Jenson Button has clinched the WDC at the penultimate race of the 2009 F1 season in Interlagos. I take back my words, he drove a proactive race, he did his job well enough to win the championship in a decidedly assertive fashion. No, he didn't finish on the top step of the podium, he crossed the line in fifth but he gained enough points to put everyone else in the drivers' champion battle mathematically out of contention thus taking over the mantle best driver in Formula 1. For 2009.
This is the third year running that the drivers' championship has been decided at the Brazilian race track. Kimi's championship, in which he won the race, was clinched here. So was Lewis's where he finished fifth after the whole 'Hand of Glock' incident but he was the deserved driver of 2008. And here we are a year later with another new WDC. At the rate the past years of F1 has been going, I believe this will be the decade where we'll most likely have the most number of WDC racing each other on the track.
Kimi's race was excellent given his circumstances. He was P5 on the grid but at the start maneuvered his Ferrari into third ahead of Jarno Trulli and Adrian Sutil. Then as he was making a move on Webber for second, the Aussie moved across the track, giving him no room to run so Kimi had to take avoiding action but since the nose of the Ferrari was already past the back of the Red Bull, he clipped his front wing on the back of Webber's car and it came off. His position was compounded even further by a fast deflating left rear wheel that was punctured by Adrian Sutil when Sutil tried to get back at Kimi a couple of corners behind. Luckily for Kimi, the safety car came out because as the Webber-Raikkonen tussle was going on, Jarno Trulli and Adrian Sutil banged wheels and effectively took each other out as well as Fernando Alonso. Poor Nando, the dude was minding his own business and ended up as collatarel damage. There were some entertaining moments as I watched Jarno Trulli who was absolutely incensed, livid, furious beyond belief at Adrian Sutil for the incident and the tiny Italian marched up to the tall German and a heated tirade ensued. All the while Adrian is trying to square things by offering his hand to shake as a concillatory gesture but Trulli was having none of it. Fernando can be seen in the background just resignedly getting out of his car and heading towards the track transport truck to hitch a ride back to the pits.
At this point, safety car leads from Rubens. This gave Kimi an opportunity to race back to the pits to get his front wing replaced and change his race strategy. Things were going well, the wing replaced, tires changed and refueling going smoothly and he was released from his pit box. As he was coming up past the McLaren pit box, and I'm unsure whose fault this is - whether it's the lollipop man or Heikki himself, Kovy's car was released before the fuel nozzle was taken out and he drove out in front of Kimi with the nozzle attached and fuel still in the hose. He gave Kimi a fuel shower, completely dousing him in the cockpit not to mention the car. And this is when I thought I was going to faint.
Kimi's whole car came alight, on fire for at most 3 seconds before burning out! Watching the in cockpit camera, the interior and Kimi himself was set ablaze. Watching him as his steering wheel ignited, the fire moving over his hands, I saw him release the wheel and for a moment as the fire burned he just kept still. The point at which the car came under control, he got back in racing mode and started making his way out back onto the track. Even managing to past Heikki who had stopped near the Brawn garage and the Brawn mechanics were frantically trying to yank out the nozzle. Kimi lost a lot of time and track position because of this. I understand Heikki was racing for track position but I hope he feels awful for this. Kimi mentioned post-race the fuel got into his eyes and it was burning the entire time but he kept on driving the full 71 laps and finished a remarkable sixth. That's about 68 laps worth of complete discomfort. Superb and completely brilliant to cross the line in sixth with burning eyes, completely drenched in fuel.
This is what Kimi said post-race:
"What happened on the first lap ruined my race. First I was hit at the first corner, then when trying to pass Webber, I was hit and lost the front wing. At the pit stop, I ended up with some drops of petrol in my eye, from the fuel line stuck on Kovalainen’s car and then I was engulfed in flames and blinded: I was going to stop, but luckily the flames soon went out. Even now, my eyes are still burning, but I’m alright. After the restart, I could only try and use the strategy to move up the order and at least I brought home a few points. I am disappointed because today I’m sure we could have made it to the podium. There is one race to go: let’s see what we can do in Abu Dhabi to get back that third place."
