Formula One: Schumacher’s retirement cause for reshuffle of drivers in top teams

Two Finns, one nearly-Finn, and one Jarno among the drivers

print this

The start of the new Formula One season in a few days’ time will be more exciting than in years - and not just from the Finnish point of view.
      The year 1 AS (After Schumacher) has already witnessed a total reshuffle in the driver market, as a result of which the already slightly stale series has freshened up a great deal.
     
From the Finnish perspective the situation could hardly be tastier. A move to the legendary Ferrari team has given new momentum to Kimi Räikkönen, who never quite managed to conquer the World Championship title when racing for McLaren.
      The year 2006 was particularly unflattering for the McLaren team, who did not manage to top the podium once during the entire season.
     
At the moment Ferrari is in an almost touching fashion "everyone’s favourite team" to win this year’s title. Based on the latest tests, both the McLaren and Renault drivers attest to the Italian team’s superiority.
      As far as guessing the results of the season opening in Melbourne, everyone seems to focus on who will come in third after the two “Maranello reds”.
      Judging by the tests, besides Ferrari, other strong contestants include McLaren, Renault, and BMW-Sauber, the team predicted to emerge as the dark horse of the season. In fact, BMW-Sauber has been remarkably fast in tests, but reliability issues with the gearbox have cast a slight shadow of doubt over the team’s chances.
     
As far as Ferrari is concerned, one thing has changed and with it everything else. Where in previous years Michael Schumacher was the incontestable ruler of the sport, Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa now prepare for the season on more equal terms.
      The latest tests indicate that it will be much tougher for Räikkönen to beat his new teammate than it was with McLaren, where Juan Pablo Montoya was clearly overshadowed by the Finn.
     
After Schumacher’s retirement, there is only one driver left with previous World Championship titles under his belt: the Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who just happens also to be the reigning champion.
      Alonso, however, has left his victorious Renault team for McLaren. The move proved a stroke of luck for the Renault test driver Heikki Kovalainen of Finland, who was thus promoted to race driver.
      As a rookie, Kovalainen is in a unique position. His will be driving a car that actually has the potential to win races. The fact that he is replacing the current World Champion may add to expectations, but Kovalainen denies this will bring him added pressure.
     
Aside from Räikkönen and Kovalainen, Finns can also root for Nico Rosberg of Williams. He is the son of former Finnish World Champion Keijo "Keke" Rosberg, even if he does race under the German flag. His mother is German.
      Or then as a long shot if all else fails, there is Italian Jarno Trulli in the Toyota. He takes his un-Italian first name from Finland's finest-ever motorcycle road racing exponent, the late great Jarno Saarinen.
     
This season 2007 has not been burdened with enormous regulation changes. The Friday tests will last for three hours instead of two, and they can be raced with a different engine from the rest of the weekend.
      At the start of the season the most talked-about topic has been the tyres. This season all the teams will use tyres by the same manufacturer, Bridgestone.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Kimi Räikkönen heads to Melbourne in confident mood (13.3.2007)
  Heikki Kovalainen is not worried by the doubters (27.2.2007)

Links:
  Wikipedia: 2007 Formula One Season

Helsingin Sanomat