Senna lives on...

On auction at eBay

"You are bidding on a beautiful, HAND SIGNED, 8 X 10 color photo with the signature of Ayrton Senna. Signed in permanent black pen, this is one of the finest photos of this legend found on eBay. This is an original photo, we do not sell copied or reprinted photographs. Each of our items come with a certificate of authenticity and is packaged for safe delivery."

Needless to say, the avid F1 fan would spot the ridiculous flaw. David Coulthard's Silver-Black McLaren, complete with the WEST livery, first driven at the Australian GP, 1997. Almost three years after the legendary Brazilian great's death at Imola, Italy.

After all, Ayrton still lives on..

Conquistador Fernando claims Crown/McLaren finish One-Two.

It is said that the Spanish name the most celebrated of their conqueror's as "Conquistadors". The cavalry might have metamorphozied into cars, gunpowder might be replaced by V10 engines, but the crux of the cranium would always hold one idea - to conquer.And that is what Fernando, in his blue silhouette did on a cloudy afternoon at Interlagos, Brazil. The Spaniard clinched his maiden Formula 1 Championship by claiming six points for finishing third at Sau Paulo. McLaren drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen came in first and second in a race that was pretty much a McLaren cavalcade. Michael Schumacher, the reigning champion finished fourth, managing to keep the faster Renault of Fissichella at bay. Barrichello, Button and Schumacher were among others who landed in points.

Qualifying saw a couple of changes at the top with the Finn, Kimi Raikkonen failing to qualify within the first two rows since almost the beggining of this season. Snatching his breaks before turning into corner 1, Kimi lost seven hundredths of a second. A rare mistake from the usually ice cool McLaren driver that saw Alonso take his fifth pole of the season. Juan Pablo, the other McLaren driver came in second, straddling himself between the two Renaults. Kelin's impressive run saw him start on row three along side Raikkonen. The stage was set, and the game was on for Fernando to thwart Brazilian Emerson Fittpaldi's record of being the youngest ever Formula 1 champion.

Just before the start of the race, Mercedes boss Norbert Haug gave Fernando,(Yes! Fernando) a friendly slap and wished him good luck, an excellent gesture proving that not all of the patrons of "Planet Paddock" were soulless money-mongerers.

The race started with David Coulthard, Pizzonia and Webber getting involved in a start line incident that ended the afternoon for all three drivers. Sadly, for the Grove team, the race ended even before it had started. The safety car came out, with Alonso leading Montoya, Raikkonen, Michael and Fissichella. When it pulled off, Alonso made a rare mistake, moving out of the racing line, thus allowing the mercurial McLaren driver to blow past at the back straight. Raikkonen, already having powered his way to third was all over Alonso, snapping at the Spaniards heels at every opportunity.

The first set of pit stops started with Renault predictably going into the pits ahead of their McLaren counterparts. Clearly, the McLarens were faster inspite of being heavier. Montoya and Raikkonen traded fastest laps, even as Schumacher the beleagured fought his way past Fissichella after his first pit stop. Montoya pitted on lap 28 with Kimi making a rather longish pitstop on lap 31. A brilliant strategy that would have allowed Raikkonen a six-lap window at the end of the race that might even see him take the top-step on the podium. However, a flag incident saw Raikkonen make his second stop a lap or two earlier, leaving him at the heels of fellow driver Montoya.

The championship was all over with Montoya leading Raikkonen and Alonso. The stage was all set for the pretender to be crowned King. The Renault mechanics were on the wall to welcome the first Spanish Drivers Champion, even as Ron Dennis, the man behind the McLarens looked on, making sure that a last minute hick-up would not prevent his cars from finishing in a one-two position - an achievement after a gap of five years.

As for the others, it was a great race for the Ferrari's with Schumacher and Barrichello coming in fourth and sixth. Fissichella came in fifth, bringing in vital points for his team in the Constructor's tally. Button, who had a lonely race came in seventh, with Ralf coming in eigth. Sato, who started in the pits as punishment for his Belgian GP incident with Schumacher came in tenth, while Klein's impressive performance saw him come ninth. The two Saubers of Massa and Villeneuve came in eleventh and twelveth with Trulli dragging along at thirteenth ahead of Albers and Karthikeyan.

It was a sad race for Tiago Montiero who was looking to complete his seventeenth successful race. The Potrugese driver had mechanical problems and called it quits with just twenty laps to go.

