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2 Responses to “ Australian Grand Prix Results ”

1. 
   George Mar 9th, 2004 at 7:06 am

   “The Schu” will not only be remembered for his on track skills, but also for his team building abilities. Is there anyone who doubts that every crewman there would run through walls for Michael? It does get somewhat boring watching the Scarlet Devils crush the opposition, but we are witnessing greatness! It’s like being able to say I saw Babe Ruth or Pele at their best.

2. 
   Vijay Nagarajan Mar 12th, 2004 at 4:42 am

   The 2004 season: Would history repeat itself?

   When the twenty mechanical monsters took off at the Albert’s park on the 7th of March, it signaled the start of yet another exciting season of the F-1 circus. Or did it?

   The first thing that was noticeable was the manual start and the resultant spectacle. The best of the lot at that moment was the Renault of Alonso. This young man had a splendid take-off, which intimidated one and all ahead of him in the grid. The most notable of them was Montoya who slid into the grass trying to keep up with the young Spaniard. Most JPM/Colombian/Williams supporters would have had their hearts in the mouths at that sight. Thankfully for them, JPM not only managed to get back on the track but also made sure he did not lose too many positions.

   Unnoticed amidst this first turn drama, the two prancing horses slipped past the rest of the field into a motion of their own. Michael Schumacher appeared to be back in business racing ahead. Barrichello, shed his role as the “barrier” to push Schumi instead and the Scarlett -clad men slowly built their lead over the rest of the field while getting into a mini-competition between themselves.

   As the race proceeded, one unmistakably was able to feel a sense of De’ja Vu about the race. While the Ferrari’s raced ahead, the McLaren of young title contender Kimi R?ikk?nen caved in to an engine failure. With the Williams fighting it to make it barely into the points table despite two of the best drivers in the circuit and the team from Maranello making it their first one-two since Suzuka in 2002, it becomes a natural apprehension to any race lover. The million-dollar question now is: Is 2004 another “Ferrari year” much like 2002?

   Let us look at some of the events that raise this hazardous question, notwithstanding Schumi’s perennial thirst for racing glory.

   ? A Ferrari 1-2 after a season’s gap. Their total domination was last seen in Suzuka in 2002. From then on, it has been a mix of fortunes for them with only one of Michael or Rubens finishing on top invariably. They either lost out on the tyre race or due to unfortunate accidents.

   ? The obliteration of the nearest competitors. It is an embarrassment to Williams that Schumi almost lapped their much-hyped maverick mean-machine and their fancied driver Montoya.

   ? The usual reliability problems that McLaren encounters for the first few races of the season. But as in 2002, it might be enough to give Schumi and his Scarlett brigade a free hand to manipulate this season.

   ? The up and coming Renault team headed by Alonso and ably supported by Trulli who seem to be playing spoilsport to any serious title contention plans by either McLaren or Williams. Of course due credit has to be given to this duo for showing the ‘better’ teams one or two of their own tricks.

   ? The new cone that gave Williams some publicity and pre-season standings but not the kind of start that they might have wanted. A fourth and fifth finish was definitely not their idea of having the aerodynamically best car as they claimed. The radical nose cone change is yet to make its impact on the season and the sport. Well, the wait is on for the team and the F1 world alike.

   ? The constant assertions by both Rubens and Michael about the F2004 being the best Ferrari they have driven till date. The impression they have given to the other teams is that the prancing horses have been able to extract the maximum from the changed rules this year. So as everyone involved with the Italian team claim, the reason for their struggle has been identified and demolished. Ferrari, they say, is invincible this year!

   Thus is all these pointers were to be taken into consideration, one might be tempted to conclude that what lies ahead is a boring 2002-like season that will see the Scarlett cloud painted all over it. But then, one should look beyond it into the “Silver” and the “Blue/White” lining as well.

   As much as one feels the Ferrari way, it should also be noted that this is just the first of the eighteen races this year. The Australian GP conditions suited the Bridgestones better. So one can be assured that the best of the Michelins is yet to come. Besides, one has to remember that as much as the Michelins made the difference in dry weather conditions, it was also their incompetence in the wet conditions that led to the Ferraris snatching the season from the brink of defeat. Indianapolis 2003 is a classical example. The commentators, during the course of the race, quipped matter of fact that it was Bridgestone magic. But the fact of the matter is that last year the French team had reduced the gap between them and Bridgestone from 3 seconds to 1.5 seconds. A further reduction in this gap is pretty much in the offing. And this means closer wet weather races, of course discounting Michael’s mastery of those conditions and the flawless strategy of Ross Brawn. Again of course, there were flaws from even those impeccable minds. One might be reminded again of the Indy race when Michael came into the pits in successive laps.

   Besides, warmer race conditions would invariably dominate most of the season. Also, the new circuits in Shanghai and Bahrain add an element of suspense to the outcome of the season.

   One should also trust the raw talent of JPM and R?ikk?nen to brave unfavorable conditions to challenge the German emperor of the F1 kingdom! A more composed JPM and a more reliable MP4-19 can do the trick.

   For the most pessimistic, one can very well rely on the law of averages to mount the biggest challenge to Michael as he relentlessly pursues his seventh World title.