday, May 6, 2006, in Q1 Fernando Alonso set the best time. The Renault driver lapped in 1'31"138. Michael Schumacher in a Ferrari set the second best time, in 1'31"235. The first six drivers eliminated are thus Franck Montagny, Takuma Satō, Christian Klien, Scott Speed, Tiago Monteiro and Christijan Albers. Michael Schumacher, on the other hand, set the best time in Q2. The German driver stopped the clock at 1'30"013. Second was Kimi Räikkönen in the McLaren-Mercedes, and third Fernando Alonso in the Renault. Six other drivers were eliminated: Ralf Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Giancarlo Fisichella, David Coulthard, Nick Heidfeld and Vitantonio Liuzzi. But in Q3 it was Fernando Alonso who took pole position, ahead of Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa. The Ferraris were still chasing, however, but they seemed to be really fast: Michael Schumacher's pole position slipped away by a whisker, while Felipe Massa's third place testified to the newfound competitiveness of the Maranello cars. Practice was scarred by the quarrel between Jacques Villeneuve and Giancarlo Fisichella: in Q2 the Italian had to lift his foot off the accelerator right during his fast lap because Villeneuve (who by then had already made his time) obstructed him. Fisichella was furious: from the car, he cursed with his fist up, while once back in the pits he assaulted Villeneuve. Immediately afterwards the race judges moved in because the whole thing (from the foul play on track to the quarrel) was being broadcast worldwide and the starting grid was questioned. Long discussions followed and, then, in the evening the decision: Jacques Villeneuve was moved back one position on the starting grid. The judges, in fact, ruled that the Sauber Bmw driver did indeed penalise Giancarlo Fisichella during practice, albeit unintentionally. Thus, Villeneuve saw his three best times set in the third and final practice session cancelled. Theoretically, Villeneuve should actually have been relegated to tenth position, but since Max Webber - author of the ninth time – was in turn handed a 10-place grid penalty for changing his engine, the Canadian will start ninth. Fisichella will occupy the 11th position on the grid, on the sixth row, just behind the one occupied by Jacques Villeneuve and Ralf Schumacher.
As mentioned, Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg, the two Williams drivers, will be relegated ten positions on the starting grid for the European Grand Prix being held at the German Nurburgring circuit. The Australian and the German have in fact changed the engine of their cars. The showdown was announced, what is unusual is that this time it is serious as early as Saturday, the no-holds-barred battle between the two masters of Formula 1 is not the sole privilege of Sunday, of tortuous circuits like Imola where overtaking is impossible. First Alonso, second Schumacher, so goes the verdict of qualifying. It was easy to imagine. The Spaniard leads (first pole of the season), the German is right behind, just 0.209 seconds behind. The front row already says it all, the war on the track will be the natural appendix to a duel that began two weeks ago in Italy and is likely to monopolise the entire season. Schumacher hoped to find some allies so he could better nibble away the points he lacks from the Spaniard of Renault in the standings, but instead, he will have to go it alone, because McLaren remained a prisoner of its crisis, with the nervous Räikkönen relegated to the third row and the furious Montoya even in fourth, Honda tried to defend itself with the revived Barrichello (fourth), but disappointed with Button (sixth), and the other Renault, Fisichella's, quarrelled first on the track and then off with Villeneuve, guilty of conspicuously slowing the Italian on his fast lap and for that heavily insulted. Schumacher, finally happy with the speed of his Ferrari, will only be able to count on the help of Massa, whose other Maranello car set the third fastest time and threatens to make life hard for the Spaniard from the second row. But it is above all from the German that Maranello is asking for the great feat, a comeback that Schumi in words guarantees:
"We have discovered how to make the tyres work well, the race pace is very good, nothing is lost yet".
But that promises to be tough, given Alonso's ability to move off the grid like a rocket. The two precedents leave doubt open: in July 2004, at Magny-Cours, the Spaniard was in front on Saturday, but on Sunday it was the German who rejoiced. Last year in Bahrain, on the other hand, nothing changed in the race: Alonso was on pole and stood on the top step of the podium, Schumacher even wasted the front row, due to a hydraulic problem that forced him to park during the Grand Prix. The past keeps the suspense alive. In his words, however, Alonso firmly shuts down the games. His reasoning makes perfect sense:
"If I managed to win, always failing on Saturday, why should I fail now that for the first time I start in front of everyone? Having taken pole will allow me not to take any risks at the first corner. True, in two places you can overtake, Ferrari is fearsome again, but having been the fastest is a big advantage".
