Tifosi around the world got the best possible result this weekend with Ferrari showing that the title race is not over yet. Michael Schumacher showed that Indy wasn't a one hit wonder and France wasn't a fluke by winning his home grand prix without a real challenge (once McLaren screwed up that is, more later) to dominate yet another race and lead the red team to another one-two finish. Whatever Jean Todt and Luca Di Montezemolo have said behind closed doors has obviously done the trick; Ferrari is back and will fight to the end.
It wasn't so much a Ferrari one-two as it was seeing that McLaren will be a spoiler in this and what ever advantage Renault had seems to be gone. It is true that we've entered the testing ban phase of the season. If Michelin's best hot weather tire is what they had at Hockenheim, then Hungary (hot) and Turkey (hotter) should make the French think of surrendering. Oh wait; they do that for the average tourist couple from Düsseldorf...
Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa
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Kimi Räikkönen looked like he had a strategy during the early stages that would keep him at the front and get a much needed win for the Woking based team, but it all fell apart after the first pit stop where the right rear wheel would not go on. That error, combined with a car that couldn't keep up, was enough to push the Finn back to third place, and more importantly, ahead of Alonso.
Jenson Button can claim to his masters that he really is a great driver and can finish races ahead of the reigning world champion and finish just off the podium. But, when the Honda engineers present their case, the Brit will just silently be thankful that the Brazilian blew up the motor. But more importantly he finished ahead of Alonso.
Felipe Massa
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Less than two seconds separated the two Renaults this weekend. Alonso was still ahead of his team mate who has been scolded to do more since he'll be coming back next year as the number one. One second off the pace isn't so bad. What is so bad is the fact that they finished in fifth and sixth place. Well, I guess it is only bad if you're a Renault fan. In a way it is funny that the three Japanese teams finished in a row if you consider the Nissan-Renault connection.
Jarno Trulli showed that even though he makes less money, Toyota wins the value equation with him as he finished ahead of his German team mate who finished in ninth. Toyota had another uneventful weekend, but nowhere near the top. When will they pull out of the sport and go back to try and win Le Mans again?
What a nose?
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Christian Klien finished in the last points paying position to capture another point for Red Bull. Always an important result when you are in the middle of your contract negotiations. Coulthard was only able to come up a lap back in eleventh. With ten points in the bag, he's probably safe in keeping his seat. All of the Red Bull and Toro Rosso cars finished which is more than can be said of some higher budgeted teams.
Okay, let's see the wall of shame. Midlands saw both cars disqualified due flexible wings. At the end of the day, who cares if you DQ'd thirteenth and fourteenth place? I guess it matters if you're Williams and you see someone with a budget that used to be a rounding error in your own budget finish a race. Sir Frank must have used up his miracles in the Hill and Villeneuve era. That would be the Elder Villeneuve.
Super Aguri showed up with their new car. They will be known now as the still-not-so-Super-Aguri team.
Michael Schumacher and Chris Dyer
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Neither BMW finished with Villeneuve having enough of a shunt to stay out of the next race, not that any BMW fans are complaining. Rumors are that the French Canadian needs to find new employment. I really hope we see him in NASCRAP. Oh wait, I just remembered, I don't watch that series. Oh well...
With the win, Schumacher pulled within eleven points of Alonso and made the season much more enjoyable than it looked like it was going to become. The Ferrari fans are hopeful that it will not come down to the wire and the team is forced to add bumpers to the car. With the 1-2 finish, Ferrari also pulled within ten points in the constructor's championship. At this rate, both titles may be coming back to Maranello. Stay tuned, it got exciting again.
Race Results
