What started out as a way to kill time on Sunday afternoons about 8yrs back grew to being a passion that was fuelled by hrs of strenuous analysis, fanatical cheering and jealous wonderment of craftsmanship of a man who in spite of all the bad-press that the so called purists try to attribute to downplay the greatness of a man who truly is a hero in the truest sense of the word – Michael Schumacher.

About six yrs back in spa when all the drivers chickened out to change to oil slicks to get grip in a downpour, there was one man who stood out and challenged the elements to outrun all the others lap after lap on hard compounds to win an inconsequential race and when asked why the risk the man replied – its all about racing wit oneself in one’s own terms, the opposition is but an excuse. Such was the arrogance of a man who knew he was good and had no regard to the idiocracy of the rules framed by incompetent men who had big bucks.

My dad and I supported rival teams but after every masterstroke of MS, when my dad would smile at the sheer genius of this man, I knew my worship of this man was no futile. I have not been able to watch F1 after coming to the US so when I called my dad todey, the first thing he spoke to me was abt MS retiring.

It’s sad in way that F1 has changed forever it’s funny that the image’s of the climax of the movie – Truman Show come into my mind where after the show goes off air, the audience ask “ All right, what else is on television”. Without schumi, F1’s just another race.

Kimi is to replace MS but I still hope that someday Jenson Button races in the great man’s place. For me he is the only one who come’s close to Schumi in both attitude and arrogance. I won’t be able to watch F1 for a while here so am not bothered but for all great hours of racing that I have watched, its Schumi who made all the difference.

For one last time – Go Schumi!

The Master’s back!!!

It all started at the end of the last race in Australia when a disappointed Michael shot back at a journo saying that Ferrari will be back and that too very soon. And the prophesy came true in the very next race.

Throughout the entire race week, the whole motoring world was abuzz with only one topic – the resurgence of Ferrari and Michael Schumacher. Alonso in all the interviews was playing the game of lowering the expectations least he were to be caught with a red face if Schumi were to take him on go past him at the Acque Minerali, the same corner in which Alonso got past Schumi in the last year’s race.

The whole week the entire media were trying to compare the test times of the Bridgestone’s to the Michelins to see if the former’s hard compounds were better suited to the hot conditions and if the restricted V10’s could match the improved V8’s. But all the press got was stoic silence from the Ferrari garage and usual smirk from Michael when ever he was in the public.

The qualifying was but a prelude to what was coming on Sunday and all that the fans hoped was a clean getaway at the first corner where the maximum accidents occur. But Schumi it seemed was in a different mood all together and it was one of those races were he was not bothered about mistakes or accidents.

The race began with Michael pulling away from the word go and from then on it was just time that he would put in the required 62 laps and go home. The safety car did curtail him but in the end it proved to be for his own good as he could stay on for an extra lap before fueling that got him the much needed positional advantage. But the drive that the master put on is what has been missing from F-1 for quite a while. The drive was neat, well timed and above all was very controlled. Clearly, the Ferrari 248F1 lacked the pace of the Renaults but Schumi got the overall package right.

But what the race will be remembered for and what it will stand out for was the duel between schumi and alonso in the last 20 laps. The whole time Alonso was pushing hard to get past Michael, the whole time was Michael soaking it all up and driving better and better. 168 race starts is something for any driver and all that experience can never go waste. Michael drove a slower car with such perfection that in the end Alonso was forced in a corner braking too late and veering of into the chicane. Such was the composure of Michael and the zeal to win that he held of Alonso for 20laps and went on to win.

The battle was a pure delight to any motoring enthusiast.

In the recent times, given to the domination of Ferrari and now Renault and the race being more than just driving but the actual setup, engines and budget the quality of F-1 in display has been debated on its loss of charm and intensity. But I really believe that a race of this kind where there is a challenger and a conqueror, a race which is decided on the track and not in the paddock and a race that enthuses a lot of energy into the audience is what will make F-1 the sport that it truly is.

And it would be wrong not to mention Jenson Button here as the most unlucky driver in F-1 today and there is nothing one can do but feel sorry for this amazingly talented driver. In the racing world for me if there is a driver who comes close to Michael, it’s Jenson. I still remember the first race in Australia in 2000 when as 20yr old he stunned the whole world when he finished 5^th on his debut race and finished 7^th overall in that season beating his Williams team mate Ralf by a good dozen points. Here is a guy who has the skill, the attitude and the tenacity to hold his own on the track but has been beaten back from success partly due to politics, stupidity and misfortune.

When Ferrari were scouting for a replacement for Ruben’s they should have grabbed Jenson with both hands but the politics of money and power saw that the contract of Jenson being renewed by Honda and instead Massa being signed on. Today, if given a reliable car and a pit crew that do their job, Jenson has the talent to take on any driver and win in any conditions.

It’s sad to sometimes see really talented drivers like Jenson being given a raw deal when totally pathetic drivers like Raikkonen, inspite of an awesome car, an amazing crew and a near perfect strategy just wasting away opportunities because of gross negligence and super heated ego’s. I meet so many Mclaren fan’s who act haughty and feel they are blue blooded and when they loose – which is almost every time – because of stupidity, they arrogantly console themselves saying that the gods and the entire mere mortal populace conspired against them. Common guys, you just need to drive to win. Insolent attitude and Slick packaging will not get you anywhere.

Last heard that Kimi is moving to Ferrari next year and I believe that will be the time when he will truly live up to the expectations of the “royal intelligentsia fans” that he has. But it will not be for his talent only, but will be for what Ferrari are and what they bring to the sport - a humble nature where the fans are given what they demand and the paying audience are treated to some quality action.

Now that the formula 1 season has begun and the championship is finally wide open this year with Jenson also matching up to expectations, there is finally some respite from boredom.

Having successfully completed the entire Oscar nominated movies, most I must add have been a let down except for GN, GL., I was fearing boredom that would eventually grip me.

T.V has effectively become a medium of non-entertainment with nothing but Amitabh re-run’s and Amitabh’s ads all around.

Now that cricket’s telecasting right’s will never be given to ESPN-STAR, the only channel which has commentator’s who can speak with some conviction about the game, looking forward to the day’s highlight’s or re-run’s is also not an option. I would rather follow it online through blogs or cric-info. Atleast I will have some humor to keep me going.

Also coming up are the finals of Champs League that are turning out to be interesting. Real’s out (SAD!), but more importantly, there is no MAN U and a host of other English Clubs, so that will make the game beautiful rather than fast and furious. Also my Pondy trip yeilded loads of 3-in-1 dvd’s for as cheap as 40 bucks, so that should be enough for a month or so.

All in all, looking forward to some entertainment… atleast till the Set Top Box rule is not here in HYD.

On a totally different note, following the war for news blog has really enthused me to follow all the three english news channel’s frequently, or atleast I try. Heard that in the coming weeks, all the 3 channels are going all out for some pretty amazing exclusive coverage’s about some really interesting facets about India. That should also be interesting…