Certainties, which Michael Schumacher tries to crumble. In the race, more than 100.000 Germans will try to push him to glory. Saturday afternoon his look after the missed pole is disappointed:
"But if I win the race, the anger goes away. I made no mistakes, my lap was perfect, beating him was impossible. I'm not giving up, though".
Beyond the secret agents flaunted by Bild, the German newspaper insinuates:
"Renault has big antennas to spy on the Ferrari pits".
Comment from both teams:
"Nonsense".
The snub he received, the compromised Grand Prix, the outburst of nerves live on air, the final mockery by the judges. In short, the blackest day of Giancarlo Fisichella's F1 career.
"I have never been so angry. I come out of the pit lane for my qualifying lap, and then that one there slows me down".
That one there is Jacques Villeneuve, son of Gilles, former World Champion.
"Unacceptable, unprofessional behaviour".
It is a harsh monologue, that of the Renault driver. He got out of the car and headed straight to the Bmw-Sauber pit box to address his colleague in a nasty manner:
"You bastard, what have you done? I'll make you pay this time".
Then the outburst - which follows Jarno Trulli's against Michael Schumacher at Imola (a similar episode) - continues in the paddock.
"I am furious and disappointed. Also, because he didn't even apologise to me. And he did it on purpose, of course he did it on purpose. He slowed me down because we were fighting for 10th place, and he knew there was no more time: in fact, he went in to have his shot at the pole position and I was eliminated instead".
Villeneuve's real fault is that he violated an unwritten law:
"The code that exists between us drivers, which we know very well. He had to give me way at that moment. I would have given it back".
Actually, the rules also say so (Art. 116 b) that, whoever comes out of the pits, must give way to those who are already on the track.
"And it is sufficient to observe the images. End of the story".
The Canadian's defence points to inadvertence:
"I didn't notice anything, I didn't see him. I didn't do it on purpose".
Fisichella rejects the version, not believing in good faith.
"But he told the stewards he saw me at Turn 8: that means he had plenty of time to let me pass. I recovered two hundred meters and he didn't see me? Did he really have to keep the tyres up to temperature? But come on. he tried, that's the truth".
The damage, for Fisichella, is once again immense: Alonso, leader and partner in the Renault team, on the front row.
"And I'm going to see the podium through binoculars because it's going to be so hard: there are five drivers in front who are going fast. And the disappointment is great, because this time there were no mistakes, the strategy was right, and afterwards, staying in the top ten, I would have given my all: I'm not saying I would have taken pole, but I would have been close. I'm sure of that."
Fisichella does not even get a little justice: he was asking for the rules to be applied.
"Because if the stewards do not take action even in this case, it means that from the next Grand Prix every driver will feel entitled to do as he pleases".
But the judges, after three hours in the council chamber, recognised the damage suffered by Fisichella but decided that Villeneuve was not at fault. Conclusion: relegation of one place for the Canadian. And Fisichella?
“Adding insult to injury”.