And after his antics where did Heikki finish? Out of the top 10. I mean, for all that, I hoped he would have made Kimi's suffering somewhat worthwhile to finish at least in the points. Heikki's race was full of incidents at the start. He had an "event" with Fisi and then set Kimi on fire in the pits. His teammate however drove spectacularly. Lewis started 16th on the grid and finished third with a decisive overtaking maneuver on Rubinho in the last few laps of the race. This meant the biggest loser was Rubens Barrichello who started on pole, was in the lead for over 20 laps, lost the first and second position to Mark Webber and Robert Kubica respectively, due to his ineffective race strategy. Then he was in third for much of the race but after losing that position to Lewis which was helped by his tires losing pressure, he had to pit and change tires and came back out on the track in eigth position. And that's where he finished. Rubens, I tried to give you a chance but let's face it, after all these years, you have now just cemented yourself as a non-finisher. He just can't make the final push for the win. Some drivers have it, some just don't.
And Fisi. Oh, Fisi. I DO want you to do your best. C'mon, Kimi has been Atlas holding up the Ferrari for far too long, he needs you to get some points so Ferrari can finish third ahead of McLaren in the constructors. Don't make all Kimi's superlative effort go to frickin waste. The guy has been driving like hell on wheels (have no idea if this is the right context but I think it is) and despite Ferrari not deserving to be third, Kimi has worked super hard to make sure they held on to that position for as long as he could. The only consolation is that Heikki is also non-performing so McLaren haven't really been able to capitilize. Now Ferrari are a point behind McLaren in the constructors, there's one more race. Kimi will surely do everything in his power to get a great result for the team and I will hold out hope you'll do the same ok? I know you're just as frustrated and disappointed but let's transform all that into something positive for the last race.
Kimi, if THIS is your swansong season, I can't say that I'm not disappointed you will leave without at least three drivers championships under your belt because you deserve to have that many by now. But, you have done no discredit to yourself. You were brilliant this season. You did lead the team, you did put the car in the most undeserved ultimate positions, you even managed to win on your most favourite race track. You are the most composed driver, the fastest natural talent and the most entertaining personality amongst all your peers. In my eyes, you will always be the best driver in Formula 1 these past 8 years that I've had the utmost pleasure to follow. From Sauber to McLaren to Ferrari. If this IS it, then I just want to say thank you. Thank you for all the great races you've allowed me to witness. I'm so, so, SO proud of you Iceman! You are the true Flying Finn, no one else compares :)
UPDATE (19/10/2009):
After going to my fave Kimi thread, well it's the lollipop dude's fault without a doubt. I agree with some of the forumers who said, based on the video of the pitstop, that he was so intent on watching the Ferrari pit crew working on Raikkonen's car that he reacted on Heikki when he saw the fuel nozzle coming off of Kimi's Ferrari thus releasing Kovy with nozzle attached into the unsuspecting and unlucky path of Kimi. I hope Kimi's better today.
This is the third year running that the drivers' championship has been decided at the Brazilian race track. Kimi's championship, in which he won the race, was clinched here. So was Lewis's where he finished fifth after the whole 'Hand of Glock' incident but he was the deserved driver of 2008. And here we are a year later with another new WDC. At the rate the past years of F1 has been going, I believe this will be the decade where we'll most likely have the most number of WDC racing each other on the track.
Kimi's race was excellent given his circumstances. He was P5 on the grid but at the start maneuvered his Ferrari into third ahead of Jarno Trulli and Adrian Sutil. Then as he was making a move on Webber for second, the Aussie moved across the track, giving him no room to run so Kimi had to take avoiding action but since the nose of the Ferrari was already past the back of the Red Bull, he clipped his front wing on the back of Webber's car and it came off. His position was compounded even further by a fast deflating left rear wheel that was punctured by Adrian Sutil when Sutil tried to get back at Kimi a couple of corners behind. Luckily for Kimi, the safety car came out because as the Webber-Raikkonen tussle was going on, Jarno Trulli and Adrian Sutil banged wheels and effectively took each other out as well as Fernando Alonso. Poor Nando, the dude was minding his own business and ended up as collatarel damage. There were some entertaining moments as I watched Jarno Trulli who was absolutely incensed, livid, furious beyond belief at Adrian Sutil for the incident and the tiny Italian marched up to the tall German and a heated tirade ensued. All the while Adrian is trying to square things by offering his hand to shake as a concillatory gesture but Trulli was having none of it. Fernando can be seen in the background just resignedly getting out of his car and heading towards the track transport truck to hitch a ride back to the pits.
At this point, safety car leads from Rubens. This gave Kimi an opportunity to race back to the pits to get his front wing replaced and change his race strategy. Things were going well, the wing replaced, tires changed and refueling going smoothly and he was released from his pit box. As he was coming up past the McLaren pit box, and I'm unsure whose fault this is - whether it's the lollipop man or Heikki himself, Kovy's car was released before the fuel nozzle was taken out and he drove out in front of Kimi with the nozzle attached and fuel still in the hose. He gave Kimi a fuel shower, completely dousing him in the cockpit not to mention the car. And this is when I thought I was going to faint.
