There are many lessons to be learned from this season in Formula One. The first is that Fernando Alonso is still a master. The second is Ferrari needs a dominant driver given the fall of Kimi.
Mention Formula One and the same criticisms are spewed out. There is no real fire. Drivers do not try to pass one another enough. The personalities are to boring. There is no real passion with the teams.
I propose that the only way to add life to F1 is to get a good, vicious rivalry going. Yes, McLaren and Ferrari have a go every so often, but we need individuals involved to really get the blood up and boiling.
What would really make Formula One boil is a tremendous driver rivalry. We saw it last year. Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton went at it tooth and nail to say the least. The fact they were both driving for McLaren made things even better, if a bit odd.
Well, the rivalry this year has lost a bit of the bite. Why? Until recently, the Renault of Alonso was a mid pack car at best. Ah, but it is improving and Alonso has perked up. He is looking feisty once again and Hamilton is in his sights.
For my measure, the Ferrari is a bit better than the McLaren, but the McLaren is a bit more reliable. As we have all seen, the McLaren is far superior in the wet. On top of this, the Ferrari team has made some horrific gaffs.
Take the current Ferrari team and add Alonso to it for 2009. He is a dominant personality, much like Shumi was before. It is hard to imagine the team having the same gaffs as this year. Alonso is also a superior wet driver, which makes up a shortfall.
Who would Alonso replace? The obvious answer is Raikkonen. I love Kimi, but he is done. He may have a contract for next year, but Ferrari would be crazy not to let him go. Do not be surprised if something does not come together in the offseason.
When it comes to Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, you simply cannot sit on the fence. You love one of them and think the other is a no good punk. Whatever your choice, a rivalry built around these two drivers would be epic.
Just imagine it. Qualifying. Racing. Each and every week, McLaren and Ferrari going at it. Alonso passing and cutting off Hamilton. Hamilton passing and cutting off Alonso. The rivalry would make for must watch viewing all season long.
If Alonso ends up at Ferrari, the number of plots and subplots would be staggering. One has to wonder if Bernie will start moving behind the scenes. Can you imagine the interest in the 2009 season if such a rivalry came to be?
