Formula 1 under lights in Singapore next year. Awezome!
Also, Valencia gets to host the European Grand Prix.
Formula 1
What a racing weekend!
Anyone who watched the F1 race this weekend, whatever team or driver you support, I am sure went through a roller coaster of a ride.
If you liked Kimi, who I personally believe is the best on the circuit at the moment, it would have been expectation, when the race started, to despair when Lewis lead, to hope when Lewis retired, to iving up hope at the end. I was happy he had won. I was happy at his performance. But I know, even if he wins the next one in Brazil, only a bad race for Lewis can see him win the title, not really the way I would want him to win the F1 title.
If you like Alonso, this race would have started bad for you, with Lewis almost certain to win the crown with a damn good performance, to hope in the end with Lewis’ retirement. I do not know about his supporters, but I am sure he wouldn’t care about winning the championship with Lewis retiring again. Though I would be pretty content if Alonso won the championship with Lewis finishing more than 4 points behind him.
[Disclaimer: I do not like Alonso too much.]
However, the greatest shock was reserved for the Lewis fan. Had I supported him, I would have almost opened the champagne [or beer more realistically] and started celebrating. Damn that extra lap. But I do believe that the chap has it in him to win the crown on merit. So best of luck to you.
May the best man [and the machine] win!
Missing You
It rained on Saturday and then again on Sunday. And I missed you immensely. Why did you have to??
No one matched your skills in the rain. Wish you were there. Regenmeister. But you have a worthy successor in Hamilton.
Weekend Roundup
This one promises to be a less than an exciting weekend.
I have already spent my day today doing grocery shopping and completing some banking tasks. Also, spent the later half of the day watching “When Harry Met Sally” and the Turkish GP Qualifying. With Ferrari and McLaren taking the top spots again, it promises to be a cracker of a race tomorrow.
I need to get my Bike repaired. It suffered quite a bit in the chutt accident that I had before I had gone home. Race in the afternoon, and then I would need to shop a bit for my sisters for Rakhi. I have kind of decided on a book for one, but cannot think of anything for the elder one? Choosing gifts is such a pain. Any ideas?
Meanwhile, I have also decided on ordering “Godel, Escher and Bach” and “A Short History of Nearly Everything.“
Suzuka spells doom for Schumi
It was the last F1 race in Suzuka for some time to come. It was definitely the last race of Schumacher here. And everyone was out to see the Red Emperor score a big victory.
It was a race he was supposed to win with ease. And, till the 36th lap today, nothing happened to the contrary. Schumacher qualified second on the grid, just behind teammate Massa and 3 places ahead of fifth placed Alonso. He passed Massa on the third lap and after that remained comfortably at the top of the group.
Alonso, however, drove with a lot of passion and quickly overtook Jenson Button and Ralf Schumacher to come up to the third place and drove like there was no tomorrow. At no point of time did he let the two Ferraris out of his sight. He overtook Massa after the first round of pit stops and drove great laps in and out of the pits to exit just ahead of Massa. The difference in their stops being a mere 0.3 seconds.
Michael was the last of the top 3 to pit and that erased all doubts of a lightly fueled Ferrari for qualifying and the rumors about the tyres not being suited well enough for the circuit. He drove in his usual calm and composed manner, and looked all set to win. Disaster struck, however, on the second Degner Curve on the 37th lap and fumes came out of the red machine. The circuit looked on in stunned disbelief as the Ferrari of Schumacher retired for the first time since Spain 2005 without a crash. Schumacher, however, got out his car calmly, waved at the crowds and shook hands with all he passed, to show that he was the true Champion.
Alonso then drove a very calm race to take his Renault home, for a first victory since June. Massa came in second and Fisichella third. Button and Raikkonen completed the top 5.
Only a miracle can now see Schumacher win the championship. What is needed is a victory in Sao Paulo and Alonso finishing out of points. Will that happen? Well, with the fortunes changing as it has this season, I would definitely not bet against it but I agree that it is only a slim chance.
On another note, I have always been a critic of Alonso, not because of his driving skills, but because he does not have enough grace. That came to light again last week when a frustrated Alonso blamed his own crew and mate Fisichella of letting him down in the last race at Shanghai and even said that there were people in the Renault pits that did not want him to win. I hope Alonso has watched how Schumacher behaved after his blown engine in this race and has picked up a tip or two.