It was a historic moment for Fernando Alonso and Flavio Briatore the Renault team principal. Incidentally it was Flavio who was leading Benneton-Ford(thence Renault) when Michael Schumacher won his first world championship back in 1994. Surely, a sign of things to come.

Now that the Driver's champion has been crowned, it is time for all and sundry to concentrate on the Constructor's championship. This weekend saw a change of guard at the top with McLaren edging out Renault by two points. This season, McLaren have undoubtedly been the fastest cars on the grid, winning nine out of seventeen races. However, their achilees heel has been the reliability of their cars sans which the Woking team would have had the possibility to claim both the Constructor's and the Driver's crowns. On the contrary, Renault have thrived on reliability, often being able to capitalize on the fast but fragile McLaren's failures.

Do check out this space after Suzuka, Japan - the venue of many a legendary joust, be it for the Driver's or the Constructor's crown.

Hurricane Kimi hits Belgium

McLaren bulwark Kimi Raikkonen sizzled to victory ahead of his Spanish rival Alonso in a heavily contested Belgian Grand Prix. BAR's fortune, Jensen Button, took third, followed by Williams driver Mark Webber on a foggy Belgian afternoon with just enough rain for teams to joust from the pit-walls in terms of strategies but not enough rain to cancel the grand prix. The ousting of McLaren's other driver, Montoya, with just four laps to go might have dampened Ron Dennis's spirits, but Kimi's performance at the 'Pisspot of Europe' was nonethless a treat to watch.

Qualifying resulted in an all McLaren front row for the first time in five seasons. A blown engine would mean that Fissichella, inspite of setting the third best time would start thirteenth, whislt Jarno Trulli would start along side Fernando Alonso, who, with this race, was hoping to climb to the throne of Formula One. Messrs Schumacher & Schumacher started off on row three, with Button and Massa on row four. As for the others, it was regulation qualifying.

Come sunday and the drivers entered their cockpits, smelling the rain, and smelling the opportunity.The race started with Montoya blistering into the fog, with Trulli almost managing to out-wit the Finn. A little behind, the rain-master had begun to weave his sorcery, ousting his younger brother and the notorious Trulli, who is usually is happy to settle for his qualifying position, much to the irritation of drivers behind him. A struggling Webber gave way to Coulthard, with Fissichella too managing to squeak past the Australian in the nick of time.

A few laps into the race, the struggling Fissichella let go of his car at Raidillon, managing to place a road-block for cars passing by. The truck came out, while all the cars went in for a change of rubber. Montoya pitted first, changing to intermediates, even as Raikkonen was trying to slow down the train heading into the pits until his team mate came out. Villeneuve, the brave French-Canadian did not pit, and as a result, the Sauber driver went up the ladder, splitting the McLaren's along with Ralf, the Toyota driver having benefitted from Fissichella's timely demise. The Ferrari's, BAR's, WilliamsF1's all made daring switches to dry tyres, but a seemingly wrong choice saw them return to the pits to make a quick change to more groovy tyres.

Lap thirteen saw the demise of Michael Schumacher, the German great being whacked on the back by a senseless Sato. The normally cool Scuderia driver had a word or two for the maverick Jap, for afterall, he was deprived of 31 laps more on a track which many acknowledge as 'made for Schumacher'. The Raidillon crash will cost Sato ten places at the upcoming Interlagos Grand Prix in Brazil. As for Schumacher, it was a race of "IF's" - If only the Honda driver had not slammed into him, the German would have romped home, for after all, he is still the best rain-man out there.

Former World Champion and Red Bull driver, Coulthard, exited on lap seventeen, with his Cosworth engine failing on the long pit-straight. A rarity indeed for a Cosworth engine! Ralf Schumacher sizzled in the rain, the German lapping a second faster than McLaren driver Montoya, running first. Villeneuve pitted on lap twenty, only to come out and engage in battle for eigth spot with Button. Button tried to outwit the Canadian, and finally managed to do so after a flurry of tries.