On Sunday, May 7, 2006, it was status quo at the start of the European Grand Prix, with Alonso easing clear of Schumacher into the first corner, who instead had to keep an eye on his young Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa. The Brazilian driver ultimately opted against making a lunge on his teammate and instead fended off a move from a fast-starting Jenson Button, who had leapt ahead of Rubens Barrichello and Kimi Räikkönen off the grid. Behind, however, there was yet another first-corner crash, as David Coulthard and Vitantonio Liuzzi collided into the sister Red Bull-Ferrari and Toro Rosso-Cosworth cars. Replays subsequently showed that Liuzzi had been spun into the side of Coulthard's Red Bull by Ralf Schumacher in the Toyota, although regardless both Red Bull liveried cars would suffer terminal damage. Liuzzi spun into the gravel at the chicane with a smashed rear wing and had to limp back into the pits, thus bringing out the Safety Car, which stayed out for two laps. The restart saw Alonso blast away at the start of lap four to claim an early lead ahead of the scarlet Ferraris, while Räikkönen eased past Button for fourth. The race quickly settled down, with Alonso, Schumacher, Massa and Räikkönen entering a stalemate a few seconds apart, while Button dropped back toward Juan Pablo Montoya. Indeed, the monotony was only broken up when Alonso triggered the first round of stops on lap sixteen, followed on the next laps by Massa and Schumacher. Räikkönen ran on in the lead until lap 23, while Nico Rosberg ran the longest out of everyone, going on past half-distance. Yet, the German rookie did not affect the order out front, with Alonso continuing to lead ahead of Schumacher, with both of them setting fastest lap after fastest lap as they eased away from Massa and Räikkönen throughout the second stint.
Their fight came to its apex when Alonso dived in for his second stop, leaving Schumacher in clear air for three laps. That, ultimately, proved to be the difference, for two fastest laps and a seven-second stop ensured that the #5 Ferrari shot out of the pitlane just ahead of the #1 Renault. With that, the battle for the lead was over, for Alonso's attempt to catch up with the scarlet Ferrari collapsed along with his pace. Schumacher was hence left to win at a canter, while the Spaniard had to keep an eye on his mirrors for the ongoing battle between Massa and Räikkönen that was steadily catching him. Fortunately for Alonso, those two ran out of time to catch the Renault, as Schumacher collected a deceptively simple victory three seconds clear of Alonso. Massa duly completed the podium as Räikkönen could not force a move, while Barrichello recovered to fifth after his dismal start. Fisichella was next ahead of Rosberg on his ambitious strategy, the German having started from last place on the grid, while Jacques Villeneuve completed the scorers. Three hundred kilometres can be a deadly bore, with no overtaking, no excitement. Fifteen can resemble a breathtaking thriller, if your name is Michael Schumacher, if you have to run three laps of death, at full speed and trouble at the slightest mistake, because on the track you do not overtake, you have to succeed with strategy, get help from the pit stop, the frantic tyre change, the very fast refuelling.
It is the most recurring film of modern Formula 1, and it is a film into which the German knows how to slip perfectly, because no one better than he can devour five kilometres (the length of a lap at the Nurburgring) with the time to the thousandth required, no one knows how to get not only the maximum out of the car but also the reserves, no one can transform himself in that way as he did in front of a free track with no traffic, no one knows how to mock an adversary like Fernando Alonso. First, he tailgates, never letting up, never letting him get away, never allowing him to take the margin he needs for triumph, and then he goes flying once his foe has gone for gas, has redone the makeup of his own car and thus thinks he is ready for a pyrotechnic final duel. Michael Schumacher knows how to turn an almost cloying Grand Prix into a feat of legend. And so he did at the Nurburgring, giving a broad smile to Ferrari (for the first time triumphing twice in a row with the same engine), and an almost heavenly joy to 120.000 German fans, who flocked to their legendary track with religious hope and were rewarded with a delirious triumph. The race lasted more than an hour and a half; one can talk about the start, with Alonso entering the first corner ahead of everyone, with Schumacher resisting Massa's assault and passing for second; one can describe the epilogue, the final lap, with the German from Ferrari marching confidently to the finish line and the crowd accompanying him with a standing ola, but the essence that ennobles the day, is all encapsulated in a few minutes, the time that turns Alonso's supremacy into bitter defeat, that reverses the fate of Schumacher (in his fifth victory on his most beloved circuit), that elapses between the end of the thirty-seventh lap and the end of the forty-second, that sees two pit stops (Alonso at lap number 38, Schumacher at 41) and above all three fantastic laps of the ravenous German, the stopwatches going crazy, the fastest lap of the race being crumbled repeatedly, without anyone being able to stop this overwhelming ride. Until that moment, people had witnessed the usual battle between the two rivals, the same style staged at Imola. Yes, at the Nurburgring you can overtake, there are at least two favourable points, many had guaranteed it, but Schumacher had been unable to do anything but stay in Alonso's slipstream, this time a hunter and not a leaping hare.
