insults aside, your summation is accurate. Ferrari had a competitive car in 1999 (Williams then McLaren had the better sleds 97-99). Ferrari had the best car 2000-2004. Still competitive 2006-2008, but no longer dominant.
Agree 1997-1998-1999-2005 the car wasn’t the best of the field. 2000-2003-2006 pretty equal to the best ( Mclaren and Renault) 2001-2002-2004 clearly the dominant car.
1997 Ferrari was a second down per lap on average. 1998 it was closer but Mclaren clearly the best 1999 Ferrari had a really good car but Michael broke his legs. 2000 More or less equal with Mclaren 2001 Ferrari a little better but amplified stats due to an unbelievably unlucky season from Mika 2002 fantastic car 2003 great car but so where the Williams and Mclaren 2004 fantastic car. 2005 yeeea... 2006 contending but clearly not as fast as the Renault was, only when Renault's illegal suspension was removed did it became more even.
Although there was a pesky German driver messing up the Williams dominance Now imagine if said German driver had been piloting that Williams !
+1 FIA finally found a way to slow down MSC. Change tyre regs at last minute to handicap Bridgestone Worked a treat.
Spa and Monza too. Irvine didnt' know how Schumacher managed to do this with this car.. Brutally honest as always..
There were more chicken-**** rule changes—whether tires, qualifying or engines—in the period that Schumi was winning than any other time I can remember. Imagine the outrage if this was done to HAM. Oh the hate!
If Russell beats Hamilton this year, can we then affirm that Hamilton IS NOT the greatest of all times?
Then Lewis will.go down the Vettel super highway.....could'nt adapt to new rules and regulations of the new formula only to get beat by the young up-and-coming team-mates.
Nico Rosberg got it right; he retired after his title and never suffered the ignominy of being beaten. After 16 years in F1, you would expect a driver to decline.
The majority do but..... Alonso is the exception...20 plus years in F1 and has gone thru the V10, V8, V-6 turbo hybrid era and his race-craft on the track is above reproach to include his team-mates. The OG still has it from a track perspective.
Very true, Alonso had plenty of experience and good race craft, but no top team will offer him a drive.