Back in 1996 two times World Champion Michael Schumacher turned his back on the team that had just won him back to back titles and went to drive for Ferrari. Ferrari had won some races in the mid 90's but weren't pushing for titles and many wondered why Schumacher had gone there, apart from the reputed $30 million salary.
Schumacher won 3 races that season, despite the car not being particularly good. Come 1997 Schumacher was challenging for the title and again in 1998. In 1999 a broken leg put paid to any drivers title but Ferrari won the constructors title. From 2000 onwards I don't think I need to go in to much detail. Schumacher and the red machine dominated F1 in a way that that hadn't been seen before and he was only knocked off his perch by a young pretender called Fernando Alonso in a Renault.
Via a troubled time at McLaren and a couple of "wilderness" years back at Renault the often quoted "best driver in F1" found his way to Ferrari. He challenged for the title in 2010 but ultimately fell short. Since then, despite winning races and finishing as runner up to Vettel in 2012 and 2013, Fernando has been a long way from mounting a serious challenge for the title and this season looks like it could be even worse.
So will Fernando Alonso have failed if he doesn't win a drivers title at Ferrari? Have Ferrari failed Alonso? When Schumacher was there Ferrari had a mix of very talented designers and engineers from across the World but appear to have retrenched from this position with a primarily Italian team designing the car and engine and setting the racing strategy. Should Ferrari be more outward looking in terms of the team management and engineers to give Fernando the machinery he needs to meet his ambitions?
Should Alonso win another title it will be the longest period in F1 history for a driver to win another championship. He now ranks amongst the oldest drivers on the grid and, although still looking motivated and fast, all drivers reach a sell by date. How many more years at the top can we expect from Fernando? If he really wants to win another title should he call it quits at Ferrari and try with another team for the next two or three seasons?
I appreciate that the during the Schumacher years there were no testing or budget caps and tyre technology was developed almost exclusively for the Red cars but the rules were and are the same for all competitors in F1 and Ferrari are currently being beaten by a fizzy drinks manufacturer and a producer of Executive saloons.
Schumacher won 3 races that season, despite the car not being particularly good. Come 1997 Schumacher was challenging for the title and again in 1998. In 1999 a broken leg put paid to any drivers title but Ferrari won the constructors title. From 2000 onwards I don't think I need to go in to much detail. Schumacher and the red machine dominated F1 in a way that that hadn't been seen before and he was only knocked off his perch by a young pretender called Fernando Alonso in a Renault.
Via a troubled time at McLaren and a couple of "wilderness" years back at Renault the often quoted "best driver in F1" found his way to Ferrari. He challenged for the title in 2010 but ultimately fell short. Since then, despite winning races and finishing as runner up to Vettel in 2012 and 2013, Fernando has been a long way from mounting a serious challenge for the title and this season looks like it could be even worse.
So will Fernando Alonso have failed if he doesn't win a drivers title at Ferrari? Have Ferrari failed Alonso? When Schumacher was there Ferrari had a mix of very talented designers and engineers from across the World but appear to have retrenched from this position with a primarily Italian team designing the car and engine and setting the racing strategy. Should Ferrari be more outward looking in terms of the team management and engineers to give Fernando the machinery he needs to meet his ambitions?
Should Alonso win another title it will be the longest period in F1 history for a driver to win another championship. He now ranks amongst the oldest drivers on the grid and, although still looking motivated and fast, all drivers reach a sell by date. How many more years at the top can we expect from Fernando? If he really wants to win another title should he call it quits at Ferrari and try with another team for the next two or three seasons?
I appreciate that the during the Schumacher years there were no testing or budget caps and tyre technology was developed almost exclusively for the Red cars but the rules were and are the same for all competitors in F1 and Ferrari are currently being beaten by a fizzy drinks manufacturer and a producer of Executive saloons.
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