Oh dear. They really have sunk to the bottom this time. If no one has heard the latest Ferrari stunt please take a read.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/20531638
Let me start off by saying; I don't like Sebastian Vettel. He's an average driver at best, the only reason he's won 3 world championships is because of the superior machinery. This is FACT people. He's only won the 2012 World Championship by only participating in the last quarter of the championship.
I am however a proud member of the Tifosi. Not my favourite team but I personally think Fernando Alonso is now the greatest driver on the grid after Michael Schumacher's exit.
But even I think is this a step too far for Stefano Domenicali and his prancing horse outfit. To actually weigh up evidence as to whether Vettel has cheated or not after it's all been said and done is (quite frankly) disgraceful.
How are Ferrari going to turn up to the award ceremony with their heads held up? They shouldn't and I would honest to God hope Fernando Alonso distances himself from this incident. I'd like to hope he wouldn't want to win the championship in this manner.
Having said this the minute the story came out, it was shot down quicker than an HRT proposal in how to go faster.
Ferrari have always been known to have had "connections" to the FIA and Bernie's doors, often whispering little favours. I personally have never believed them and I will continue to do so. But if Vettel did have the championship stripped from him, how would this have made Ferrari look?
With the introduction of another US GP, the nightmares floated back to that awful moment in history. 2005, only six cars competed due to tyre manufactures telling teams it was unsafe to run. Who was one of three teams to compete? Ferrari. The other two? Back runners (Jordan & Minardi who we now know as Sarah Force India & Scuderia Toro Rosso). This left a sour taste in everyone's mouth (not the yanks because I honestly couldn't care less).
Ferrari will always have an air of mystery about them. But nobody can deny the brilliance of this team. They are Formula 1. They go hand in hand and without them the sport would be a shadow of its former self. I'm glad the issue is dead and buried. I hope it will not impact the development of next years car, because I firmly believe this is the year Ferrari return to the top. You heard it here first!
"I don't see any reason why I can't do well in Formula 1." - Valtteri Bottas
Today I received the news that I had been waiting for since FP1 at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix. For those of you who have not heard, I shall not spoil the news for you:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/20524465
Yes so at long last the ghost that is Sir Frank Williams and the powers within have decided that they finally have milked both the money cows that are Pastor Maldonado and Bruno Senna to the point where they can afford to let the latter go, and in his place appoint a driver with that one trait you think all drivers should have: TALENT.
Quick rewind back to 2010. The 2009 season had finished, we had a British champion in the ever impressive Jenson Button. Brawn transforms into Mercedes, but as an entirely new outfit with new executives and new drivers in Rosberg and God (Schumacher). Jenson (with no surprises) replaces the outgoing Kovalainen at McLaren, leaving the other contributor to Brawn's championship double unemployed. Enter Williams.
Williams hire the ever consistent Barichello and the new exciting rookie, Nico Hulkenberg. We didn't know it at the time, but because it's clearer than a pane of glass now, the Hulk has got it! So they had a promising young talent, and Rubens had finally been able to shake his number 2 status (Mark Webber, Felipe Massa take note). They had a great 2010! The Hulk was on pole for goodness sake! It was a great time and things were looking good.
What went wrong in 2011? For reasons unknown, the team fell away. They collapsed. The Hulk had been dropped for the bank of Venezuela. It was a disaster unknown to this day. But no matter what you think or say, it was the last time (to date we see Rubens in a Formula 1 car). His replacement in 2012? A young boy who did not buy his seat with money (although it was plentiful) but with his name. I'll say no more other than, funding was low, so they increased their cash flow with a boost from Toto Wolff and the bank of Brazil.
The disaster of that is Maldonado essentially ruined the majority of races or more importantly, endangered lives. And Senna? Lets just say it made us think we forged his application. Let's not forget, this isn't the first time Williams had hired a man who was detrimental to the sport. Montoya was no Keke Rosberg or Alain Prost but that's a different story. But after everybody caught a grip, and Sir Frank Williams stranglehold over the team is loosening has resulted in THE best move for the team since hiring the wonderful talent that is Jacques Villeneuve (to name one).
I honestly believe Senna's exit is honestly far far too late. I would've loved to seen a mid season switch (first season in a long time we haven't had one) to give Valtteri Bottas a real showing. But I guess he doesn't need it. After all, he is Finnish. I would love to give him the title of the Flying Finn, but I believe this chap is still learning. He'll love to follow in the steps of Kimi Raikkonen, Keke Rosberg or Mika Hakkinen, and I believe he will. Watch this man, I guarantee you'll be well impressed.
