GP Monaco – Vettel emulates Schumi, for Ferrari a fairytale double in the Principality [VIDEO]

Sixteen years, a lifetime ago, another world, Schumacher and Barrichello dominated in Monte Carlo and the kaiser had yet to win his second title in Red. The glamorous Principality, the narrow streets and the most "kissed" barriers in the world had become a curse for a Ferrari idiosyncratic with Monte Carlo, from Michael's crash in 2004, to the qualifying incident in 2006, to the defeats of the dioscuri Raikkonen and Massa up to period of Fernando Alonso.

To dispel the taboo, a large single-seater was needed - fabulous in traction and extremely agile - and Sebastian Vettel, a determined, ruthless champion, unrestrained in his atavistic hunger for victory (and for the world championship), regardless of his adversaries and friends, capable of using the SF70H as the Thor's hammer, giving the race an unapproachable pace on a free track, and thus taking (forcibly) the space necessary to rewrite the history of the Cavallino. Lap thirty-five, Raikkonen, a solid leader of the race, enters the pits for his tire change. Vettel stays on the track, five very long laps, qualifying pace, and then stops and exits the pits and faces the climb towards the Casino in the lead. Second career victory in Monte Carlo for the German, but this one has a unique flavor, because it is a turning point, a whiplash to an increasingly red world championship.

A championship like this is very similar to a stage race, after all the Giro di Italia has just finished, and as in cycling there are well-defined roles in every team. There are the captains and there are the wingmen, the backs, sent ahead or busy doing the dirty work uphill, before giving way to the champion of the moment. It could have been Kimi's big day, a wonderful poleman, but reason of state prevailed, with Ferrari unable to waste the most wonderful of opportunities to distance itself from the imprecise Hamilton. A victorious Raikkonen in Munich would have been the perfect fairy tale, but not the most functional to the dream. Nineteen points gained over Hamilton sounds better than twelve, and then Vettel was still faster than his teammate, as demonstrated on a free track. The grimaces of Iceman they say a lot, Kimi probably felt sacrificed, mistreated, but as an intelligent champion he is he will be able to interpret his fundamental role in Ferrari well; after all he contributed as a protagonist to Ferrari's historic day, and has returned to shine at dizzying levels.

The challenger's corner, however, was bleaker than ever, with Hamilton sweating like crazy to pick up six points after his qualifying disaster. Lewis confirmed his talent as crystal clear as it is discontinuous, failing to find the key to the problem on a circuit that he adores. It's strange to hear him say that the W08 is capricious and unpredictable, or complain about sliding all over the place with the softer tyres. Sic transit gloria mundi, where did the car that gave everyone a minute go? Vanished into thin air, if it is true that even Valtteri Bottas, in great form in Monaco, had to give up the podium to a revived Red Bull and a great Daniel Ricciardo. And we return to the initial discussion, on days like this the blow dealt must be a painful hook, and Vettel's one hit Lewis squarely.

Antonino Rendina

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