It seems that most of my fellow reviewers share my opinion on the fact that there are two categories of drivers on the planet - Michael Schumacher and the rest. Like most gifted people, Michael has had his share of criticism over the years. Some of this criticism is deserved. With his rather overbearing ways, exemplified by two racing incidents in his career - taking out Damon Hill at Adelaide at the end of the 1994 season to win the championship by a point, and almost doing the same to Jacques Villeneuve at Jerez in 1997. However, a large part of the criticism seems to smack of jealousy - no doubt sown by the likes of Villeneuve and Coulthard, who cannot bear to give due to one of the most supremely gifted racing drivers - nay athletes of his generation - and acknowledge that he stands apart.
A lifelong admirer of Ayrton Senna in 1994 - the year that F1 came live into Indian homes, I along with the rest of the racing fraternity was traumatised when the legendary Brazilian took a straight line and his life into the Tamburello corner at Imola. I could not bear to think of anyone else matching his genius, especially on a wet track. Yet within a couple of races, I had changed my opinion. Schumacher without doubt is Senna’s peer in driving skill, if not his superior. Take for example, his display at Barcelona in the 1994 Spanish GP. Stuck in something like 4th or 5th gear one third of the way into the race, and leading at the time, he still managed to come second letting only Hill overtake in the process. Imagine driving on in your car in a high gear for just 5-10 km and then imagine doing about 200 km, including two pit stops like Michael and you can appreciate the depth of his skill and talent.
Michael has always been a master in the wet - the 2003 Brazilian GP notwithstanding. Once again in Barcelona, in terrible conditions, he was lapping at least 10 seconds faster than the McLarens and Williams! This was in those difficult years when the Ferrari was a terrible car to drive and Hill, Villeneuve and Mika Hakkinen were ruling the roost. Yet in those years too, in particular 1996, after Michael had just joined Ferrari, he managed to win three races, when pitted against the vastly superior opposition. In 1997 and 1998, he was a genuine championship contender, pipped only in the final race of the season. In 1999, were it not for the fact that he nearly followed Senna to his grave at Silverstone, and was out for the latter part of the year, the title would have been his.
Michael has always been a great driver - his driving skills ensured that in an inferior car, he was still competitive, and when Ferrari finally brought out the F2000 - he proved that in a evenly matched race car, he could not be caught. The F2001 and F2002 were so good, that observers gave more weightage to his car rather than his supreme talent in using it to its maximum potential. Therefore all the rule changes that were supposed to make the racing world more equal. No one changed the rules when Williams or McLaren were dominant - when in fact their cars were far superior to the others.
Now Williams and Michelin have again made tremendous developmental strides and their car is without doubt superior to the Ferrari F2003GA (and the McLaren). Will the FIA now make further rule changes to make it again a level playing field?
I have no doubt that whatever happens in the last third of the season, and the emergence of Montonya, Raikkonen and Alonso as drivers of talent and ability, Michael Schumacher will remain the man to beat till the end of his driving days.