14 DAY TRIAL // The 2006 season of Formula One has been an exciting one so far. Basically, we were served with a little bit of everything during the first 10 races of the season. If I were to make a short recap, we saw:
1. A pilot taking off determined to win the championship from the early stages - Fernando Alonso. 2. A remarkable comeback by Michael Schumacher and the Ferrari team. 3. One of the most spectacular drivers leaving Formula One for NASCAR. 4. The prospect of Lewis Hamilton stepping into Formula One and becoming the first black driver in the history of the Great Circle. 5. A former world champion releasing a music album - Jacques Villeneuve. 6. A suspense situation with both Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen uncertain of their futures. 7. The prospect of Michael Schumacher being kicked out from the Grand Prix Drivers Association for the first time in his racing career. 8. Finally, a normal Indianapolis GP.
And there are plenty to come. With almost half of the season left, we still have a lot to learn from the drivers. But, of course, you all know that. Still, as a racing fan, I can only admit that this season made me get a closer look at Formula One than before. If I were to think about it, I probably didn't have so much fun watching the Great Circle news since the 1997 season.
The clashes between Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill or Jacques Villeneuve were truly something not to be missed. Aver since the Canadian driver managed to win the Formula One championship, almost all seasons started losing few of their fans. And, year after year, less racing fans started turning on their TVs on Sunday afternoon.
Mika Hakkinen, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso won the last 8 seasons with no one to fight with. The years when either Ferrari, or McLaren, started dominating the championship were the seasons fewer people gave a damn about Formula One.
And FIA tried its best to change all that. Even if most of their decisions were contested along the years - the new qualifying session format, a sole tyres supplier after 2007, equal amounts of money for the F1 teams, etc - they managed to balance the championship. They finally succeeded in making the pilot count more than his car.
Of course, many of you might disagree. And maybe the cars still count when talking about the title race. But at least we have a minimum of 2 teams fighting for the crown now. And, little by little - with Honda and Toyota in serious reconstruction plans - Formula One will become even more competitive.
We still have 6 more races to go. I am writing this article before the Hungarian qualifying session, but my belief is that Michael Schumacher is not going to lose the Ferrari momentum this time. And, for the beauty of it, it would be a shame not to see the German making the title race more interesting than it already is.
More, it will give us a chance to enter the next 3 weeks hoping for a great finale. Alonso will not win the Hungarian GP. That I am sure of, even if making such predictions is not a very healthy thing to do. But Renault really needs a break after the last 3 GPs' fiascos. And the fans really need a motivation to keep on watching the show in Formula One.
Whatever happens, I strongly believe that this season was exactly how FIA wanted it to be. For the last 8 years, the racing officials have made everything possible to create a premise for a thrilling competition. And they finally succeeded. From now on, we won't have to turn to NASCAR or the ChampCar World Series for spectacle. He have it right here. And just to make sure that you realize it, I want to finish my point by reminding you the still unknown answers to come:
1. Who is going to be the next world champion? 2. Who is going to win the constructors' title?
For the first time in years, these two questions don't have a certain answer
3. Will Michael Schumacher continue inside Formula One? 4. What will Kimi Rakkonen's new team be? 5. Is Lewis Hamilton going to step up in Formula One? At what team? 6. Will Ross Brown take a vacation from Formula One? 7. Is Jacques Villeneuve going to retire from racing?