During my recent travels, I finally got around to watching F1: The Movie. Ironically, I was flying to Milan at the time, though sadly, not to worship at the temple of speed.
The first part was not a thousand miles removed from the movie finale, with the exception that you would have to substitute Mercedes for Cadillac and Kimi for, say, Nico Hulkenberg. Coming to think of it, the “Hulk” and Sonny Hayes bear a striking resemblance.
Nothing like a new power unit
Having watched Kimi carve his way through the rear of the grid, it was noticeable that much of this was under acceleration as opposed to “sending it” on corner entry – a very mature approach.
His progress was so fast that within two or three laps, he was already in 12th place, having started from 19th. All this on Hard tyres to boot.
Ferrari reset button
The Red flag courtesy of Charles Leclerc’s heavy ‘off’ at the Parabolica provided the opportunity for a free tyre stop and move to Mediums. Something of a gift for the young Italian, who was then empowered to resume his drive to the front on better rubber, with gusto.
This was further boosted with another stop for fresh tyres during the Lance Stroll Virtual Safety Car, and Antonelli was once again unleashed. Meanwhile, George Russell elected to forgo the opportunity to upgrade his rubber, staying out on his ageing “Hards”.
Tyred out
At times, it seemed there was a huge power disparity between the two teammates. However, the data shows that Russell was matching and, at times, faster before the heavy braking zones than the young World Champion-elect.
Kimi’s advantage was his raw talent and the new rubber facilitating later braking and faster apex (cornering) speeds. What this all means is that Pit Lane strategy made beating his teammate and the outright win a possibility, and a superlative drive by Antonelli turned that possibility into a fact. This should all sit in the realm of Hollywood movies.
However, as Oscar Wilde quoted in his essay The Decay of Lying: “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life”; something that’s becoming increasingly common in modern Formula 1.
If you wish upon a star
From an entertainment perspective, this is all good stuff. Although Antonelli is fast, making the closing races nothing more than wooden-spoon events.
It will be interesting to see what “bananas” will be thrown into his path to avoid this fast-self-fulfilling prophecy. Will George find his talent under a tyre warmer at the back of the garage and put together a series of compelling wins?
Or maybe Ferrari will suddenly discover strategic discipline and deliver multiple one-two’s with Charles playing Lewis Hamilton’s wingman?
Re-looking at the film, the difference between reality and Hollywood is fast becoming blurred. Parc Ferme now believes that in this Formula 1 fantasy world, all things are possible.
Now let’s see what happens at the “Madring”. That name has got to be an open invitation for more art.
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