Ross Brawn leaves the Ferrari F1 team. He wants to spent more time with his family. Technical engineer Paolo Martinelli also leaves the team. He gets a high position with Fiat.
Another change; Jean Todt will be the F1 team boss. And... Michael Schumacher will assist him, starting next year. He will scout for new drivers. "Michael (Schumacher) has always been interested to follow some of the young drivers," said Ferrari F1 team boss Jean Todt in Monza today. "Actually, I have one of those young talents here next to me. I remember very well when Michael came to me and talked about Felipe when he was racing in a lower series. He also talked to me about Raikkonen before he entered F1 with Sauber so I believe he has a good eye for young talent. He can become important for Ferrari when it comes to choosing our future drivers."
Todt said: "Michael was involved in the decision process of making Kimi a Ferrari driver. We kept Michael informed every day about the meetings we had. He knew everything that was going on and the decision we wanted to make. So it wasn't a sudden decision for him when we finally signed up Raikkonen."
For the first time, since Aryton Senna, wins a Brazilian driver his home GP. Felipe Massa did everything right in his superb Ferrari, winning from pole his second GrandPrix of the year. With this win he also finished as third in the WorldChampionship, behind the man of the race; Michael Schumacher.
Schumacher started from 10th position but had his mind set on victory. He overtook several drivers within a few laps only to get a puncture in his tyre when overtaking Fisichella. He had to change the rearwheel and came back in the race just ahead of Massa (almost on a lap). But then, he really showed that he still is THE Master of Formula 1. He came back and overtook many with exciting moves, especially the one on Raikonnen, who will drive for Ferrari next season.
And, what nobody could have thought when his tyre went flat, he finished as fourth, just a few seconds behind Button and Alonso.
It wasn't enought to win the constructor title or drivers title, but it was the most exciting race of the year, no doubt. For Alonso this is his second World Title. He will be driving for McLaren next year and it will be very hard for him to do this trick again. McLaren hasn't won a single race this season.
Michael Schumacher did set another record this race, but not one he will love. He is the driver with the most points in one season who didn't win the World Title!
On the third day of testing in Jerez it was Michael Schumacher once again that was the fastest driver out on track. Schumacher's fastest time, 1.15.688, is close to Jerez' unofficial track record (also by Schumacher). He also drove the most laps (104) of all drivers. Hamilton set the second time, a second slower than Schumacher, in his McLaren. This is probably one of the last tests of Michael Schumacher.
Michael Schumacher won his seventh GP this season, his 91st overall and the first time in China. Now he's in the lead in the drivers' championship. He has the same amount of points as Alonso, but more victories this year! Next week: the GP of Japon!