But the German has something more than his rival and is eager to prove it. Easy to say and easy to do, too, if you already have seven world titles in the bag. At the end of lap 37 Schumacher is 1,290 seconds behind. Alonso, at the end of lap 38, comes into the pits, takes 8.8 seconds to refuel, the German on the track marches at a furious pace. First 1'32"420, is the momentary record of the race, then 1'32"099 (lap 39), is the definitive record, and again (lap 40) 1'32"167, still a crazy pace. When he comes into the pits at the end of lap 41, you can already tell that Alonso is going to be disappointed. Ferrari has very skilled mechanics, if the goal is empty, they are not the types to waste the assist. The driver has done his duty, they complete the job with a 6.8-second stop (two seconds less than Alonso). Schumacher re-enters ahead of the Spaniard, and when he crosses the finish line on Lap 42 he finds he has a 5.870-second lead. In just over 25 kilometres, adding in the best pit stop, he has stolen 7.160 seconds from his rival, an eternity in a technological world where leaving out hundredths is too bold an approximation. The German's three heart-stopping laps are unbelievable, the final catwalk is an inevitable and indisputable reward, and Alonso has no choice but to surrender. At the first pit stop, between lap 18 and lap 19, he had managed to defend himself, one lap alone for Schumacher had not been enough, partly because of his mistake at turn 6, with 0.5 seconds left on the road, but now there is nothing to be done. The disappointment must be so great that the Spaniard even goes too slow. It is okay to let Schumacher go, by now running away to another victory, but Alonso is almost caught up by the other Ferrari driver, Massa (on the first podium of his career) and the McLaren of Räikkönen, already good at finishing fourth with a car that has been very disappointing so far. Fortunately for the Spaniard, pit stops are over. And in the Formula 1 vocabulary the word overtaking is no longer to be found.
"I am a very happy man".
The classic podium hop, this time an almost impressive leap, and the old Michael Schumacher is back to winning ways. Two triumphs in a row, as he had not had for almost two years, on July 25, 2004, at Hockenheim and on August 15, at Budapest, the continuation of an interminable streak, seven successes, that began right at the Nurburgring.
At the time he was unbeatable with a Ferrari, but now he has shown that even this new car can make him accomplish memorable feats. Schumacher had promised: we will give an encore at Imola. He was true to his word, in front of 120.000 delirious Germans. Is this a sign that you can win the World Championship?
"I think there is no doubt, Ferrari is now at the same level as Renault, for sure we are in the battle, we can fight for the title until the end. I would like to snatch it from Alonso, it will be hard, but we can try. At the Nurburgring we were faster than them. We can be everywhere".
Does this mean that Renault needs to start being afraid?
"If I were them, I would be. In Alonso's place, I would worry. If he does it, he's not wrong. Two wins in a row cannot be the result of chance. This one was exciting, spectacular, everyone will remember my three laps where I pushed hard, but if you compare my race pace to his, it wasn't that hard. We were faster the whole race. The strategy only helped us to find the right time for the decisive overtaking".
However, those three laps at insane speeds cannot be belittled. Without those outstanding times, he would not have made it.
"But I am also happy with the first part of my race. Alonso was in front, I never let go of him. It was crucial not to let him get away. I would have liked to overtake him already during the first stop, I tried, unfortunately on my only lap with a free track I made a mistake at Turn 6. An uncertainty that cost me half a second and forced me to give up".
There was another difficult moment. After the first pit stop for a few laps you lost ground, you were more than two seconds behind. Did you think it was over?
"When the stopwatch proves you wrong, you always think of the worst. We were both pushing to the limit, but I was losing precious tenths. In those moments the thing that matters is to react. I did, I didn't give up. And I came back at him".
When you re-entered the lead instead, you were able to relax.
"If I have to be honest, it never happens to me. I was in front, but I stayed very focused. I told myself, don’t you dare make a mistake. Take this victory home".
Also because more than 100.000 fans were waiting for you at the finish line.
"It's great to win at home, in the place where you raced as a child, where you have a thousand memories. The people have given me a big boost, this is the fifth time I've been able to get on the top step of the podium here. The atmosphere is amazing, the Nurburgring brings me luck".