Ralf's brave attempt on the dry tyres ended in tears as the Toyota spun off at the hill(Les Combes). Villeneuve was overtaken by a marauding Karthikeyan who cut across the hill to overtake the Sauber. Montiero, who had a great race, was engaged in bitter battle for eigth position with Pizzonia. The middle of the race saw Kimi fly in his McLaren, trying to gain on his team mate while he was in the pits. He did manage to do so, and the fans started to trumpet their air-horns on seeing the McLaren come out of the pits to an empty piece of track. Trulli spuns off at Fagnes on the same lap, the Italian having left enough debris on the track.

The end of the race saw a lot of drama, as Pizzonia bumped into the back of the McLaren in front of him. The crowd waited in hushed silence and let out a groan of relief on seeing Montoya emerge from inside the car. A thoroughly angered Montoya climbed off from his car, even as the steely eyed Ron Dennis must have wondered, "Well, what more can I/he do?". Surely, victory would not be as sweet as it should have been. Alonso ofcourse, got second spot, happy that a hand full of points that must have gone McLaren's way had crashed into the barriers. On the podium, Kimi shrugged when Alonso asked a question. Might we guess the question was 'Where's your team mate?'.

Kimi took the flag with grace, the Finnish driver collecting ten points as against Alonso's eight. But for disaster for either Alonso or Renault, the drivers championship is over. As for the Constructor's championship, there is still time for a change of guard at the top, with McLaren inching towards Renault. Had Montoya finished the race, it would have been Renault who would have had to do the catching up and not the Woking team.

Jensen Button proved that he had the eye and the intent with this superb performance which I would rate as one of his best ever. His moves on Villeneuve and Barrichello were top-notch, and his run for Alonso during the ending stages of the 44 lap race showed his character. Nick Fry must have breathed a sigh of reassurance, for after all what he was going to pay to Sir Frank Williams for keeping Button at BAR would make the sixteen million (pounds) that Newcastle has paid for Michael Owen look like a walk in the park. Talking of Sir Williams, Webber's performance must have been some consolation for Sir Frank. Webber drove well and thoroughly deserves the five points that he has made. The other stars of the day were old man Villeneuve and Jordan's Tiago Montiero. The Portugese driver secured his first 'genuine' point in F1. Narain, the other Jordan driver managed to come in eleventh, ahead of the two struggling Minardi's.

Overall, a great race, the first rainy race in two years, the Spa proving yet again that it was the most favorite to one and all - the fans, the drivers, and ofcourse the spectators! A great race for Kimi, a performance he would have to repeat in the last three races if Ron Dennis is to see the Constructor's trophy at his Woking garage after a gap of six years. As for Renault, a surprise at the fag end of the race would only make the flambuoyant Flavio burst out :
"Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho Its home from work we go!"

Montoya mitigates McLaren's Monza misery

Raikkonen : What more can I do?

The "Palace of speed" was set ablaze on Sunday by the Gods of Speed, the McLaren's and the Renault's, on a day that saw the mercurial Montoya take podium, salvaging some pride for the Woking team after ill-luck struck down their championship contender Raikkonen. Alonso, the confirmed Crown Prince to Schumacher's reign came in second followed by his Italian teammate Giancarlo Fissichella. The belligerent Raikkonen came in fourth, followed by the two Toyota's of Trulli and Ralf. Pizzonia, in an eyebrow raising performance proved his mettle, coming in seventh for Williams. Button managed to salvage the last point for BAR Honda in a thoroughly exciting Italian Grand Prix.

Come saturday, the McLaren's were dealt a severe blow with Kimi Raikkonen's engine being detected with a defective inlet valve. An amazing third time in five races that the Finn is losing grid positions owing to the goddess of luck, Fortuna, turning a blind-eye on him. Ironically, the British team had topped the charts in both practice sessions on friday. Raikkonen, inspite of knowing that he could best start off on the sixth row of the grid set blistering pace ahead of team mate Montoya. Thus Montoya would take pole ahead of Alonso, Button and Sato. Button and Sato, it was revealed later, were light on their fuel loads, and their qualifying timings were not to be taken seriously. Trulli was fifth ahead of the two Scuderia's. Ironically, the Maranello based outfit had more than sealed both the Driver's and Constructor's championships by this time last year. But ofcourse, this was the land of the Tifosi, and the Italians would still proudly don their Scarlet caps embroidered with the prancing horse. Fissichella started eigth and Ralf ninth. Raikkonen started eleventh, behind Scotsman Coulthard and aside Villeneuve, both former champions. The race started, with everybody expecting Raikkonen(Yes, Raikkonen!!!) to win.

