Kimi Raikkonen
by Pete Vack
Photos courtesy and copyright FerrariMedia
Comingman is Here
Fangio aside, F1 has always been a young man’s sport, but today cradle-robbing is a serious industry. Abu Dhabi’s new sports complex was the scene of the fourth victory this year for the 21 year old Sebastian Vettel. It was not just the number but the manner—convincing in each case. Emotional, his boyish bursts of enthusiasm are well deserved and well placed and one suspects that behind that toothy, winning grin is a calculating, tough Germanic genius. Last year Vettel was the comingman, but no more, he has arrived. We have been given notice.
Noteworthy was the surprise performance by Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi in the Toyota, filling in for Timo Glock, now almost 28. Both could be viewed as potential future world champions. Perhaps the 23 year old Kobayashi will provide the boost Toyota needs, assuming that his performance was not just an errant byte. Not particularly successful in GP2, he drove like winner at Abu Dhabi and eventually finished fourth, behind Vettel, Webber, and Button.
Kimi Raikkonen
Leaving the spotlight after Abu Dhabi are a number of too-familiar aging faces. Backmarkers next year may well be 30-something Kimi Raikkonen if he in fact is still on F1 grids; Mark Webber, born back in 1976 is now a David Coulthard without a title and may lose the edge he has honed over too many years. He’s good, but good is not enough in a world of aspiring teenagers. A mere babe a short few years ago, Alonso is now 28, and unless behind the wheel of a mythical SuperFerrari, will try hard next year but to no avail. Also now 28, Massa’s hopes for the future remain to be seen; 36 year old Fisichella, has had his chance and found wanting.
Giancarlo Fisichella in the tunnel
Now approaching 30, Button is a worthy World Champion in a field lacking a Schumacher, but was at the right place at the right time in the right car, his crown more of a matter of luck than talent. He too, was once a comingman who achieved success only after a long apprenticeship. His teammate Barachello like McArthur’s Old Soldier, will simply fade away. Rubens, born in 1972, is even older than Fisichella. Along with 35 year old Jarno Trulli, the trio constitute the grand old men of the F1 world.
What of the now ex-world champion Lewis Hamilton, aging at 24? A miserable season after last year’s one point wonder, he persevered, and at the season’s final came out challenging the even-younger Vettel only to retire with brake problems. He has had a humbling year. Lewis, however, is good, truly good, and will not disappear soon.
No comment on the likes of previous class of comingmen Kubica, 25, Kovalainen, 28, Rosberg, 24, Heidfeld, now 32. Given the right circumstances, the right car, they might find themselves, Button-like, propelled to a world championship. They are good but the clock is running. There are only so many years and only one World Championship per year.
Another woe be gone next year will be the fuel stops. Not sure what the tire requirements will be but hopefully be far less confusing. Leaving out the refueling is a pretty good idea though, seeing as we can repair the Hubble in space but can’t safely refuel a race car.
Next year will be a whole new ballgame; the only constant will be that the young lions will sooner than not replace the old and the cubs get younger every year.
Giancarlo Fisichella
Abu Dhabi circuit. Ferrari World is in the foreground.
