Half-Term Report
July 12th 2008 10:43
Last year, Robert Kubica was that Polish guy who dominated highlight reels by way of a hellish crash at Canada. TV anchors were for the first time grappling with his name (Koo-bika or Cube-itsa?) as viewers watched his car shred itself to pieces around him. His teammate Nick Heidfeld finished second. But, after spending his winter dieting and training with determined conviction, the Pole was ready to dominate screens again – but this time as a winner. And so, somehow fittingly, it was in Canada, where Robert was again on the lips of the newsreaders but this time as victor. His consistently quick performances this year, including several podiums, a pole and of course that brilliant win, have catapulted Kubica right into the title fight.
The defending world champion is again in the same place he was last year. Not quite a dominating force at every round, but he’s there…he’s always there. This year, poor luck, and reliability have undoubtedly cost the flying Finn a clear title lead. Chances in Canada were squandered when Hamilton came crashing by, and then there was the exhaust problem that not only chewed away Kimi’s certain victory – but also his Ferrari’s engine cover. Still despite the setbacks, Raikkonen has cannily kept his name at the top. Kimi’s long been an advocate for second-half surges, and this year he’s better placed than ever.
It’s been a comparatively dismal year for last year’s rookie of the century. Although he shares the title lead with the two arguably superior Ferrari’s, many have already branded the Brit’s second year opening account as a failure. In some ways it has been…and truth be told, his ranking in this report was greatly improved by his performance at his home grand prix, where he decimated the opposition. Lewis’ three wins (Melbourne, Monaco and Silverstone) have come amidst chaos, and where Ferrari faultered, it was Lewis who flashed ahead. He has made mistakes, the Canadian red-light incident being the most poignant – but he has firmly established himself as McLaren’s great hope.
The feisty Brazilian has again shown the world that he is capable of being utterly invincible one week…and decidedly appalling the next. There’s no doubting Felipe’s speed, his victories in Bahrain and his favourite hunting ground Turkey attest to that, but then there are weekends like Britain and Malaysia where Felipe’s Ferrari seems magnetically attracted to the gravel. Nevertheless, when he’s on, he’s on – and with half the season gone, Massa shares the title lead and is determined not to fall away as he did last year.
When the ‘big three’ leave some scraps of points behind on a weekend, it’s more often than not the wily Mark Webber who pounces. As usual, the Aussie has been a force in qualifying, reaching Q3 on several occasions, and planting his RB4 on the front row in Britain with a competitive fuel-load. But this year, Webber has a reliable car underneath him – and his consistent points-finishing record douses critic’s flames that he fades in races. With a faster car, Webber’s form is worthy of title-contention.
The double-world champion’s infamous falling out with McLaren last year no doubt unsettled the driver enormously. The Spaniard stormed away from a winning team, and to a struggling Renault, miles away from their title-winning ways. Alonso’s return was smooth, and although the car hasn’t brought the team back to the pointy end, Fernando’s dogged performances prove his racing spirit and undeniable talent is burning very brightly indeed.
The fact that three second places, and a solid fifth place in the WDC is considered poo form for the German, proves just how highly rated Formula One’s quiet man now is. After a stellar 2007, Heidfeld has struggled to find a qualifying rhythm in the F1.08, while his teammate regularly found himself seeded amongst the race favourites. But, all things considered, Nick’s been quick and consistent in the races, and has been one of the busiest overtakers on the grid – making up places lost in lacklustre qualifying performances. Heidfeld now reckons his tyre-heating woes are sorted, and has the rest of the year to turn the tide.
Rescued from the clutches of midfield obscurity by McLaren, after Renault dumped the Finn – despite his impressive performances at the end of last year. Heikki’s talent has been championed by a choir of McLaren personnel - Lewis included. but despite displaying some genuine promise, the Finn is yet to make his mark at the top.
