Let's do the numbers, my friends:
Just look at Podiums:
Lewis has one Win (Canada) & four seconds (Malaysia, Bahrain, Barcelona, Monaco) & one third place (Australia). He is the only driver on all podiums so far this year.
Fernando has two Wins (Malaysia & Monaco), one second (Australia) & one Third place finish (Barcelona).
Felipe has two Wins (Bahrain & Barcelona), and a third place (Monaco)
Kimi has one win (Australia) & two third places (Malaysia & Bahrain).
What is evident from this? First, that Lewis Hamilton is more than a remarkable rookie; he is a serious challenger for WDC and has been from the first race of the season. For whatever reason the current double world champion has been unable to keep pace with him in an identical car with what one must assume is at least equal preparation.
Second, that although Ferrari has fielded a fast car, it is rapidly losing ground to McLaren and will be, in fact, lucky to finish second in either the driver’s or the manufacturers’ races.
Third, that the problem for Ferrari IS their new design. The engines were ‘locked up’ last year and Ferrari’s drivers, who are hired to add that winning difference on the track to a car that is at least equal to all others, are instead using their skills to make their machines --which are slightly less competitive than the McLarens and BMW Williams (BMW Williams!!) merely almost their equals.
And, given the shark-like tendency of F1 teams to go for blood wherever they smell it, Ferrari will soon fade from even the third step of the podium.
Which means, Fourth, that Ross Braun is even more missed than Michael Schumacher.
And this impeccable logic leads me to my picks for this week's race in my fair city:
Pole: Lewis Hamilton
First: Lewis Hamilton
Second: Fernando Alonso (assuming he has pulled himself together)
Third: Kimi Raikkonen
Fourth: Nick Heidfeld
Fifth: Felipe Massa
Sixth: Heikki Kovalainen (or however you spell Finnish Rookie)
Seventh: Giancarlo Fisichella
Eighth: Alex Wurz (he'll probably do better than eighth)
This is the best F1 season since I don't know when!
Jim Watt
p.s. I was actually ranked 165 out of 2263 after Monaco. Ah fleeting glory!
p.p.s.: given my luck, Indy this year will be a 'parade' race... unless Ralphie does a wall scraping on the entrance to the straight again. Of course, to do that, he'd need to be in something besides a ... what is that car again?... Oh yes. A Toy. Oh... Ta! (I'll not go to the slur used by the NASCAR fans for the world's largest car manufacturer).
Catch me if you can