Enlightenment Hunt.. in the hills of F1...

Back in 1983, the fans were excited to hear from the radio that India of all the teams was the first to tame the mighty Windies and win the cricket World Cup. The insurmountable task of not getting intimidated by the line-up which would, cut copy paste, make it to the ICC World Eleven without a thought irrespective of whether you’re from the Caribbean or not. And that is why the fact that ‘Kapil’s Devils’, as they were famously called, got the better of the Dream team bowling attack is much appreciated. So how do we know so much about all this? Well, cos you’re living in a country where a player in the starting eleven would get more attention than a movie star or a politician, a nation where the captain of the national team earns more that the best in the world of track and field or tennis, a system where a starter’s yearly contract would any day beat a lifetime monetary benefit offered to a Kabadi or Boxing player. And all this is precisely one of the reasons why F1 or motorsport has not gained attention among the early Gen-Y crowd. Come 1990s and the popularisation of TV went well for the rare motorsport crowd. Those spending their time jobless and lazing on their couch on a Sunday evening finally had a reason to rejoice.

I have no clue if Dr.Manmohan Singh’s liberalisation policy in 1991 had anything to do with it. But if there is something, well, good job! And ofcourse brilliant thinking by F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone with the TV rights. So once F1 got its fair share of viewership in India, which is by the late 1990s, it was only a matter of time before people started to go with the pack and appreciate the brilliance of the then best driver in F1, Michael Schumacher and his healthy rivalry with Mika Hakkinen. And then MS went onto win Championships number 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. And go into the history books as the greatest ever. Whether he had to return to F1 after his retirement and race with a new team with the same boss, but without that Schumi magic still in him is a different question altogether. But one thing that needs notice is the question: Is MS actually the best??? 

Michael Schumacher : Yet another German  masterpiece

I’ll admit it. In the 90s at the age of 3 or 4, I could hardly realise what a car can do, let alone speak out German names. For the better part of my 23 years, Ive grown up watching Michael Schumacher do what he does best. And that would mean watching F1 on Star Sports with commentators Steve Slator and Chris Goodwin doing their duty. And so right from childhood, the look-upto-star was always Michael Schumacher, primarily cos of the illustrious career that he had and the numbers to back him up. So by the time you’re at an age to understand and enjoy the sport, you would have decided in your mind that MS is the greatest ever driver in F1. Well, statistically yes. But it’s not like F1 started in 1989. It’s been there for decades now and yes there has to be other drivers too who are eligible to claim that title.

"   Being a racing driver means you are racing with other people. And if you no longer go for a  gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver.   "

Undoubtedly, the most famous words in the history of motorsports. Words that clearly signify the level of concentration and commitment that defines this person more than anything. Surely it does not describe how much is being spend on R&D, materials and manufacturing, but itsports,  does give an idea of the level of skill, intensity and perfection that any other sport can only dream to match.

The Unsung Hero in the F1 World

Ayrton Senna – The man who Michael Schumacher is popularly deja-vu’d with when discussed about the controversial accident on the last race of the season to ensure his Championship. The man who again Michael Schumacher is compared with in his prime days to express the level of excellence achieved. The same man whose tragic death saw the world pause in shock and create a void that still remains to be filled.

But then couple of months back, I happen to watch TopGear where presenter Jeremy Clarkson uncharacteristically does a genuinely good documentary on Senna’s motoring life. And that’s when I thought I’d check out the movie “Senna”. It is more of a documentary than a movie. But then it’s probably the best ever Ive watched. People talk a lot about being a petrol-head or having seen F1 since his 2^nd birthday and all that usual stuff. But let me tell you this, you aint got the real deal if you do not know the facts and reality. Yes, if you’re an Indian the chances that you are a Sachin Tendulkar fanatic is supremely high.. The man who pretty much owns the record book in the cricketing world. So that is very understandable too. But every time we say Sachin is the greatest man to step foot on the pitch, there is that slight pinch of doubt in our mind about the Don. What if he was still playing now. What if they had played a Test match in opposite teams in 2012. Get the point?? And it was after watching this movie that I began to respect Senna and realise how ignorant people are about the sport and him in particular. If you have not watched it, pls get your hand on one. All jokes aside, this is a genuine request.

Wonder if the New Gen drivers can do this if they were given the cars of 1980s;

No electronics here, everythings pretty much raw

Senna started F1 with a struggling Toleman team. After consecutive modest performances in the first races, he arrived at Monte Carlo. The Monaco Grand Prix. A track which a lot of pandits admit as being the most difficult and trickiest (besides the glitz and glam). So what happens when it starts to rain on this track? Well you see a bunch of cars moving on with enough caution to stay away from side barricade and with extra caution to avoid slipping in the rain. Amidst all this, there was Senna who pretty much drove the car like he was playing NFS. Mind you, in a Toleman’s cockpit, things are a lot busier than it is on the other teams. Yet he moved at such blistering pace that none could keep up with him. In another occasion in UK, he moved from fifth place to first in the first lap of the race while raining and eventually went on to lap the entire field that race. Still not impressed??

Devastatingly brilliant in rain; may even better Gayle's dominance in T20

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Well this man believed he had a God given right to win. Nope. I aint kidding. That’s what the great Ayrton Senna told the reporters when he was being interviewed. Well, the way he drives, you really can’t question his words.

After his first year in Toleman racing team, the rise of a young star was always on the plot. I do not wish to elaborate on what is showcased so meticulously well in the movie. Just couple of things I wanted to make very clear. Before I watched the documentary/movie, I had a set of info, which I assume is what a lot of you guys have too. But that was just the outer lining. Headlines don’t always cover the full story. I believe history and attention to detail are two things that can change your perception of anything. And that is beautifully done in this and it brings out the real picture. Everybody talks about Senna throwing his car bang into his rival’s to ensure race over for both, hence assured championship. But only a handful knows how and why this happened. 

This is the not often seen video of Alain Prost banging Senna that happened an year before 

the more popular video of Senna crashing into Prost. 

I know experts tend to compare and match MS with AS and there are a lot of similarities. In the way they drive, how they strategise and also on some of the controversies they were involved in. I don’t know the truth about Schumacher’s story. But this movie does bring light on what happened in front and behind the camera. Senna’s achievement stands out also because of the fact that during his time a lot of others greats also raced with him. The likes of Alain Prost (Four time world champion), Nelson Piquet (Three time Champion) and Nigel Mansell (Another world champion) did add heat to the competition and hence bring out the best in the Brazilian. Something like how Schumacher was able to showcase his full armoury when he got threatened by Hakkinen, probably the only one eligible to be called a rival.

The fact remains that Michael Schumacher is still the viewer’s choice when it comes to best drivers, but Ayrton Senna would be the drivers pick. Stats may speak loud in favour of MS, but sometimes it’s above all that. Watch this video and you get to pick yours. Honestly, after Schumi’s run, a million documentaries will be made on him and will show him as the best ever to race. Well, I’m a fan of Schumacher myself, and would love to watch all of those. But to decide then between Senna or MS or may be even couple of others greats would be difficult. So you know Schumi’s story and stats, you can understand Senna’s after you take a look at this. So this is when you decide. Is it just coincidence that despite a lot of fatalities earlier, it was only after Senna’s accidental death that the F1 world decided to up the safety regulations and Senna remains the last driver fatality in Formula One? Leave that to you. Think about it!