Formula One: Disappointing stories of a successful season (Part 1)
It is commonly believed that the 2010 Formula One season is the best one ever seen in the sport’s history for a number of reasons. The kind of competition and rivalry seen all through the year, the unexpected results witnessed at one after the other race
and above all the on and off track drama that kept heating up until the end of the season will not be forgotten for a very long time.
Although a lot of things this year went better than expected, yet everything was not as perfect as it seems. While the 2010 season unfolded a number of success stories, at the same time, it also reflects some very disappointing tales also. When some of the
very leading names of Formula One world were asked about the most disappointing stories of the year they came up with the following:
Sir Stirling Moss: “Mercedes. I can never consider them as the same Mercedes team that I drove for in the 1950s, because that was a team that was always right at the top, both before and after the war. I was also surprised to see the
drop in performance after Brawn GP won the title last year."
The team changed its name from last year’s ‘Brawn GP’ to ‘Mercedes GP’, as it tied up with Mercedes-Benz at the start of the year. Many believed to see a great team on the 2010 tracks as all the perfect ingredients were put together. The return of Mercedes-Benz,
the leadership of Ross Brawn, and above all the comeback of the seven times World Champion, Michael Schumacher, all created immense fanfare and hype for the team. However, it was not very late that all the fans as well as Brawn himself accepted that the team
has already lost both the championships, and there is not even much hope of bouncing back in the battle.
Neither the team was able to deliver a competitive car to its drivers, nor the racing icon, ‘Schumi’ was able to get the best out of what he was handed. A 4th place finish of the team in the Constructors’ Championship, and 7th and 9th
place finish by its drivers, Nico Rosberg and Schumacher, respectively is far from what the Mercedes GP fans expected from the team.
Sir Jackie Stewart: "That Ferrari and McLaren seemed so ill-prepared to take on the competitiveness of Red Bull."
For the triple world champion, the most disappointing fact of the season was the little preparation done by Ferrari and McLaren to compete the Red Bull Racing. As the season started off, it was not very late that the dominance of Red Bull was evident on
the track. The brilliantly designed team car, the RB6, by Adrian Newey, was too fast for both the rival teams to chase.
Ferrari stayed lulled away till the middle of the season, until some of its modifications and the very controversial 1-2 finish at the German Grand Prix brought it back to the tug for the title. On the other hand, McLaren kept fighting hard against the Red
Bull but was hardly ever able to beat it in pace. Its driver, Lewis Hamilton declared several times that they don’t match the RB6’s pace.
Well, there is no doubt that the season offered a great combat between the top three teams, but this was not because Ferrari or McLaren did very well. It was actually because the Red Bull duo either kept on making mistakes or it went on meeting mishaps every
now and then.
With the kind of car the team had, two best drivers of the season and a great team strategy, the team should have actually wrapped up the championship far earlier.
To be continued..
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