Montoya started the race in blistering fashion, speeding ahead of the chasing Alonso with ease. However, all eyes were on the middle of the grid, where the fiery Finn sat crouched in his cockpit, ready for an afternoon of toil. Villeneuve kept him at bay and the Finn did not make the brilliant start that everybody expected him to make. The back of the pack saw a flurry of cars grouping together, followed by their returning to the pits for a quick-fix. Karthikeyan, Albers,Webber and Coulthard were involved in the incident. Schumacher cut the chicane and got past Trulli's Toyota but the Italian got back his position in a couple of laps. Montoya and Alonso then traded fast laps as Raikkonen was stuck in the tail of cars, knowing well that the championship might be in jeopardy.

With eleven laps gone and not a position improved, Raikkonen must have been relieved to see the Petronas car ahead of him divert towards the pits. Schumacher also pitted on the same lap, signifying that the Ferrari's were slower in the qualifying despite their lighter fuel tanks. As the pit-crews of teams swung into action, Raikkonen powered ahead to within a second of Ralf Schumacher. Alonso dove into the pits, and came out behind Ralf but ahead of Raikkonen. Raikkonen was all over an Alonso intent on reducing Raikkonen's momentum. A first chicane goof-up by both drivers put them out of rhythm as the Finn mustered ahead at the second chicane, the Renault driver having let his arch rival through. Raikkonen then went into the pits after twenty-five laps, even as drivers like Webber were aligning for a second pit-stop. Raikkonen came out of the pits after a lengthy pit-stop fuelling doubts that the McLaren might after all be on a one-stop strategy.

With twenty-five laps gone, Montoya had settled for first, a clear ten second lead over Alonso. Raikkonen seemed all set to rush to the podium. But luck or rather the lack of it sees Raikkonen limp back to the pits with a right rear tyre damage. Clearly, the Finn appeared to have been charging too hard. Ironically, he emerged behing Villeneuve. The race seems to be a unique one with no retirements what so ever. The second set of pit-stops are over and Raikkonen powers ahead, racing fourth with just the two Renault's and his team-mate racing ahead of him. The Finn makes a rare mistake, losing track time and allowing the "mobile chicane" Trulli to go ahead. He however regains position from Trulli, although over powering Fissichella and challenging Alonso seems improbable if not impossible.

With the race about to come to a close, Montoya's left rear seems to have a blotch. The Columbian, however, nursed his McLaren to victory, even as Ron Dennis must have contemplated a Nurburgring like incident where Kimi Raikkonen spun out in spectacular fasion with just a couple of miles to the finish. Alonso finished second, followed by the delighted Fissichella in third. Raikkonen came in fourth, knowing well that had it not been for the tyre failure, the podium would have seen two McLaren's.

The Toyota's must have been delighted with their performance, the Japanese team managing to grab fifth and sixth positions, ahead of Pizzonia, the make-shift Williams driver who has more than proved that he is indeed race material. Button grabbed the sole point for BAR, denying the Ferrari's something they have taken for granted since 1995, a point at Monza, if not a victory. For the second time this decade, the Ferrari's have failed to win here. Indeed the Tifosi would have to wait for a year, and hope that Schumacher, Todt and the company would power back to victory.

Among others of note were Massa, who came in ninth in a Sauber, ahead of both the Ferraris. The bottom four were made of the usual four cars, the two Minardi's and the Jordans, with even their much hyped B-Spec car failing to impress. News from the paddock suggests that the new Jordan behaves much better in corners and when brakes are applied. It is to be seen if Narain, the wilder of the two drivers at Jordan can showcase his talent better at this race. With the "Silly season" having begun, Narain better come across, after all, there are drivers whose backers are richer than the Tata's.

With four races to go, it is now clear that but for major incidents, Alonso would cruise to the championship whislt Raikkonen can only pray. And pray he should to Sors and Spes, the goddesses of luck and hope. For if he needs to finish races, he needs luck, and if he is to remain in contention for the championship he needs to have hope, an indulgance that Raikkonen can hardly afford. Alonso is on 103, Raikkonen is on 76. Schumacher is on 55, although Montoya at 50 seems likely to pass him. The Championship fight might go to the wire, with McLanren eight points off the French team.

Adios till Spa, the Belgian Grand Prix.