Lawn Tennis or Formula-1 - which one to support?

Back in the day, I used to be an avid follower of many sports – Cricket, Football, Lawn Tennis, Formula-1, WWE (then WWF – yes, I used to consider this as a sport too). Managing studies and following my passion for sports was a tough ask, but I guess I managed it well. Adding more sports was also a possibility. So now you know how much I prioritized one over the other. Cricket happens throughout the year. Almost same is the case with Football, with European leagues running for 9 out of 12 months and a World / Continental event happening roughly once every 2 years. There are 4 Grand Slam events in a year for Lawn Tennis each running for 2 weeks and then certain ATP masters tournaments featuring the best players at the end of the season. Formula-1 has around 18-20 races running for 18-20 weekends out of a possible 52 weeks in a year. 

And then we have to study round the year for our academic growth and career development. Phew!

Those were the days. Now things have changed. A lot. Now my selection of games have reduced to a select few. For instance, Cricket matches that actually makes sense and has a history / rivalry attached to it. India-Pakistan, if and when it happens; Ashes, not watching it live, but keeping a track of the updates; The semi-finals and finals of Grand Slams in Lawn Tennis; Formula-1, only if the conditions are fluctuating like bright sunny skies followed by moderate rains (rare instance) and WWE when the superstars of the “attitude era” returns for a night. Bane of corporate life, maybe.

Lawn Tennis and Formula-1 are on the cusp of being eliminated from my list and my paucity of time has nothing to do with it. Here’s why I feel like ceasing to be a fan of these games – 

Lawn Tennis: I used to be a “die-hard” fan of Andre Agassi. And by “die-hard”, I truly mean “die-hard”. And by the way, I still am. Although Lawn Tennis has become more and more competitive every year, I still feel the Sampras-Agassi era was the best. Add players like Goran Ivanisevic, Greg Rusedski, Michael Chang, Petr Korda and others to this equation and you have an exciting mix of top talents fighting it out for the crown(s). For me, Agassi truly was one of the world’s best and his matches with Sampras were truly a delight to watch. His comeback from 150+ ranking at one point to reach the pinnacle is the stuff of legends. Today, there are world class talents in today’s Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Murray, Wawrinka. However, I am finding it difficult to “replace” Agassi or to even find a new “Agassi” in the current crop. The problem lies with me more than the current state of the sport. Although I keep up with the updates, I wait till the semis of a big event to even switch on my television. My bad.

Formula-1: If it was Andre Agassi in Tennis, it’s Kimi Raikkonen in Formula-1. I started watching Formula-1 only because I realized there was someone who was competing tooth-n-nail with Michael Schumacher in racing. Although Schumacher was winning, Raikkonen’s never-say-die attitude towards the race grabbed my attention. But this is not about Raikkonen. Formula-1 is a technology dependent sport. A lot of upgrades that happen are technologically inclined. The game also went through various changes, one of which was the no-refuelling rule. In my opinion, this rule (along with many others in the recent past) has spoiled the competitive atmosphere. For the past few seasons, the only competition we experience is between the two drivers of the best team. Rest all is academic! I don’t think this is good for the game. There’s lots of money involved and maybe, just maybe, the top echelons who run this game aren’t ready to take preventive action to correct the wrongs. Many of the fans, including me, need a compelling reason to watch the next race. If we know it’s again going to be a 1-2 to the Mercedes F1 team with a Ferrari or a Williams coming third, then there’s no element of excitement left in the sport.

I still don't think I will stop watching these sports altogether. My current adjustment of watching only key matches / races will continue to work. Till the time I sort out my problems with Lawn Tennis and Formula-1 sorts out its own problems, I am left with nothing but prioritizing Cricket and Football in my spare time. No regrets though.

Kimi Raikkonen - at crossroads again..

When Kimi Raikkonen left Formula-1 to chase his “interests”, he left a huge void. Not only in Formula-1 circles, but also for millions of fans who tuned into Formula-1 on Saturday’s and Sunday’s. Formula-1 was incomplete with a certain Iceman. Two years after (unsuccessfully) chasing his interests, he decided to make a comeback to Formula-1. And then the void was filled again – by the Iceman himself! He was signed by Lotus GP for 2 seasons (for details, click here). His first season was a hit considering he was making a comeback and his car wasn’t one of the best on the track. His 2nd season was slightly below par, but was also hampered by a minor accident and a subsequent surgery towards the end of the season. During the season, it was announced that Ferrari has decided to sign him back for a 2 year deal and he will partner none other than Fernando Alonso. Elation rose to an all-time high (for details, click here). 

