I also can't help but ponder 2012's new found schizo personality . . we've lost the crap shoot of the first seven or eight rounds to find ourselves back where we started: Red Bull, McLaren, wondering if Ferrari can rise in answer. Clearly everyone has finally figured out Pirelli's tricks and have returned to the annual ritual of out tweaking each other to Brazil.
Spa proved to not be much of a race this year. Sure, I was excited to be there . . . no complaints, how can there be? . . . but even without the first corner calamity I doubt anyone had anything for McLaren. Sans Hamilton's departure, we probably would have seen a McLaren 1-2 finish. Thankfully everyone emerged from the first corner with all of their "attachments" in tact, living to fight another day.
I'd high hopes for Kimi as he always drives so well in Belgium, but he simply did not have the car for the job. The Lotus-Renault has no doubt proven competitive and did initially look strong . . . but Saturday was odd and it was as if the other teams, between a single FP3 session and quali, found a pace that they could not. Although Räikkönen survived the first corner melee, Button simply drove away from him in the race.
Given Kimi's command of the circuit, that was really saying something.
Alonso could've wound up on the podium, and perhaps even mounted a challenge to Button, but my instincts counter that the McLaren pace could not have been matched.
This was not the case in Monza where for all intents Fernando should have won from pole. He was clearly quickest in FP3, Q1, and Q2. Then came Q3. Many suggest that the broken rear sway bar was merely a cover story . . . perhaps so . . . but from my vantage at the Prima Variante, the cause was not as clear as the immediacy in which that pole was lost. The Ferrari struggled through the left hand exit of the chicane onto the opposite curbing. The resulting lack of launch into the Curva Grande spelled disaster, and I wonder whether Fernando immediately backed off, knowing his day was done.
Alonso recovered on Sunday, driving a magnificent race to claim what initially looked to be a 2nd place finish. That was until Sergio Perez served up another stunning example of how to preserve one's tires to their fullest advantage and stole the 2nd step from Fernando in what Niki Lauda later described as the drive of the race.
Fernando still managed to leave Monza increasing his lead in the driver's title, but Singapore has since rendered that buffer merely a brief respite from his competitors who are getting quicker.
So despite all of Alonso's tenacity, despite his busting Ferrari's collective tails to haul the F2012 from obscurity, his real work begins now.
There isn't a circuit remaining on the calendar where Alonso and Ferrari can rest. Suzuka will prove favorable to Red Bull and McLaren, and they will be more likely suited to the heavy dose of Tilke circuits which carry us to Interlagos.
I've heard that provided Alonso can stay on the podium he'll preserve his lead and take the title, but my math does not support that theory. Ferrari are faced with a battle they know all too well . . . a car that does not maximize tire performance. It will be upon Ferrari's ability to respond where Alonso's much deserved third driving title will hinge.
Alonso's driven beyond the F2012 all season. He's already merited the title in a fashion few world champions before him have. However, his skill alone probably can't answer the rising challenge ahead.
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