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FORMULA 1: A HISTORIC DOUBLE SUCCESS BY FERRARI . A reaction was expected after that Coulthard's victory in Montecarlo seemed to have partly compromised Ferrari chances. And Ferrari reaction was impressive, with a double success that will probably have a devastating effect on the morale of McLaren pursuers. Now Ferrari really can dream of the world title basing on concrete figures. This is not only because of the start of 22 points Schumacher, winning the Montreal Grand Prix, has managed to gain over David Coulthard, but rather because the Scottish pilot seems to have displaced his teammate Hakkinen as the team leader. This is neither sensational nor definitive news, given that Mika is only few points behind former second pilot. But the most important fact in the struggle for the title is that a new rivalry inside the McLaren team has grown up, the one that could also develop at Ferrari between Barrichello and Schumacher and that instead was once again avoided thanks to an altruist gesture by the Brazilian in favour of the German pilot. When looking at the alternation of victories, it was now Ferrari turn to try to stop a comeback by McLaren that was becoming dangerous. And the fact that once again Barrichello has been ordered to support Schumi with Hakkinen and Coulthard in difficulty, is revealing of the strategy adopted by Ferrari, which is likely to lead to final victory. Worth of mention is Giancarlo Fisichella, the Roman pilot of Benetton, who was able to arrive third after the two Ferrari pilots, but who was mainly the man who created the gap between the two eternal rivals, thanks to his excellent performance. Indeed, these days it does not often happen to see a Grand Prix race that is not characterized by the duel between Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes; the fact that, other than supporting Ferrari, this duel also favoured an Italian pilot is even more positive. Also, Schumacher's victory breaks with the tradition that prevented the pilot who won the pole position from winning the race, an event recurring for the last 12 Grand Prix races, that is, since when Hakkinen won in Hungary. Coming back to the troubles, not only of technical kind, affecting McLaren, and the seemingly easy and relaxed climate at Ferrari, one thing should be emphasized: last year, Ferrari, too, experienced that sort of internal struggle that now seems to involve Hakkinen and Coulthard. In fact, at a certain time of the season, Irvine, the second pilot at Ferrari, found himself in the right position to pursue the Finnish pilot. Ferrari supporters still do not forget what happened between the Irish and the German on the track and also in private. In the end Ferrari lost the title, due to the lack of harmony and mainly hierarchies, also in the light of the accident that stopped Schumacher in the hot period of the season. Now the hot potato seems to have passed to McLaren, with Hakkinen who is not able to assert himself as the team leader and Coulthard who is ready to replace him to try to catch up with Ferrari. Giving the two pilots racing cars with the same potential can be an advantage if the team is clearly superior to all its rivals; otherwise, internal struggles can even break up a team. It really seems that Ferrari has borne that in mind remembering the last season, and now it could be McLaren turn. Paolo Ghisoni

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