Almost from the very moment the unattractive F2012 was unveiled,
there was a distinct feeling that Ferrari's campaign was in dire
straits. The broken nose of the Scuderia's newborn challenger
peeked warily out of its Fiorano garage, only to be met by a thick
blanket of snow. That meant the car would not turn a wheel in anger
until it reached Spanish soil, and several weeks spent toiling in
the bleak February sunshine did nothing to assue fears of an
arduous season to come. Yet three months on, the troubled car has
bestowed Fernando Alonso with not only a race win - but an unlikely
championship lead.
It's a bizarre turn of events, and particularly astonishing when
you consider that the fabled Italian team arrived at the
season-opener with a vehicle which was fit only to scrap for
survival in the midfield. The two red cars occupied twelfth and
sixteenth on the Melbourne grid, the crushing disappointment of
which was compounded when historic rivals McLaren not only locked
out the front row but went on to take victory in the race itself.
Although Alonso miraculously salvaged a fifth place finish from a
dismal maiden weekend, Ferrari were clearly chronically out of
sorts. The idea of title challenge looked almost laughable.
Just a fortnight later, the tables were turned. The much maligned
team rallied to produce a remarkable performance in rain-hit
Sepang. Of course the variable climate played an imperative role in
producing such an unfancied victor, but Alonso found that the F2012
was an altogether different car in tricky conditions. It gave him
the confidence and grip that others lacked, and the rampaging
Spaniard battled through the monsoon to seize an opportunistic
victory. Elsewhere, numerous incidents befell the team's most
potent rivals to gift them an invaluable points advantage in the
title standings.
Although the victory was key to propelling Alonso into contention,
he has maintained his candidacy for a third world championship with
exceptional consistency. He is one of only three drivers to record
six points finishes from the opening six events, an achievement
which takes on added significance when you factor in the startling
unpredictability of the season so far. The former world champion's
methodical approach has paid off because no contender has been able
to put together a string of victories - Alonso is one of six men to
have stood atop the podium this season. But whilst others have
endured contrasting fortunes, the Ferrari driver has strengthened
his credentials by stubbornly lodging himself within the top
ten.
So here we are. A third of the way through the season, and it is
Alonso who holds a slim advantage. The former world champion admits
that his tactic has been based on targeting individual challengers
rather than wins - he examines the title standings prior to any
given weekend, singles out his closest challenger and focuses
solely on beating them. It is a technique built on common sense,
but one which he may not need to adopt for very much longer. That's
because Ferrari are beginning to compete on merit alone.
The car which appeared so hopeless three months ago has been
subject to a torrent of late nights at Maranello. Against all odds,
the Scuderia are fighting their way back to the front. The return
of in-season testing at Mugello in early May was crucial to the
team's resurgence, and the advances made in their own backyard
allowed Ferrari to roll out a greatly overhauled machine in time
for the Spanish Grand Prix. Instantly the F2012 looked more content
on the racetrack - the front end turned in upon entry, and the rear
end stayed planted upon exit. Fixing these fundamental flaws saw
Alonso fight again for victory in Barcelona, a circuit regarded as
one of the sternest tests of general competitiveness.
Two weeks on in Monaco, and again the Spaniard was on the podium.
But perhaps more notable was the presence of his troubled team-mate
Felipe Massa in sixth place, by far the Brazilian's best finish of
the year. Whereas Alonso had been able to drag a fighting
performance from the F2012 in those difficult early rounds, Massa
had looked altogether more lost. His return to form was a
triumphant moment for Ferrari - an indicator that their car was
competitive even in a lesser driver's hands. Getting both cars into
the top six confirmed the team's potential to challenge.
Largely thanks to the calm head and consistent threat posed by
their talismanic Spaniard, the Scuderia have negotiated their
darkest days and emerged on top. Now they are increasingly looking
like a force to be reckoned with, and if their current rate of
development can be maintained then they will imminently be genuine
frontrunners. Alonso's ability to outfox his rivals in inferior
machinery is ominous - in competitive machinery, he may prove
uncontainable. On that basis, his rivals could well rue the day
they did not stamp out the Ferrari challenge whilst they had the
chance.