The Religion Has Lost Its GOD

It was one of the saddest days in the history of sport when Michael Schumacher in an emotional post race interview of the Italian Grand Prix announced that he was not going to race after the 2006 season. He still had a Championship to fight for then, against his bitter rival of the past two years Fernando Alonso. At the end of one of the most dramatic last few races of any season Alonso clinched the World Championship. Any sane person who saw the last race in Brazil (in which Michael (GOD) Schumacher moved from 10th to 4th in the first lap and a half and after a technical snag from dead last to 4th at the end of the race) would ogle without batting an eyelid at the sheer pace of the MASTER of the sport. Even when there was hardly anything to race for (bearing in mind he had an outside chance of winning the Championship at the last race) he drove like there was no tomorrow. The last race of his career, he didn’t have to race in that fashion. If I said his driving skills, his power not to give up, his passion for the sport and the way he motivates himself is COMMENDABLE, it would be an understatement.
For me F-1 has been a religion right from the minute I started watching it. But now the religion that I have been following has lost its GOD. Fortunately or unfortunately there is another side to the coin. Michael leaving the sport has thrown this season’s Championship wide open. Alonso has moved from the reliable Renault to unpredictable McLaren. Kimi Raikonen has moved from unlucky Mclaren(in his case) to the passionate Ferrari team. All the new cars for this season are looking impressive. Pre-season testing has been showing that all teams are on par with each other. I who was moaning over the loss of the GOD to my religion and had thought there was no reason for me to follow F-1, now I cant wait for the 18th of March when the new season begins.
All the critics who have been cribbing about the GOD dominating his religion for most of the seasons in the past decade and accused him of making the sport “BORING” should now stop talking and wait for this season to start. All you non F-1 fans who thought F-1 is just about a few cars going round and round about a circuit, DON’T miss this season (You ll know the flavour of Formula-1). All you followers of religion F-1 lets ignite our engines and gear up for the mmmmm… mouth watering and scintillating season ahead of us. Until next time DRIVE SAFELY.