In a sporting season of blockbuster transfers,the latest is Lotuss Kimi Raikkonen agreeing to drive for Ferrari in 2014 Formula Ones equivalent of Gareth Bale going to Real Madrid.
Just as the Welshman has joined Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu as Madrid look to stop Barcelona and recreate their glory days,Raikkonen pairs with Fernando Alonso at Maranello as Ferrari hope to end Red Bulls domination and turn the clock back to the early 2000s.
Now here Raikkonen is,set to replace Massa,who hasnt won a race since the Finn left in 2009,and joining a team who havent won a title since he helped them to the constructors trophy in 2008.
While Raikkonens exit didnt cause Massa and Ferraris miserable runs,he does have the potential to turn the teams fortunes around.
Always a fearsome driver,the Ice Man has looked hungrier than ever in his second avatar. To his blinding pace (only Schumacher and Alain Prost have clocked more fastest laps),he has added unbelievable consistency until his retirement at Spa Francorchamps last month,he had racked up points in 27 consecutive races,the longest ever scoring streak in F1.
On paper,therefore,pairing Raikkonen with Alonso appears a stunning move. However,it could also go horribly wrong. In signing Raikkonen,Ferrari have broken the tradition of having one clear No.1 driver and put,to borrow their presidents expression,two roosters in a hen house. Alonso,Ferraris current No.1,is a brilliant driver but is said to have a massive ego,as was evident during his one-year stint with McLaren in 2007 when he just couldnt get along with Lewis Hamilton.
Likewise,Alonso-Raikkonen is also potentially a fire and ice combination two dominant forces who will fight together and against each other. After Mark Webber is gone from Red Bull next year,they will likely be the only team with a fierce drivers rivalry. It may or may not work for Ferrari,but fans and F1 wont be complaining about it.
(Daksh is a special correspondent based in New Delhi.) daksh.panwar@expressindia.com
