Ferrari Wins Constructor’s Championship, Again!
Grand Prix of Hungary

By Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media

I hate to say it, but it is starting to get difficult to write this column without doing a lot of cut and paste from previous articles. Michael Schumacher has now won twelve of thirteen races. Burino came in second, making it the seventh 1-2 finish for the red team. The team has captured the constructor's title for a record setting sixth consecutive time. And at this point, we know that a Ferrari driver will win the championship for a fifth consecutive time. I'm a dyed in the wool Ferrari fan and have been since the late 70's, but this really is starting to become routine.

I wish there was something that was exciting to say about this race, but there wasn't. Even the commentators covering the races started commenting about Ross Braun eating a banana. Yes, the tifosi went mad with their screaming and boisterous carousing, but the stands were half empty and the paddock was full of sponsors wondering if their millions in investments in other teams were worth it.

With that said Ferrari should be proud of everything they have accomplished because they have come a long way since the late 80's and early 90's when they weren’t even a top three team in the sport. It was also fitting that the championship came the same weekend as the biggest Ferrari festival was unfolding at the Monterrey/Pebble Beach gathering. Spirits will be high this week as the Ferrari Club of America has their annual meet. All good dynasties come to an end and nothing lasts forever. The tifosi should definitely live up the moment.

Oh yes, the race. It was a parade, albeit a fast one. Both Ferraris dominated qualifying and the race. The only drama for the red team was a leaking fuel line in the pits, but the mechanics fixed it with little fuss. Fernando Alonso captured the third place on the podium, but was never a threat. Juan Pablo drove an uneventful race and ended up in fourth. He showed up Pizzonia, but nobody was really watching.

Much talked about Jenson Button who is ditching BAR-Honda at the end of the season was the last car on the lead lap and, had the race run 3-4 more laps, would have been lapped like his team mate Sato-san. Rumors continue to fly that Villeneuve will replace him next year, but I haven’t seen any pigs with wings lately. I had a rare opportunity to visit Honda's secret lair at Tochigi two weeks ago. There is no love in Japan for the French Canadian.

The other Williams and David Coulthard grabbed the last two points paying positions. Everyone else was just also-rans praying that their pit stops would get some TV coverage to justify the millions spent on advertising by the sponsors. Only five cars failed to proceed with Kimi going out first. The luckless Finn DNF'd, again. Like I said, things are becoming routine.

There are only five races left in the season and the fat lady has left the dressing room and was last seen stage right. Barring an act of God, Michael will wrap up his seventh driver's title, eclipsing his own record from last year. As long as the mechanics don't mess with Burino’s car, he’ll probably come in second (and the team will probably give him a win in Brazil). After that, it will be a scrap for who will get how much TV money for next year. Renault and BAR are close and it will be a fight to the last race to determine who will be the runner up. Williams, McLaren and Sauber will probably end up in the order they are now in fourth, fifth and sixth. And the also-rans will be happy to finish ahead of Minardi who at least has one point.

The circus will head to Spa in two weeks time. Bernie is praying that people will be watching.