Monday, September 29, 2008

2008 Formula One Season:The Two Ferraris' Story So Far

Ever since the day the new season of Formula One began on 16th March early this year, many F1 fans and myself have thought to themselves a few questions for the season. The questions are, can defending champion Kimi Raikkonen take another shot at the title of this year's F1 world champion? Can he earn Ferrari the constructor's championship title for a second year running? Can he beat the current leading driver's champion Lewis Hamilton for another year in a row?
Well just about many F1 fans, including myself, have correctly guessed the answer, and the answer is no, definitely and obviously. Yesterday's Singapore Grand Prix night race have instantly diminished Raikkonen's chances and hope of retaking the title. Ever since his win in the Spanish Grand Prix back in April, there has been a spontaneously drastic decline in his performance and the only Grand Prix where he had ever scored any championship points was in the German Grand Prix, where he finished sixth place. His finish in the Singapore Grand Prix night race yesterday was so very close he could at least complete the race with four laps left, but for a fourth Grand Prix in a row, failed to finish it in the expected fifth place. This therefore made him currently 27 points behind current driver's championship leader Lewis Hamilton and currently fifth overall in the driver's championship. Now that he is far behind Felipe Massa, he is putting all of his faith in his Brazilian Ferrari team-mate to attempt to clinch the constructor's championship for Ferrari, as Massa is merely 7 points behind leader Hamilton.
Question: Why, in my personal opinion, has he not improve in his performance from last year?
Answer: Because he was COMPLACENT. From my experience, clinching a driver's championship title can take its toll on the driver's champions themselves; usually after achieving one driver's championship title, the defending champion can occasionally suffer a drop in morale, he would not improve for the subsequent season any further in some cases. Clear example of such a case includes reigning world driver's champion Michael Schumacher, who have bagged a total of 7 driver's championship titles until 2004, and in his final two seasons with Ferrari in 2005 and 2006, went into decline due to a state of possible complacency.
"It was a pretty small chance anyhow," the Finn said of his title chances. "I'm not sad for my fifth place but I'm sorry for the team to lose those points. But for sure we'll try to do better next race." My personal opinion states that, though he is mentioned to persevere for the remaining three circuits, I have full confidence that he can at least score some points for Ferrari and himself, provided that he can believe in himself and give off the best that he could, despite the definite statement that he's out of the championship.
Ferrari contender Felipe Massa's disastrous but successful finish in yesterday's Singapore Grand Prix night race did not instigate an accusation between him and the Ferrari pit crew. The Brazilian was ahead of Briton Lewis Hamilton 15 laps into the race, until, when he went for a re-fuel in the pits, he sped off too early and ended up having the fuel hose still attached to his car, forcing the pit crew to frantically arrive to his aid to pry out the fuel hose attached to his car. But that didn't stop him from being penalised with a drive-through penalty for almost crashing into another car while driving away. And that resulted in him joining the race in 18th place and finishing in 13th place. Yesterday's race was, after all, a dark day for the two Ferraris. Massa now merely stands 7 points right behind Hamilton for the driver's championship and a point is all that stands between Ferrari and McClaren in a bid to clinch the constructor's championship title.
Nonetheless, having won five races this season, compared to Hamilton who won four, there is a certainly adequate amount of confidence in myself that Massa would still have sufficient time to catch up with Hamilton in his chance to earn his first driver's championship title.
Question: Can Massa clinch this year's driver's championship title?
Answer: Yes, he can, provided he maintains his calmness as well as collectedness in the remaining three F1 racing circuits. As mentioned before, there would definitely be enough time for Massa to keep his cool so as to keep up with current leader Lewis Hamilton in the bid for the driver's championship.
One point is currently all that stands Ferrari and McClaren in a bid to earn the constructor's championship title, and 7 points is all that stands between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa in the final stretch of the season. The three remaining F1 circuits will take place, chronologically, in Japan, China and Brazil.

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