Ferrari and its followers, eleven cursed years of oblivion since Michael Schumacher had a horrendous snowboarding accident in Switzerland the place he suffered a extreme mind damage. A blade that pierces the center of those that, like us, grew up witnessing the virtually irrational feats Michael Schumacher displayed all through his profession. The respectful silence imposed by the household of the seven-time System 1 world champion, repeatedly threatened by cowardly makes an attempt to disclose the present situation of the F1 legend, hurts, no use denying it. One of many biggest champions within the historical past of System 1 is just too usually forgotten by the media, who by no means tolerated his manner of speaking.
Regardless of all the pieces, Michael Schumacher, embracing the reason for the Prancing Horse, succeeded the place everybody else failed. The ace from Kerpen left the group that was each drivers’ and constructors’ world champion, particularly Benetton, with a purpose to revive the fortunes of a squad left with little greater than its identify, not like different nice champions who’ve all the time and solely desired to sit down within the cockpit of the most effective automobile on the grid. Definitely, he didn’t come to Maranello for a pittance, as lawyer Gianni Agnelli as soon as remarked. Michael was conscious that there was a variety of work to be completed at Ferrari to return to preventing for fulfillment.
The “Ferrari Renaissance” of the early millennium has a transparent origin. The 5 consecutive world titles behind the wheel of Maranello’s vehicles had been the logical consequence of a group restructuring course of in each facet. Not least, a marked change in mindset, geared toward steady enchancment regardless of already being the technical benchmark of the class. A mindset that can’t be purchased on the market: it’s a reward from Mom Nature, not one thing that may be constructed.
We’re speaking about an individual able to drawing charismatic figures to himself by means of a group spirit that goes past the rhetorical adage of successful and dropping collectively. Thirty years in the past, on November 16, 1995, Michael instantly took to the observe at Fiorano, defying poor visibility on that gloomy day with overcast skies, the place the glowing brake discs of the 412T2 may very well be clearly seen. That morning, we witnessed the final single-seater of the Scuderia powered by a twelve-cylinder engine from the historic Italian group.
Thirty years later, Maranello will welcome the motive force who has damaged many, if not all, of Michael’s data. This isn’t supposed to check the arrival of the German driver with that of Lewis Hamilton. There are just too many various components that make any sort of comparability unattainable. Definitely, the arrival of each has generated and is producing an virtually frenzied anticipation, although of a unique nature, among the many sea of Ferrari supporters. Michael Schumacher needed to revive a group in intensive care, contemplating the aggressive stage of the historic Scuderia within the mid-nineties.
Lewis Hamilton, however, is tasked with a unique problem. He should reaffirm his immense expertise and show that he can win anyplace, even within the group most uncovered to each sort of media stress, fueled by the sporting ardour of a nation and its followers throughout the globe. In a way, Lewis Hamilton might ignite a brand new “Purple Renaissance,” whose torch would possibly later be handed to Charles Leclerc, if solely attributable to generational causes.
It’s a narrative that carefully resembles the 1984 System 1 season, when Niki Lauda clinched his third world title by beating Alain Prost by simply half some extent. The Austrian concluded his exceptional trajectory in a very powerful motorsport sequence, whereas Alain Prost within the following years turned F1’s “Professor.” This, no less than, is the hope of true followers of the Prancing Horse, who refuse to take sides in silly factions that prioritize the motive force at the moment in purple over the nice of the historic Italian group.
Sure, as a result of, as a fast look at social media reveals, in current weeks there are these wishing for Lewis Hamilton’s failure for one clear cause: to safeguard Michael Schumacher’s file of world titles, making certain it stays unbeaten for a couple of extra years. We are saying this as Schumi devotees: Lewis Hamilton’s eighth crown would primarily be a fantastic victory for Ferrari, and that alone can be greater than sufficient to deliver pleasure. We wish to think about that at some point the German would possibly see the Maranello group he restored to glory and satisfaction return to the highest of the world.
As he himself acknowledged in one in every of his remaining interviews, in System 1, data are made to be damaged. In a couple of years, in actual fact, it could be Max Verstappen or different extraordinary abilities rewriting the identical statistics. Inside this reasoning, it should be remembered that Ferrari comes earlier than any partisan loyalty, recognizing that Schumi’s contributions in purple characterize a formidable legacy to be embraced as quickly as attainable.
— see video above —
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers learn about us
