Thought Overflow

I read a report quite recently about rumours linking a possible Fernando Alonso move to Ferrari. I remember how I used to feel about the man who not only dethroned Michael Schumacher from the World Championship, but also prevented him from winning the World Championship in his final F1 season. In one simple, possibly slightly exaggerated word, I hated him. Well, it’s but natural, wouldn’t you say? Here I am, a hardcore Ferrari supporter, a big fan of Schumacher, and along comes a rookie who not only takes the fight to Schumacher, but also refuses to respect the legend of the man. However, times are a-changing.

Let’s add another factor to the equation. Last season, Lewis Hamilton (of McLaren) took the World Championship on the very last turn of the very last race of the season, breaking my heart. Ferrari’s Brazilian driver Felipe Massa looked like he had won, just to be shot down at the very end. One moment I was dancing in jubilation, and the next, I was walking to bed dejected. Now I can’t wait to see Lewis Hamilton dethroned.

At this point, a question begs asking—why did I support Massa more than the then reigning champion Kimi Raikkonen (of Ferrari)? Simply put, I’ve always felt inclined to support drivers who have a good attitude, and are loved by their team. I would probably very quickly admit that Kimi is faster than Felipe, but I’d say that Felipe has much more passion and much more heart for his sport. It’s well-known that he is the more loved of the two drivers among the team as well. How does this affect my opinions and thoughts now, and in the near future?

For one thing, I think I wouldn’t mind seeing Alonso in red Ferrari colours. After about two years in near oblivion, he’s matured as a person, and his dislike for Hamilton resonates strongly with me. Also, I’ve always maintained that while Kimi Raikkonen might be the faster of the two, I’d rate Alonso as a better driver. The question then would be who to replace at Ferrari. I’d love to see Massa remain at Ferrari, because I really think he deserves a World Championship, and getting there with Ferrari would be awesome. And yet, at the same time, I think that if you can get Kimi Raikkonen riled up and rearing to go, he can be quite hard to stop. Perhaps there should be no change this season (and I’m sure there won’t be). By the end of this season (or perhaps the next), it would be a good time to decide if, with all the cost-cutting and all the limitations, F1 is still worth watching, and if so, which drivers are deserving of a seat at Ferrari.

As for this season, go RED!