Kimi's whole car came alight, on fire for at most 3 seconds before burning out! Watching the in cockpit camera, the interior and Kimi himself was set ablaze. Watching him as his steering wheel ignited, the fire moving over his hands, I saw him release the wheel and for a moment as the fire burned he just kept still. The point at which the car came under control, he got back in racing mode and started making his way out back onto the track. Even managing to past Heikki who had stopped near the Brawn garage and the Brawn mechanics were frantically trying to yank out the nozzle. Kimi lost a lot of time and track position because of this. I understand Heikki was racing for track position but I hope he feels awful for this. Kimi mentioned post-race the fuel got into his eyes and it was burning the entire time but he kept on driving the full 71 laps and finished a remarkable sixth. That's about 68 laps worth of complete discomfort. Superb and completely brilliant to cross the line in sixth with burning eyes, completely drenched in fuel.
This is what Kimi said post-race:
"What happened on the first lap ruined my race. First I was hit at the first corner, then when trying to pass Webber, I was hit and lost the front wing. At the pit stop, I ended up with some drops of petrol in my eye, from the fuel line stuck on Kovalainen’s car and then I was engulfed in flames and blinded: I was going to stop, but luckily the flames soon went out. Even now, my eyes are still burning, but I’m alright. After the restart, I could only try and use the strategy to move up the order and at least I brought home a few points. I am disappointed because today I’m sure we could have made it to the podium. There is one race to go: let’s see what we can do in Abu Dhabi to get back that third place."
And after his antics where did Heikki finish? Out of the top 10. I mean, for all that, I hoped he would have made Kimi's suffering somewhat worthwhile to finish at least in the points. Heikki's race was full of incidents at the start. He had an "event" with Fisi and then set Kimi on fire in the pits. His teammate however drove spectacularly. Lewis started 16th on the grid and finished third with a decisive overtaking maneuver on Rubinho in the last few laps of the race. This meant the biggest loser was Rubens Barrichello who started on pole, was in the lead for over 20 laps, lost the first and second position to Mark Webber and Robert Kubica respectively, due to his ineffective race strategy. Then he was in third for much of the race but after losing that position to Lewis which was helped by his tires losing pressure, he had to pit and change tires and came back out on the track in eigth position. And that's where he finished. Rubens, I tried to give you a chance but let's face it, after all these years, you have now just cemented yourself as a non-finisher. He just can't make the final push for the win. Some drivers have it, some just don't.
And Fisi. Oh, Fisi. I DO want you to do your best. C'mon, Kimi has been Atlas holding up the Ferrari for far too long, he needs you to get some points so Ferrari can finish third ahead of McLaren in the constructors. Don't make all Kimi's superlative effort go to frickin waste. The guy has been driving like hell on wheels (have no idea if this is the right context but I think it is) and despite Ferrari not deserving to be third, Kimi has worked super hard to make sure they held on to that position for as long as he could. The only consolation is that Heikki is also non-performing so McLaren haven't really been able to capitilize. Now Ferrari are a point behind McLaren in the constructors, there's one more race. Kimi will surely do everything in his power to get a great result for the team and I will hold out hope you'll do the same ok? I know you're just as frustrated and disappointed but let's transform all that into something positive for the last race.
Kimi, if THIS is your swansong season, I can't say that I'm not disappointed you will leave without at least three drivers championships under your belt because you deserve to have that many by now. But, you have done no discredit to yourself. You were brilliant this season. You did lead the team, you did put the car in the most undeserved ultimate positions, you even managed to win on your most favourite race track. You are the most composed driver, the fastest natural talent and the most entertaining personality amongst all your peers. In my eyes, you will always be the best driver in Formula 1 these past 8 years that I've had the utmost pleasure to follow. From Sauber to McLaren to Ferrari. If this IS it, then I just want to say thank you. Thank you for all the great races you've allowed me to witness. I'm so, so, SO proud of you Iceman! You are the true Flying Finn, no one else compares :)
UPDATE (19/10/2009):
After going to my fave Kimi thread, well it's the lollipop dude's fault without a doubt. I agree with some of the forumers who said, based on the video of the pitstop, that he was so intent on watching the Ferrari pit crew working on Raikkonen's car that he reacted on Heikki when he saw the fuel nozzle coming off of Kimi's Ferrari thus releasing Kovy with nozzle attached into the unsuspecting and unlucky path of Kimi. I hope Kimi's better today.
