.
.
.
.
.

FORMULA ONE: FERRARI AND SCHUMACHER WIN AGAIN It was a Grand Prix with a number of interrogatives, but the verdict was unequivocal: Ferrari is much closer to the world title than what even the most optimistic supporter could think. After Ferrari's victory in Australia, in Brazil everybody expected the reply of McLaren, its great rival. Also, everybody knew the great ambitions of Barrichello, the second pilot of Ferrari, considered by many of his fellow countrymen the heir of Ayrton Senna. Indeed, Rubens really wanted to win this race at his home, just like the Austrian team. In case of victory, he would have been awarded the prize by great Pelé, who undoubtedly represents a prestigious piece of the Brazilian history. Yet, after the San Paolo race, only one man is at the head, i.e. Michael Schumacher. The German champion has therefore made his second step towards the world title; a decisive step that now implies an immediate reply from his opponents. But in the next two weeks there will be the Imola race, which will offer Schumacher another good chance to win against Mercedes-McLaren. When looking backwards, it was since 1976 that Ferrari did not win the two first Grand Prix races. Then, the protagonist was an Austrian pilot, Niki Lauda, who had just won the world title. Then, too, Ferrari seemed to be unbeatable. Yet, at the end of the championship Lauda did not win the title because he was the victim of the terrible Nurburgring accident. Since then Ferrari has been looking for another victory and a champion who finally could break this sort of negative spell, making its dreams of glory come true Now the long wait seems to have finished. Of course, victories usually silence everybody, just like defeats give rise to countless controversies. But now there is the sensation that, starting from this year, rules have greatly changed at Maranello. The last season was too embarrassing for Ferrari, despite the exciting head-to-head with McLaren. Now it was first indispensable to control Schumacher's ambitions and to reach a balance between him and Ferrari team, as well as settling all contrasts between Todt and Montezemolo. Also, it was mainly necessary to manage to create a more reliable Ferrari, the "Red one" most loved by Italians. Therefore Ferrari started to implement well before the usual deadline its new technical strategies, as well as starting all initiatives aimed at reconstructing its image. The Italian team has thus started its race towards the world title in a peremptory way, just like a football team that efficiently trains in summer, before starting the championship. The 26-0 score over its eternal rivals is maybe the most important aspect to be underscored, being the current score in carmakers' ranking. To date, McLaren has gained no points at all, also due to Coulthard's disqualification in Brazil because of an irregular technical component (a spoiler exceeding regular dimensions by only some millimetres). Thus, it is as if McLaren still had not started its championship. Thanks to this, and to the fact that the next race will take place in Imola, Ferrari has the great chance to knock McLaren out, at least from a psychological viewpoint. Always looking backwards, to that distant and unlucky 1976 championship, then both Ferrari pilots won the third Grand Prix. It would be a good thing if that happened again, and mainly for Barrichello, who in San Paolo was certainly disappointed for having to withdraw from the competition after breakdown. But maybe, before winning hands down, first it would be better to remind Ferrari its main target.   Paolo Ghisoni

.
 Leadership Medica^®
Mensile di scienza  medica e attualita`
 Copyright 1997© All Rights Reserved