Many, including yours truly, felt this could be the perfect way for Kimi Raikkonen to show the world what he is truly capable of and to finish his career on a high. Unfortunately, that has hardly been the case. After 10 races, he has scored a meager 27 points and that too in a Ferrari. Which is even worse when we compare his points tally to that of Fernando Alonso (115 points). So, it’s pretty obvious that Ferrari isn’t as bad as depicted by Raikkonen’s results. Something is terribly amiss. If you are a Raikkonen fan, you know he is capable of bringing out the best out any car he drives. He did that with Sauber in his debut season, did it again with Lotus during his return season. There are numerous occasions when he started at the back of the grid and ran away with a podium finish. Then why a sudden drop in form?

Facts this season – 11 races have been completed this season. Raikkonen’s best finishing position on the grid is 6th, achieved in recently concluded Hungarian GP. He has finished 4 races outside of point-scoring position. That’s 36% of the times this season – quite alarming by Kimi Raikkonen standards. Last time Kimi Raikkonen had achieved pole position in qualifying was way back in 2008 in France during his first stint with Ferrari. You may argue Red Bull had dominated Formula-1 for 3 seasons and Mercedes are dominating F1 this season which leaves teams like Ferrari to fight for remaining positions on the grid. Fair argument. But still doesn’t justify Raikkonen’s credentials.

Before blaming Kimi Raikkonen for lack of performance, we need to see the season in its entirety. Let’s admit it, Ferrari has not been competitive at all this season as far as winning is concerned. Mercedes are miles ahead of everyone. Mercedes winning the constructors is almost a foregone conclusion. Even the driver’s championship is now a 2 horse race, between two Mercedes drivers. Rest are playing for 3rd place now. However, that’s where Alonso is, fighting for the 3rd spot. The point difference between Alonso and Raikkonen shows there’s more to the lack of form that just the car setup. Raikkonen has just not been able to get hold of his Ferrari. The car setup doesn’t feel the same for him. But poor strategic decisions taken by the Ferrari management during the qualifying / race has contributed significantly. Raikkonen, who’s usually quiet, has been very vocal this season about the lack of progress in his car and a need for changes within Ferrari. Alonso himself agreed it’s not a car capable of winning – something that you don’t always expect from a Ferrari.

Another point to note here is the advancements in technology and drastic rule changes in F1. When Kimi Raikkonen raced for McLaren back in the days, it was more about raw driving than better technology in the car. Now it’s more about better technology than having a better car (case in point – with due respects to Daniel Ricciardo, he is driving Red Bull better than the defending champion Vettel). With introduction of DRS, it’s relatively easier to overtake a car in front of you than it was few seasons ago. Don’t get me wrong, DRS enables overtaking which makes F1 races exciting. But I’d rather prefer a one-one contest between two drivers with no one having an undue advantage.

Raikkonen admitted that driving this season has not be a fun experience. Kimi, watching you drive hasn’t been fun either. If these are the signs we are supposed to read, then please understand that you are now at the cross-roads. If you feel the next season will be more or less the same, then you need to make a tough decision. A decision, perhaps, to leave F1 for good and move onto other areas of your interest. This is nothing new for you. You have already done it before. Kimi Raikkonen surely knows what he is doing (link). Personally, I won’t be surprised if he decides to quit F1. A void will still be created, but this time his fans will rather live with it than watch his fall for another season.

The next few races will surely clear the air. As a fan, I hope Kimi Raikkonen stays competitive for more years to come.

What to expect in 2014?

2013 is done and dusted. All that remains of 2013 are the memories, both happy and sad, to savor. 2014 has started and promises to be exciting on various accounts. We all might have made our own unique resolutions – which happens every year. I have made mine too. Yet to start acting on those. Typical new year stuff, eh? 

2013 was all about scams in politics, Modi as PM candidate for BJP, no PM candidate yet for INC, AAP and their grand entry in politics, retirements in cricket, boring Vettelisms in Formula-1, All German Champions League Final, Managerial changes in English Premier League, Tiger Woods making a comeback and winning, Vishy Anand relinquishing the crown rather easily, new revenue records in Bollywood and all 3 Khans being a part of it, year in which movies like Ship of Theseus and Gravity blessed us etc..