Toyota are still searching desperately for the form that took them to fourth in the WCC in 2005. So far they have upturned their entire technical team, dropkicked Ralf Schumacher out of the car, and have even sold engines to Williams with hopes of gaining some useful information. Once thing they haven’t dared change though, is the determined Italian team leader who occupies their number one seat. Jarno Trulli has again given Toyota hope (his Magny Cours podium was inspired), but alas, despite the improvements the Japanese giants have made – they still cannot give Jarno the car he deserves.
Nico has been very much hot and cold this season. The young German started the year searing hot – taking his first ever podium after starting a credible seventh on the grid. But then in Malaysia, he was nowhere. But, as he’s shown with four Q3 appearances and tally of 8 points, when the car is up to the task, so is Nico.
It’s been tough going for Giancarlo at Force India. After making way for Alonso at Renault, the Italian had to settle for a job at the back of the grid – where he has toiled away so many of his years. But he’s made the best of a bad situation, and has regularly managed to get his VJM01 ahead of the odd Toro Rosso or Honda. He’s so far not managed to nab that vital point – but you get the sense that he will, somehow.
With Super Aguri now selling off the remainders of their brief flirtation with F1, the mass of Japanese fans have had no choice but to pin their hopes on the nations last remaining driver. Kaz’s qualifying efforts have been OK, although not quite near enough to teammate Rosberg. But to his credit, he has brought it home in the points on four occasions – no mean feat in the highly competitive midfield.
The promising youngster has not quite been as impressive this year as he had been last year, when he took the reigns of Scott Speed’s vacant Toro Rosso. Now firmly planted in the sport, he’s struggled early on. The speed is definitely there, (twice making it into Q3), but far too many races have ended in contact in the opening laps. His tally of five points should be more.
Much like his stable-mate Jenson Button, Rubens has been putting up with a mediocre car. However, while Jenson has been struggling to trouble the points – Rubens has been far more successful – so far stuffing a handy 11 points in the bag. Most of those points, of course came from his storming run to P3 in Britain, where his mantle as the sports most experienced driver ever came into its own, with a brilliant call on strategy.
After a decade and a half racing at the top, the wily old Scot has finally decided to call it a day. This, his final year in the sport, has been somewhat quiet – save for a gifted podium in Canada. For the second year running, Coulthard has looked sluggish besides Webber, and despite his penchant of nabbing the odd point or two – it’s clear DC’s best years are well behind him.
It’s been another difficult year for England’s other driver. The stunning win in Hungary two years ago has been crushed under the weight of Lewis-mania – and Button and Honda are still flapping about at the back of the grid. Ross Brawn will no doubt improve the fortunes of the team, but for now Honda, and Jenson Button are nowhere.
Fresh from a successful GP2 campaign, Timo has struggled to apply his impressive form in the junior ranks into the top flight. There’s no doubt the new Toyota TF108 is miles ahead of it’s predecessor – but so far only Jarno Trulli has really exemplified this improvement. Timo has had some decent performances (P4 in Canada), but too many mistakes and midfield knocks have left the German a mountain of work to do if he wants a seat next year.
When the Champcar king left the comfort of his American throne to take a seat in a bottom-feeder F1 team – there were mixed expectations. Traditionally, American open-wheeler converts have floundered amongst the politics and glitz of grand prix racing. So far, Bourdais has been solid – and his points-scoring debut was impressive. But his qualifying performances are under par, and the Frenchman has failed to attract attention.
It hasn’t been a complete disaster of a season for the highly rated German, but since being cruelly wiped on his dream run to fourth at Monaco by an out of control Kimi Raikkonen, Sutil has failed to capture the attention he did last year. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact it’s Fisichella in the sister car, and not Christjian Albers.
It’s been difficult for Nelson Piquet Jnr. A fresh rookie in a team whose prodigal double-world champion son has just returned – Piquet was never going to have it easy. But, despite a decent effort in France - too many rookie mistakes, and a general lack of pace have got people speculating about who will occupy his seat for the second half of the year.
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