On An F1 High!!!

“As all four lights go out signaling the start of the Australian GP…3…2…1….and there they Go!”

Another season of hot racing action as the start of the F1 season begins again! Tonight is the start of pre-qualifying of the 2003 Formula One Grand Prix Race.

I’m on an F1 high! Who would not like to see fast cars going around 78 times on a track going 200-300kph driven by cute guys on fire proof overalls? :D It’s honestly an exciting/boring sport. And I love every moment of it!

I haven’t actually been watching F1 that long. I’ve only started last 2001 because we didn’t have cable back then. It was just by accident that I got to watch this sport. My older sister and older brother were watching it and I took a peek. I didn’t realize that I will get hooked on the tube watching 24 cars go round and round a track in a particular country and just wait for accidents, penalties, pit-stop strategies and overtaking maneuvers as you glued your eyes on the tv set. It was really amazing how exciting it could be seeing people try to overtake the person in front of them and then that same person will try to get his place back from his over-taker. But it actually becomes boring if you see the same person in the front row winning every single race. There’s no challenge anymore.

When I started watching F1, I was routing for the Williams driver Ralph Schumacher. He’s the younger brother of F1 champion Michael Schumacher. He’s got potential, and a very talented driver at that. And he’s determined to beat his brother while they race. It’s really amazing how close they are when they’re not racing and actually pretend that they’re not related when they’re on the track. There were occasions that Ralph beat Michael and actually won podium finish. I’ve seen that a few times on previous races but recently, Ralph couldn’t do it anymore. Not because he’s not good it’s just because the car isn’t as reliable. But I’m still waiting for that time that he could be F1 champion and not Big Schumi (commentators differentiate the two brother by Big Schumi as Michael and Little Schumi for Ralph).

But just last year, I got to see another potential for the title. Kimi Raikkonen. He debut during the 2001 season with nothing but a Formula Renault champion added to his name and a talent which no one can deny. He started out as the no.2 driver for Sauber Petronas and won the hearts of different F1 fans! He’s got looks and he’s got exceptional talent. He’s the only driver I know (but I’m not sure of this) who was granted the super license without any experience in the F3 circuit, which I guess you need if you want to drive in F1. People already saw his potential as an F1 driver when he was in Sauber and last year, he surprised everyone when he won third place in the Australian GP. He also got the crowds attention when he did a good job during the rainy season when you need to race in wet conditions were the tracks are slippery and you have a hard time controlling the car. If it wasn’t for the blunder of the pit crew and the management, he would have gotten a better place in the race that time.
Just imagine, he was honestly just a nobody at the start of the race during 2001 winning only 6th place or 4th place during those times but when he took the place of Mika Hakkinen in the Mclaren team, being the second driver to David Coultard, he became an instant celebrity. Now joining the ranks of drivers he used to admire and now going up against them, he has a future in the F1 world. I believe that he can even beat Michael Schumacher if their car will be reliable.

I’m counting the hours before the pre-qualifying starts! I just can’t wait ‘til Sunday when I will see my champion ride his silver horse and sweep the gold out of Schumacher’s hand. I’m waiting in anticipation.