Race Results
| 1 | VETTEL | RBR-Renault | 1h34m03.414s |
| 2 | WEBBER | RBR-Renault | + 17.8s |
| 3 | BUTTON | Brawn-Mercedes | + 18.4s |
| 4 | BARRICHELLO | Brawn-Mercedes | + 22.7s |
| 5 | HEIDFELD | BMW Sauber | + 26.2s |
| 6 | KOBAYASHI | Toyota | + 28.3s |
| 7 | TRULLI | Toyota | + 34.3s |
| 8 | BUEMI | STR-Ferrari | + 41.2s |
| 9 | ROSBERG | Williams-Toyota | + 45.9s |
| 10 | KUBICA | BMW Sauber | + 48.1s |
| 11 | KOVALAINEN | McLaren-Mercedes | + 52.7s |
| 12 | RÄIKKÖNEN | Ferrari | + 54.3s |
| 13 | NAKAJIMA | Williams-Toyota | + 59.8s |
| 14 | ALONSO | Renault | + 69.6s |
| 15 | LIUZZI | Force India-Mercedes | + 94.4s |
| 16 | FISICHELLA | Ferrari | + 1 lap |
| 17 | SUTIL | Force India-Mercedes | + 1 lap |
| 18 | GROSJEAN | Renault | + 1 lap |
| 19 | HAMILTON | McLaren-Mercedes | + 36 laps, brakes |
| 20 | ALGUERSUARI | STR-Ferrari | + 38 laps, gearbox |
| Fastest Lap |
VETTEL | RBR-Renault | 1m40.279s |
Driver’s Championship Standings
| 1 | BUTTON | Brawn-Mercedes | 95 Points |
| 2 | VETTEL | RBR-Renault | 84 Points |
| 3 | BARRICHELLO | Brawn-Mercedes | 77 Points |
| 4 | WEBBER | RBR-Renault | 69.5 Points |
| 5 | HAMILTON | McLaren-Mercedes | 49 Points |
| 6 | RÄIKKÖNEN | Ferrari | 48 Points |
| 7 | ROSBERG | Williams-Toyota | 34.5 Points |
| 8 | TRULLI | Toyota | 32.5 Points |
| 9 | ALONSO | Renault | 26 Points |
| 10 | GLOCK | Toyota | 24 Points |
| 11 | MASSA | Ferrari | 22 Points |
| 12 | KOVALAINEN | McLaren-Mercedes | 22 Points |
| 13 | HEIDFELD | BMW Sauber | 19 Points |
| 14 | KUBICA | BMW Sauber | 17 Points |
| 15 | FISICHELLA | Ferrari | 8 Points |
| 16 | BUEMI | STR-Ferrari | 6 Points |
| 17 | SUTIL | Force India-Mercedes | 5 Points |
| 18 | KOBAYASHI | Toyota | 3 Points |
| 19 | BOURDAIS | STR-Ferrari | 2 Points |
Constructor’s Championship Standings
| 1 | BRAWN-MERCEDES | 172 Points |
| 2 | RBR-RENAULT | 153.5 Points |
| 3 | McLAREN-MERCEDES | 71 Points |
| 4 | FERRARI | 70 Points |
| 5 | TOYOTA | 59.5 Points |
| 6 | BMW SAUBER | 36 Points |
| 7 | WILLIAMS-TOYOTA | 34.5 Points |
| 8 | RENAULT | 26 Points |
| 9 | FORCE INDIA-MERCEDES | 13 Points |
| 10 | STR-FERRARI | 8 Points |
Well written. The state of the art has tightened, there seems to be no also rans. In the past we could always count on a Minardi type to be the underdog and vie for our sympathy. No longer. Perhaps all the FIA fiddeling had produced some good.Something that seems odd is the rule that a driver only gets 8 engines per season,it had little or no effect on Vettel. I was looking for a DNF from him for the last 4 races.I was not wishing this, I was expecting it.These engines are very good indeed.
Jenson Button’s championship was “luck?” His drive in Brazil was brilliant as was the drive in Abu Dhabi. Were all of his six wins “luck?” I think not. Sure, he had the superior racecar, but Rubens had one every bit its equal. Red Bull came on strong, but neither Vettel nor Webber could be as consistent with either a good car or bad. Was it “luck” that Ross Brawn cobbled together a team from the Honda leftovers? No sir, that is skill and leadership all the way. Luck is for fairy tales and battlefields. Skill, consistency and determination win races and championships. Jenson and Brawn GP displayed all three this season.
Great read, thanks.
Button, luck, hell yes. Seriously, if you had your pick, would Button be one of your drivers? would he even be in you top ten? The question is how many more championships do you think Button will win? Ha. The way he QFs, he may never even win another RACE.
“I am the World Champion!”