I haven’t seen it for twenty years, but there’s a vital spring back in Ferrari’s step. It was clear as daylight when it appeared last time. A quarter century ago.
Back then, we’d spent four years rebuilding Maranello after Luca stole the brains trust from Flavio and Benetton. Then Schumacher went straight off at Silverstone. Handed Hakkinen the title back on a plate. Until that moment, there’d been a difference in Maranello’s attitude.
There’d been a significant spring in Ferrari’s step that year. A spring that had been missing since Scheckter, Villeneuve, and Forghieri. A spring stolen with Gilles and Didi.
It only sprang back 20 years later. And stayed at Maranello through to 2004. And then it was gone. Bar a moment when Kimi stole his title.
That spring. It's been missing for twenty years.
So it’s something we have not seen for another couple of decades. But somehow, right now, Red Mist once again sees that spring in the Ferrari step. Is it enough to think about that title once again? Not sure, but there surely is much to be excited about as Formula 1 limbers up down under.
The Winter World Championship never gave enough away in Bahrain. Ferrari was right there, all the time. As it always has been in the Winter World Championship. And mostly gone on to disappoint. Which is why that spring in the step is so important.
It’s there more because of attitude than just performance. What Red Mist enjoys most about that is that it’s the attitude that has been missing for twenty years. Like it was missing through the Prost years and Mansell. And in the Vettel era too.
Does Maranello believe in itself again?
That Ferrari spring in the step is probably a more important ingredient than pace, speed, or lap times. It’s in the belief that Maranello can actually do it. And it's something that’s not normally there. But when it has been there, Ferrari was unstoppable.
The trick, however, remains to carry it through the season. Unlike ’99. But like the five years that followed. It also very much hangs on Sir Lewis, which means it’s more off hype than it is off pure pace. But bullshit has often baffled brains. And Hamilton and Ferrari are probably the best pieces of smoke and mirrors in Formula 1 history.
Will it work? Time will tell. But what’s almost for sure is that Formula 1 2025 will be the closest season in years. And a good few to come, too. Is that enough to finally take the title back from Max? Can Lando, Charles, George, or even wildcard Carlos pull it off? Or is Sir Lewis really ready for number eight with that spring in our step?
Whatever happens, whoever wins, Red Mist just cannot wait for Sunday morning. Neither should you. Forza Ferrari. Bring it on!
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