Belgian GP: Mixed Performances From Ferrari

F1 Update from the iSport F1 Pitstop: iSporter Maharshi Vaishnav sums up Ferrari’s performance in the Belgian Grand Prix.

Spa-Francorchamps was at its precarious and capricious best. We got to see everything what we have been missing this entire year. A brilliant race laced with rains, phenomenal crashes, safety car sojourns, drive throughs, tantrums and divine interventions.

While the Gods smiled on Lewis Hamilton, they weren’t too generous with Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello and Fernando Alonso. They all were victims of a mix of driver errors and the natural elements at play.

I had pretty mixed feelings this weekend. The race was outstanding without any iota of doubt. I was so looking forward to a Ferrari win after Fernando Alonso topped the practice sessions on Friday. The race though was quite a disappointment considering that Ferrari could have done much better than what they managed and I strongly believed that they could've won!

The qualifying was a pretty subdued affair. Fernando Alonso barely made it to Q3. And in Q3, knowing the conditions, the Ferrari drivers should have pushed from the very beginning. Instead, they put in pretty lukewarm laps initially and waited for too late to put in hot laps. Increasing rains in Q3 ensured that both were left in not so promising grid slots. Thereafter, it was always going to be difficult in the race.

While Spa has some fabulous overtaking spots, the treacherous weather was always expected to play the villain. Amidst all the rains and safety car periods, the guys at the top including Massa managed to stay on course for a win. But Alonso quite surprisingly was impatient and brash. He let go of his pursuit not once but twice…..the second of course forcing him into retirement.

Turn 19 at Spa isn’t necessarily the best spot to swerve and cut the racing chicane. Alonso tried and paid the price when Barrichello hit him from the rear. His damage was manageable and he got lucky with the 1st safety car outing. This was an opportunity to easily salvage his earlier mistake and finish a decent 6th or 7th. However, he got suicidal again and spun his car between Malmedy and Rivage. This left only Massa with a genuine chance of a podium. But his pace was questionable when we compare Ferrari’s pace in practice and his own pace in qualifying. He never looked like threatening Robert Kubica and barely finished 4th. Infact Force India’s Adrian Sutil came too close for comfort and could have overtaken him had there been a couple of laps more.

Alonso knows that he has a genuine chance at the Driver’s Championship and the 7 remaining races are a do-or die sort of battles amongst the 5 title contenders. But he seems to be lacking in maturity and finesse. His antics on the track defy the demeanor of a double World Champion. His error on Sunday may prove too costly to overcome. While his deficit was only 20 points from the Championship leader Mark Webber before Spa, the new title leader Hamilton leads him by over 40 points. He did put up a brave face and mentioned, “"The first of the 7 'finals' went badly for me and for 2 of the other 5 finalists. The remaining 2 got the maximum result that means we will have to make up the ground lost today somewhere else. It is very disappointing because this is a bad result, but it does not mean I have given up on my chances of winning the title."

Ferrari’s performance at Spa also dented their Constructor’s title hopes. They now trail Red Bull by 80 points and with inconsistent forms of its drivers’, their hopes of the Constructors’ crown look like evaporating.

The only positive that I feel Ferrari would derive out of this race is Massa’s fairly consistent return to form. He is highly unlikely to win the Driver’s crown this year. But he has scored good points in the last 3 races.

The next outing is at Monza - traditionally a Ferrari stronghold. If Alonso is ever going to win the Driver’s Championship, he has to win at Monza and avoid a Spa. I am genuinely hoping for a great Ferrari performance. Anybody with me for a Ferrari 1-2 at their citadel?