Not only the track. In the pits, there was your father Rolf, certain of your victory.
"You can tell he trusts me".
And Balbir Singh, your former athletic trainer.
"He brought good luck, he should come more often".
We are in Germany, who knows how many people you will have to dedicate this triumph to.
"Yes, but the team always comes first. Did you see how they cheered after the second pit stop? They had managed to get me on the track ahead of Alonso, it looked like they scored a goal. Fantastic mechanics and engineers. They all did the right thing at the right time".
Alonso still has 13 more points, though.
"They are still a lot, it would be better if someone other than me was able to fight with him. At the moment the only one who can help me is Massa: he had a great race. I am convinced that he will soon take points away from Alonso. I hope he doesn't take them away from me as well".
After such a victory, do you not think you can race another two years? Laughter. And no answer. Too much grace, two puzzles solved at once. The class is still there, his future remains a mystery. FairPlay, but with some distinctions. Renault's post-Grand Prix is a mixture of acceptance of the result and a relaunch for the future. Fernando Alonso and Flavio Briatore say in unison:
"We recognise the superiority of Ferrari and Bridgestone, more could not be done".
Then, the Italian manager cannot avoid the joke:
"We are second for the sake of sports. today we are all happy. But, guys, remember that we are not afraid. Today we played away from home, we were in Germany, right? And in Barcelona we will have soft, new tyres".
No drama, in short, at Renault. After all, some are worse off, such as McLaren, which just cannot get into gear, and is not celebrating Grand Prix number 600 in its history as it should: Räikkönen's fourth place is considered a disappointment for the Anglo-German team.
"We lost on Ferrari, but gained on McLaren: that's okay".
Concludes the general manager of the French team, who then takes his leave and makes an appointment for next Sunday in Spain. For the technical analysis of the race then there is the World Champion, Fernando Alonso. Who, first of all, cares to put some balance in things:
"I am already hearing that Schumi is in a phase of new youth. He has won two Grands Prix, he deserves the celebration. But you must not overdo it, as people did last year when he did not win and was branded as finished".
The (right) clarification is the premise of the comment:
"Sometimes second place should be regarded as a fantastic result, especially when the tyres are not perfect. Ferrari was doing better this weekend".
Champions are also seen in evaluations, in predicting even the future:
"In agreement with the team, we lowered the RPMs of the engine, which will also have to be used in the next Grand Prix".
A right choice, but one that created some apprehension in the final laps.
"Honestly, yes, because Massa was getting a little too close for my liking, but there was no real danger."
Alonso's lead still remains solid, but it is time for Renault to hurry up and work on countermeasures. The first two European Grands Prix have promoted Ferrari to full marks, now the No. 1 rival. The Spaniard lets some of his personal doubts slip out:
"Our development program? I don't know, I'm not an engineer, so I don't know what can be done, what is the limit. I think in the end it's an issue of money and also other things. But we are the champions and so I think everything has been done accordingly".
Then his thoughts return to the near future:
"Undoubtedly we need something more to win, to improve the whole package a little bit in order to be successful again".
And the calendar may help the Spaniard: the next race is his home race, Barcelona. Although he has never won there, it is the ideal circuit for redemption: Barcelona is the test track, and the Michelin-tyred Renaults have always fared better than the Bridgestones. Fernando Alonso repeats:
"A fact that gives us confidence, and encourages us to be optimistic".
In 2005 McLaren prevailed, and they are behind this year, although for the experts (Jean Todt above all) they should always be considered among the title contenders.
"I'll say it again: the championship is balanced, more so than in 2005: I'll add Honda, which will soon be here. There are four top teams, and they will fight until the end. I think that for the next two Grands Prix, Michelin is favoured over Bridgestone, and we will have to take advantage of this factor."
Watch out for the tyres on the cars, they will once again be the deciding variable.
"I am very, very happy".
Says Ferrari chairman Luca Montezemolo from Abu Dhabi after Michael Schumacher's victory at the Nurburgring.
