The Formula 1 Awards 2010 – Part 2
The Show Must Go on!
The ceremony heads into its next set of Awards with tons of ‘willing’ recipients to cater.
The next category is for the Best Couple of 2010. There are a few potential ‘marriages’ that find themselves in contention.
Ferrari has taught the racing world, the essence of a true marriage. It is not always about being an individual tied to a contract. Perhaps not, sometimes, it’s better to put your partner’s interests ahead of your own. Be the plank for them to walk upon,
forgo your well earned right because it makes the bigger picture sunnier. The reference is of course in regard to the German Grand Prix that exhibited the strength of the bond shared by the two Ferrari drivers. Obviously, the relationship does not end at the
point of making the ultimate sacrifice. The actual test is how you follow up the act. Felipe Massa appeared dejected on the podium after the race while a jubilant Alonso rejoiced. It is obviously supposed to be a two way street and based on Alonso’s track
record with regard to his brief stay at McLaren Mercedes; it’s going to be headline news the day Alonso ‘compromises’ on track for one of his own.
While they say, ‘in sickness and in health till death do us part’, Felipe Massa, after honoring the team’s decision should have put up a better face and stood by his decision. However, if it was against his wishes, then the phrase, ‘If you love them, you
must set them free’, also holds true…
On a quantitative front, the Red Bull Racing team has been able to secure the highest points at present. The Constructor’s leaders have piled up a staggering 350 points, 3 points ahead of team McLaren Mercedes. Perhaps, it’s safe to assume that this particular
type of marriage features two high achieving individuals, which does have its benefits to a certain extent - at the end of the day, the duo appears to bring home the constructor’s championship to Red Bull.
On the flip side, it’s worth mentioning what conspired at the Turkish Grand Prix. Both drivers looked to be in control of the race, on course for a Red Bull 1-2. This was until the in-house power struggle became public for all of Turkey to see. Vettel made
a lunge for the race lead and inadvertently ended up making contact with his team mate who obviously appeared reluctant to forgo his dominance. The result could best be described by Newton’s third law of motion!
“Third Law: “The mutual forces of action and reaction between two bodies are equal, opposite and collinear. This means that whenever a first body exerts a force
F on a second body, the second body exerts a force −F on the first body.
F and −F are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. This law is sometimes referred to as the action-reaction law, with
F called the "action" and −F the "reaction".”
(The writer apologizes for quoting Wikipedia to wrong foot the reader!)
While it might seem a little inconsiderate of Mr. Newton not to break it down for the regular Formula 1 fan, here is what is suggested in simpler words.
‘Every action has an equal but opposite reaction’
This better reflects upon the power equation at Red Bull as both aggressive drivers ended up cancelling each other out which meant a clear path for McLaren Mercedes. On its day, it could be a lethal duo. On other occasions, a self destructing household –
then again, every marriage has its highs and lows!
McLaren Mercedes have been rather quiet. There have been fewer squabbles between Hamilton and Button – perhaps, it pays to marry the same countryman. Whether there ‘actually’ haven’t been many disagreements, or perhaps both drivers know how to keep a random
argument hushed up, it’s hard to say. While the ‘no news is good news’ doesn’t sit well for the gossip hungry press, it is perhaps the right way to act when paired up.
While no prominent constructors were able to present a lineup worthy of comparison to the cast of HBO’s original movie, The Band of Brothers; it eventually went down to the team’s sheer professionalism and impressive work ethic that the Award for The Best
Couple of 2010 goes to the McLaren Mercedes team. Martin Whitmarsh has raised his boys well.
To be continued…
(The write-up features facts from the 2010 Formula 1 season. The presentation of the award ceremony and awarding criteria is solely based on the views of the writer)
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