An interesting season 2007!!

When the 2006 season came to an end, many Formula One enthusiasts groaned and moaned. The legendary Michael Schumacher had raced for the last time at the Interlagos circuit and die-hard Schumi fans said F1 will never be the same again without the "Magician" in the Ferrari. To put it in the words of one of my friends, "I will not be too thrilled to watch the races this year. Its going to be boring, the 2007 season".

One year on, the 2007 season has ended and no one who's followed the races this year can say that they were boring. And if anyone says so, I think they are trying to crack the most pathetic joke of all time. A rookie with a shouting chance at the world championship, a defending champion racing against other drivers as well as his own team and the
Iceman chasing the ever elusive title.

Not since 1986 had there been a three-way battle to the Championship going into the last stop in the F1 calender. I was only a new born that year. That was when Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost and Nelson Piquet were at it.Hamilton headed into Sunday's race at Interlagos in Brazil with a four-point lead over the second-placed Fernando Alonso with
Kimi Raikkonen a further three points behind. In 1986 Nigel Mansell faced a similar situation as he led Nelson Piquet and Alain Prost going into the finale at Adelaide with, then as now, seven points covering the three drivers. Like Hamilton and Alonso, Mansell and Piquet had managed the majority of the wins that season. They were comfortably driving the best cars, the Williams-Honda FW11. Prost was the outsider at the wheel of the McLaren-TAG. He played the role of the modern-day Raikkonen against England's favourite son and Brazil's two-times world champion, Piquet.
But that year, Prost was world champion for the second time with 72 points as Mansell, 70, and Piquet, 69, were left to fume over their disappointing retirements in the race due to tyre concerns.

History repeated itself on Sunday when Kimi Raikkonen won with an outside chance at the title, in his Ferrari. He finished with the most number of wins this season as also most points, ahead of his nearest rivals by a single point. Apart from what transpired on the track, plenty of events off the track gathered a lot of media mileage. The Stepneygate Scandal and Mclaren being stripped off their points; then the feud within Mclaren with Alonso and team principal Ron Dennis; Alonso's complaining to the media, especially the Spanish one, who had a field day at rumour
mongering; smallest of comments gathering a lot of storm; accusations at the teams and each other. All these made for a very eventful 2007 season.

Coming to the good points, with the sun setting on Schumacher brothers (Ralf undecided on seat for 2008, he is optimistic though, that he will secure a seat, but I doubt if it'll be with a good team), this season showed a lot of fresh talent. Leading the pack was Lewis Hamilton, the rookie sensation that captivated the minds of F1 fans worldwide and almost winning the title. Heikki Kovalainen in a not so sensational Renault, showed his mettle with the car at brief intervals. Also impressive were Robert Kubica with the first full season at BMW. Nico Rosberg in Williams,
Sebastian Vettel in the Toro Rosso, all proved to be the fresh breathe in the Formula one air. The future of F1 events is in safe hands.

Noteworthy of mention from the Indian point of view is the buying out of the Spyker Ferrari team by Vijay Mallya and renaming it to Team Force India F1...which most of us agree is a very lame name.

As of now, the event has concluded for this season. But still the air of suspense hangs on as Mclaren are set to appeal the stewards decision to let off the BMW and Williams teams after finding fuel irregularities. If BMW and Williams are disqualified for this race(their drivers finished 4th, 5th and 6th ahead of Hamilton), then Hamilton will jump upto 4th and will get the Championship.

As for now, and always for us Kimi fans, KIMI IS ALWAYS A CHAMPION...regardless of the outcome of an appeal.