Formula One Drivers: Shut Up And Drive

Topics:  Formula One

Anthony Fontanelle
September 5, 2007

The Formula One arena is as hot as the burning sun. Aside from the escalating competition among manufacturers, the rivalry between teammates is intensifying that feud is building up. Now that the horde of dynamic teams is heading to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, experts advise drivers to shut up and drive. Driving can do the talking.

Monza is deemed the spiritual home of the Ferrari team. But so far, McLaren Mercedes was the fastest on the track. The Italian circuit is not that technically challenging but it has high kerbs and long straights that made it tricky. So aficionados expect a tight fight between Ferrari and Mercedes.

Jean Todt, the head honcho at the Scuderia team, has given Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa the freedom to race each other. Either of them can win the race if they want to. On the other hand, the track will certainly be set on fire as McLaren teammates Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton do the duel.

In Istanbul, Alonso said that he was still "not comfortable" within the team. He added, "I remember the car I drove and the results they had in 2006 and now I brought to the team half a second, six-tenths, whatever, and I don't see anything giving me back."

Such a statement has attracted several critics to react. Martin Brundle accused the two-time world champion of acting like a spoilt child. Additionally, former World Champions Emerson Fittpaldi and Nikki Lauda are also puzzled by how much Alonso wants to whine about the situation instead of letting his driving do the talking.

"Fernando is very nervous. He has to focus on his driving and go for it, not be complaining so much about Lewis," said Fittipaldi. "He's very talented and he should be focused more on driving, and then he can get back to being more competitive again."

Lauda shares similar view. "Instead of complaining, moaning and bitching, which is what Alonso is doing at the moment, all he needs to do is concentrate on driving quicker. He is using all kinds of excuses. He should have done this after the second or third race of the season after he realized how quick Hamilton is. He didn't do that. My worry is if he continues to find the reasons somewhere else, and not in his right foot, he will lose out because Hamilton is doing a perfect job, simply concentrating on his driving and he's quick," he relates.

Based on the Turkish Grand Prix results, the Spaniard made more mistakes than his teammate. But the untimely puncture of the Briton’s tyre handed him two points back. At Monza, the Woking team had a good start. And in the said track a good start is significant because overtaking will be hard to do. This may well push the team to fuel both cars relatively light to ensure speed advantage.

Aside from the usual checking of the Mercedes Benz shock and other race parts, McLaren should also exert an effort to even the relationship between its drivers. Apparently, Alonso is psychologically at a disadvantage because he had a disastrous race at the track in the previous year.

If the Scuderia can out-psyche or out-strategize the Woking team this weekend then it will be a major victory. But what Ferrari must avoid is getting mixed up with the BMW Sauber and Renault fight.

Source:  Amazines.com