Kimi Raikkonen: F1 World Champion 2007! Now if anyone would have told me this a couple of races back then I sure as hell would have laughed at their stupidity. But then sporting gods have a cruel way of laughing in your face. In the high voltage drama that surrounded a season plagued by controversy & allegations, we should have known that the ending would be no different.
It was not more than a couple of races back that young Brit, Lewis Hamilton, looked as if he had the season all wrapped up. But the hot driving sensation by now must have realized that one can never take anything for granted in international sport.
The British driving sensation came into this race 4 points ahead of teammate Alonso and good 7 points in front of the latest ‘Flying Finn’ (still think Mika was the true Flying Finn). But then in a season so full of stories & surprises the grand finale was no different. The race mirrored the turbulent season, with Massa taking the lead, followed by Kimi in the First turn itself. This left Lewis fourth, which he would and I say, should have settled for. But Lewis then ran wide, to drop to seventh. And, luck caught up with the rookie as he had a gear box problem dropping him to 18th by lap seven.
Then Lewis fought back, till his very last lap, setting the track on fire. This saw him ending up in the 7th place, just a place below the title fetching position.
Meanwhile at the head of the field, away from all this drama, Kimi took the lead from Massa in after the second pit stop. Unlike the Schume- Rubens incident a while back, there were no team orders at work here. It was the sheer blinding pace of the Finn on his in-lap into the pits that snatched the race lead away from the home boy Massa.
On the other, Fernando continued in third. Nico Rosberg was fourth for Williams followed by the two BWM’s of Kubica and Heidfelt. As the flag came out, Kimi stole the title by just a single point finishing at 110, with Alonso and Lewis at 109. This has been the first 3-way battle for the title in the last 21 years and the guy who was the least likely to win, nailed it at the end.
The race was a delight to watch and till the last few laps you though somehow, someway, Lewis would pull it off. He is young and fabulous. With the right team at his side and a right second driver in the team (not Alonso please), he might have enough time to challenge the legacy of the original ‘Red Barron’. McLaren should be kicking themselves for handing the drivers title over to Ferrari.
Before the start of the season I remember Schume said ‘you cannot have two leading drivers in a team, there has to be one clear number one. Love him or hate him (I fall in the former category), When the 7-time world champion talks, you better listen. Sure he drove for the Italian team but I hope McLaren listen next time and take notes.
When Michael Schumacher Speaks, you listen, got that Ron Dennis? Anyway, Kimi was given a great gift by Mclaren. The Finn took it all right and took it in what fashion! Congratulations Kimi. F1 hasn’t been this exciting since pre-Schumacher glory days.
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