"I spoke immediately on the phone with Todt and with Schumacher. It is a victory that shows that the one at Imola was not just a swallow that doesn't make summer, and this is also confirmed by Massa's first, well-deserved podium. It was an important success, in Germany, in our second market after the United States. Ferrari is confirmed at the top of Formula 1, the World Championship promises to be exciting, and these victories help the credibility and image of Italian sport".
There are moments that remain for a lifetime, for example, the first podium in Formula One at age 25. Felipe Massa is happy. Uncontainable.
"You know what I tell you? That I'm going to sleep without showering, so I'll take the smell of the podium with me".
What one does not do to prolong dreams.
"Today I am proud, happy and satisfied. Great teamwork, everything perfect".
Although in the finale the situation could have gotten out of hand.
"There was Alonso acting as a mobile chicane, so I got close to him, but Räikkönen behind was also getting close to me. Nothing happened because nobody had a real chance to overtake".
Massa had known from the beginning that it would be the right Sunday.
"From the start: a little more and I could have passed Michael as well".
Third place is also fine, to get familiar with the top positions. And as a good Brazilian Felipe throws challenges and provocations:
"If I were Briatore I would start to worry. We have shown that we are the only team that can beat Renault, now it is important to finish every race. We will do the math at the end. For me, from now on we will be together with them. Starting with Barcelona".
The many years as a cannibal have proven it, give him the best car and Michael Schumacher even at 37 will try to steal even the crumbs from his opponents.
"I am a fighter. In battle I exalt myself".
For one season he had to tame his instincts. As president Luca Montezemolo likes to say, Ferrari took a bit of a vacation, forgot to provide him with a winning car, forcing him to race in the middle of the pack, to cede his throne to Fernando Alonso. The 2005 sabbatical had worried everyone, there was already talk of the champion's decline, of an irreversible crisis, long waits were feared, the suffering of yesteryear, and instead, the indomitable Schumacher made the blackout a mere parenthesis. It was enough for him to get the right Ferrari back to become the prodigy he has always been, the driver who never makes mistakes, who allows the most daring strategies, who sets laps in record time, with the precision of a surgeon, and if he cannot overtake a rival on the track, mocks him with a pit stop. But above all, he is back to being the man who puts as much pressure as he chases you because you know he will not forgive the slightest mistake.
His breath on your neck unnerves and that is what is happening to Alonso, who appeared after the Nurburgring race a little less seraphic, a little angrier at his team.
"I am neither a mechanic nor an engineer, I am not able to understand when a car has reached the limit and can no longer improve, but I realise very well that in Formula 1 development is crucial and we have to grow if we want to stem the Ferrari comeback. For the first time in Germany, I felt inferior to Schumacher. In Imola for the defeat I had blamed the circuit, we were faster, but on that track you can’t overtake and I had to be content. Here, on the other hand, I had known from the start that we would never make it. I tried to hang on, but overtaking was only a matter of time. If it couldn't happen during the race, it would have come in the pits".
We are not yet at the point of overt complaint, but the message to the team is quite clear: either a breakthrough comes soon or this year it will not be enough to have started, like in 2005, stronger than everyone else. Not least because compared to twelve months ago, the situation has changed profoundly: then, after five Grands Prix, Alonso had the same points as this year (44), but the closest rival was Trulli with 26 and his Toyota was little to fear. The real rivals, Räikkönen and Schumacher, were light years apart, the Finn at 17 points, Schumacher at 10 points. Now, however, the German, thanks to the last two successes, is only 13 points behind. The reasoning that troubles Alonso is clear: If with two wins and three-second places, I have not made the gap, what can happen if I miss a couple of races? Anguish reinforced by Schumacher's slogans:
"By now we are at the same level as Renault, they are right to be worried because we can take them back in the standings. At the Nurburgring we had the best package: in these conditions winning is inevitable and it can happen anywhere".
Barcelona, in a few days, may become the ultimate litmus test. Alonso plays at home, his Michelin tyres (wrong in Germany, with self-criticism from Renault and McLaren) have always dominated there. A new slap from Schumacher could make him permanently vulnerable. While Ferrari enjoys the engine to come (it will be new in Spain) and also the one that won them two races. No one had ever done that this year, in the V8 era that had just begun.