A Lackluster Begin
There’s little doubt that Ferrari has had an unsatisfactory begin to the 2025 Components 1 World Championship, as, after simply three races, it’s 76 factors behind McLaren within the Constructors’ Championship, and Charles Leclerc is 42 factors adrift of chief Lando Norris. Contemplating the winter expectations, justified by the arrival of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, the outcomes are fairly poor.
Nonetheless, it’s additionally true that there are nonetheless 21 races left within the season, and it’s equally true that in 2024, after three races, McLaren was in third place (with just one top-3 end in qualifying and one podium within the race) 42 factors behind Pink Bull after which went on to win the Constructors’ Championship. Subsequently, the judgment for Ferrari is actually not optimistic, however there’s nonetheless time to make up the hole – in a season that may finish in December.
The Traditional Over-the-Prime Headline from Bild
On Monday, April 7, the German newspaper Bild – as is its model – didn’t maintain again in describing Ferrari’s present state of affairs and titled: “The Return of the Pink Cucumber,” evaluating Lewis Hamilton’s begin at Maranello to Michael Schumacher’s practically thirty years in the past. The tough tone is maintained all through the article, the place the dream is described as turning right into a nightmare, and Hamilton is claimed to be “solely a matter of time earlier than he explodes in frustration and the Prancing Horse takes over.”
These are clearly unkind phrases, however they’re in keeping with what Bild has been recognized for over time – particularly in the case of the Italian crew.
In Michael Schumacher’s first 12 months at Maranello, he failed to start out from pole place in France as a result of a blown engine throughout the formation lap.
Bild was extraordinarily harsh: “Within the trash together with this cucumber!” with a headline: “Schumi: the Ferrari smoke below his rear finish.” Michael Schumacher, a two-time champion with Benetton, accepted the problem from the Prancing Horse, and his first season was actually not straightforward…
…and in 2006
After successful 5 consecutive world titles and making historical past, Bild revisited the 12 months when all of it started, ten years later – in a 2006 article. The ‘crimson cucumber’ label was coined, which was then used once more simply a few days in the past for Lewis Hamilton.
“His first Ferrari was the crimson cucumber,” with this caption below the pictures: “Already in February, throughout Estoril testing, Schumi ran away from the Ferrari in flames. ‘The place have I ended up?’ he appeared to ask.”
Idiots within the Pits
Many will keep in mind the 2001 Malaysian Grand Prix, when a monsoon hit the Sepang observe throughout the third lap of the race. There was an excessive amount of confusion, and Michael Schumacher discovered himself ready for over a minute within the pit lane for teammate Rubens Barrichello’s tire change – Barrichello, who was forward of him, had misplaced his proper entrance tire.
Schumi re-entered the observe in eleventh place, and because of the Security Automobile, he managed to remain in contact with the leaders and executed an thrilling comeback that noticed him win the race with a 23-second lead.
Bild pointed the finger at Ferrari’s mechanics: “They’re again! The idiots within the Ferrari pits. Oh my God! One, two, three, the place’s the fourth?” referring to the lacking tire throughout Barrichello’s cease. The article then had an much more direct assault: “Exhausting to consider Schumi gained this race. The idiots within the Ferrari pits had ruined all the pieces once more…”
Poor Schumacher, surrounded by a bunch of incapable folks – who would ultimately assist him win 5 consecutive world titles throughout these years.
However Now There’s No Schumacher
If in all these cases there could possibly be some justification for the hyper-protectionism towards Michael Schumacher, in 2025 – despite the fact that Ferrari isn’t delivering as anticipated – the “return of the crimson cucumber” appears excessively offensive and closing, particularly because the Components 1 World Championship is barely simply starting.
Might it maybe be associated to Lewis Hamilton’s resolution to go away Mercedes, a German crew, and be part of Ferrari? Ah, who is aware of…
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