As I said, with closer competition in 2003 and onwards the viewing was a little more bearable but watching the underdogs, led by Taku proved as entertaining when nothing much was happening.
College provided me with spare time in 2002, and I watched every car event that TV would provide. I had watched Sato race away dominating British F3. He was a hoot to watch in F1, but not for the right reasons.
I became protective of him, though, because he did provide me with entertainment and for a long time he did what few others were willing to do in racing; Sato would have a go, whether it was on or not.
So because he would have a go, we saw him flying off the circuit in Spain all on his own, he raced up the backside of his own teammate, he got smashed off the circuit at A1 Ring and Monza, and he had bumps and scrapes too numerous to mention. But he got those two points in Japan. Somehow this made 2002 okay, I could live with it.
Sato was a diversion away from admitting Schumacher's dominance. It's difficult to believe now that when Renault began to come good and challenge for the championship, I supported Alonso and actually wished he had driven for McLaren!
By this time, 2004 and 2005, I had a Grand Prix weekend sealed off. That was it, the race was on, no activity ever took precedence over Qualifying and the Grand Prix.
Nothing at all and I would now not tolerate not seeing the action live. It's pretty hardcore but I can't help it and I know there are others like this.
Schumacher Retires
2006 was a great year for racing. I enjoyed it so much chiefly because we saw Schumacher fail to win another World Championship, but also because the racing was good and the best news I had heard had been announced; Michael Schumacher would retire at the end of the season.
Everytime the German won, I would groan and writhe and sigh in disappointment and distress, but it was okay, he was retiring. Everything was okay, he was retiring. The only bad news was that one of my favourite drivers "had stabbed me in the back" in a personal way. Kimi Raikkonen was moving to Ferrari.
Traitor. Once red always red, you can never come back from it. Well, unless you're really likeable like Barrichello.
McLaren Crisis
For me personally as a McLaren fan and a fan of Grand Prix racing, 2007 was tense, exciting and gut-wrenchingly disappointing. The silver world of McLaren, despite midseason domination, was falling apart.
Spygate and the emergence of Alonso actually being a giant baby were panic crises which I could almost not handle watching. It was uncomfortable and it looked dirty.
I also found that the sport was barely recognisable without Michael Schumacher. I discovered that this man, who I hated as a racing driver, had actually made me the fan of the sport that I now am.
By bitterly wanting him to be beaten and placing hope and faith and love and support in my team, against his, I had become so embroiled in the sport. Now he was gone. What does one do when someone gets what they want?
...And Now
Luckily, my thirst for the sport has not tired and finding Bleacher Report and its ardent fans with like and countering opinions helps to fuel continued interest in Formula 1.
Luckily as a Brit and a fan of McLaren, I have Lewis Hamilton to cheer on and support now. With Ferrari receiving unfair favouritism treatment as usual, there is still plenty to fight against from my armchair!
For next year it looks like my new biggest hated driver; Fernando Alonso, may be switching to Ferrari. So it can be just like the old days.
I hope people have enjoyed and perhaps related a little to some of this stuff here, I think if people do not then it just makes me a lunatic fanatic. Which is okay by me.
It was a long one, but thank you for reading this. I love this sport and I'm sure you all do, you just took a little trip into my living room, watched me sulk, swear, rant, discuss and wince at the action unfolding every second Sunday of the summer.
16 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete