F-1 gets the fight it was looking for

With Renault’s champion Fernando Alonso also on top form, the sport can look forward to the generational battle it was denied when Brazilian Ayrton Senna died in 1994 just as Schumacher was emerging.

“Michael didn’t look too bad did he? For an old man, he was alright,” declared Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn at the Nuerburgring. “He’s not on the downward slope yet, I know that for sure.”

With 13 races to go, Formula One fans can expect a season-long duel between ageing warrior Schumacher, the most successful driver in the history of the sport with 86 wins, and 24-year-old Alonso, the youngest of champions.

“It’s no surprise to expect Renault up at the front and also they shouldn’t be surprised to see us at the front either,” Schumacher said. “We will battle to win.”

McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen, Alonso’s main rival last year when he won seven races, will surely also come into the mix soon. The Finn is third, 21 points adrift of Alonso.

“Don’t write Kimi off,” warned Renault’s master tactician Pat Symonds. “He wasn’t far behind today, they’re still looking reasonably strong.

“It is more a Michael-Fernando battle, more a Renault-Ferrari battle, more a Michelin-Bridgestone battle… but there might be some others who come along to the party.”

McLaren managing director Martin Whitmarsh regarded it as a three-way battle, even if his team were still hurting at not having won any races yet.

“I think Michael will score more wins probably, so will Alonso and I believe we will too,” he said.