Will Fernando Alonso and Ferrari ruin Formula One again?

From 2000-2004 Formula One was almost destroyed. The complete dominance of Michael Schumacher and Scuderia Ferrari made the races boring and predictable.

When Schumacher dominated, his rivals had very little chance. Many of you are familiar with the statistics, but lets take a look anyway:

Wins (2000-2004)

Michael Schumacher: 48

Rubens Barrichello: 9

David Coulthard: 7

Kimi Raikkonen (debut in 2001, in a competitive car from 2002 onwards): 2

Ralf Schumacher: 6

Juan Pablo Montoya (debut in 2001):  4

The statistics speak for themselves. As long as Schumacher had a competitive Ferrari, no other driver had much hope. This is how the races became boring. Schumacher was always at the front.

TV Viewing Figures

The predictability of races soon led on to greater concerns. TV viewing figures dropped dramatically.

When Schumacher won the championship with six races to spare in 2002, there was a 20% drop in figures. ITV figures peaked at three million during the Schumacher era. Last season (2007) they peaked at almost 11 million.

2005-Present

2005 saw the end of Schumacher's domination. The title was fought out between two young drivers—Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen. The championship was exciting for once. Who can forget Suzuka when Raikkonen annihilated the whole grid? Or when Alonso and Schumacher battled it out at Imola? 

Formula One was exciting and different. There was competition.

2006 was similar—a closely fought title between the World Champion and the Greatest Ever. Alonso led the championship early on, but a strong fightback from Schumacher in the latter stages of the season produced a thrilling battle. Alonso won it in the end, and Schumacher bowed out of F1.

2007. What can I say? The fans expected a close fight between Alonso and new Ferrari man Raikkonen.

That's what they expected.

What they got was a British rookie who changed the face of F1. With nine consecutive podiums and four wins in his first season, Lewis Hamilton set the Formula One world on fire. The battle for superiority at McLaren and the whole spygate fiasco really made the season exciting and interesting.

I won't go into too much detail on the present season. It looks to be closer than last year, with very little between the drivers. A three-way battle in both championships make races very unpredictable.

Fernando Alonso

The two-time world champion is fairly quiet at the moment, but remember when he first arrived at Renault, replacing Button. Flavio Briatore said he was looking for "the next Schumacher", and it looks like he got it. Alonso won the championship in '05 and '06. His points total were third and fourth to those set by Schumacher previously.

In 2007 he came close to becoming a triple world champion. His relationship with McLaren and Hamilton detiorated quickly and he soon left the team.

Now back at Renault, he is there for one thing: to stay in the sport and to bide his time. Alonso wants a seat at the most successful Formula One team ever: Ferrari.

2010 looks like the most likely moment that the move will be made. Raikkonen and Massa are pretty happy at the moment, but with Raikkonen hinting at retirement and Massa's contract running out, the Scuderia could have a makeover at the start of the new decade.

They would want a mix. Experience and youth. Alonso and Vettel.

If Alonso joined Ferrari I would be afraid for the sport. Remember Briatore saying he wanted "the next Schumacher"? I think he got that exactly.

Alonso is the youngest world champion so far. If we compare his stats with Raikkonen, we will see exactly how talented and dangerous Alonso is.

	Fernando Alonso	Kimi Raikkonen
Starts	114	131
Wins	19	17
Poles	17	16
Points	503	507
Titles	2	1

Alonso wins on everything but points. But we must remember that Alonso was a test driver for Renault in 2002, a time when Raikkonen was in a McLaren.

Schumacher won two world championships, had some time off, then dominated the sport.

Alonso won two world championships, had some time off, then...

It looks spooky. If Alonso were to join Ferrari, I could see the same effect as to what was seen a few years ago. It would be a deadly partnership. Lets just hope that there is a rival that could match Alonso and Ferrari.