2014 has potential to be epic. Here are some of the reasons why –

Indian Politics: Its Election time! After all the corruption and scandals, we can now look forward to a fresh group of people running the country. We can have a new and fresh government or an old government with fresh faces – whichever way you would like to believe. It could also be a hung verdict with strange partnerships deciding the government formation. Could it be the BJP this time? Can Congress spring a surprise despite all the corruptions? Or will it be the 3^rd front? Or AAP? The jury is out on this. Expect innumerable polls and analysis on prime time television (or is it called super prime time now?). Whatever happens, we are in for a change. And hopefully, a change for the better.

Cricket: We witnessed South Africa defeat India and Australia demolish England in Ashes. Now we are about to witness the victors of both the series come together for the biggest battle of the season. Its Australia vs South Africa and it promises to be epic. India starts the season with a tour to New Zealand followed by Asia Cup in Bangladesh. T20 World Cup is back and will start in March. We are still awaiting the IPL status this year due to General Elections. It may happen earlier than scheduled or may happen outside the country. Indian team will then tour England in July followed by a home series against West Indies (wonder why have this series every year). We will then end the year the same way we started - a tour down under, this time against Australia.

Soccer: The year of the World Cup in Brazil. Though, I must admit, I am not a hardcore country vs country soccer fan. I support Brazil and feel they have the potential (they always have) to win the cup. However, Germany and Spain are not too far behind. Count Italy in and we have an unpredictable situation where anyone can take the cup. I am an EPL fan and follow the Gunners. Arsenal have been on top this season and I expect them to go all the way and win the premier league. Somewhat difficult given the form and bench strength of teams like Manchester City. And there are some mouth-watering Champions League action with Arsenal playing the reigning champions Bayern Munich and Manchester City playing Barcelona.

Formula-1: Every year, I start with the usual excitement of a new Formula-1 season. The excitement is because I hope this season will be different (Read: a non-Vettel non-Red Bull champion) and later on, I am proven wrong. I have my reasons to continue the same hope this season too. We have Alonso and Raikkonen in Ferrari and can expect the fight to the Red Bulls. There are no weak links now and if the car is capable, we can see a change for sure. Add to this mix the vastly developed McLaren drivers in Hamilton and Rosberg and we can expect a race to the finish! C’mon Iceman, let this be your year!

Bloggers Park: You can expect more blogs on Politics. I am keenly following the happenings leading up to the general elections and beyond – after all, we are all about to witness one of the most closely fought 3 way battle for power. Expect sports related articles for reasons mentioned above. There will be some book reviews as usual. More maturity and analysis, less on crap and speculation!

Brace yourself. Tighten your seat belts, hold your breath and then release your breath. We are in for a wild ride!

Kimi Raikkonen to Ferrari – What it means?

From Kimi Raikkonen’s comeback in Formula 1 with Lotus F1 two years ago to speculation of replacing Mark Webber in Red Bull to finally making a return with Ferrari, it was a turbulent journey. If there were some critics who felt Raikkonen has gone past his best, he proved them wrong. With Lotus, he proved he can still scare the Vettel’s and Hamilton’s of the F1 world.

Kind courtesy: http://fastformula.files.wordpress.com/

The F1 world is visibly shaken post Raikkonen's news of joining Ferrari. So much so that Lotus' twitter account didn't take it lightly. To state that it hurts a little is an understatement considering the image they shared. The F1 world will be very different next season. Raikkonen to Ferrari has the capability to change the season right on its head. Many drivers and teams will be impacted - positively and negatively –

1. Felipe Massa: One day before Raikkonen was announced as Alonso’s partner, Massa decided to leave Ferrari at the end of this season. Whether he was forced to make the decision or was it solely his decision, no one can tell. Anyways, a lot of decisions are made on behalf of him by the team (Alonso is faster than you, for example). However, I personally feel Massa needs a change of scenery. You cannot be a perennial #2 in the team. Now, Massa has the opportunity to work with a mid-team and help develop the team to grow. Teams who can benefit from Massa’s experience – Lotus, Force India, Sauber, Torro Rosso.
   
   
2. Lotus F1: Big loss for Lotus F1, in my opinion. They have lost a star in Kimi Raikkonen. Now, they have two options in front of them. One, go for a rookie driver and completely change their strategy. Two, replace Kimi with one of the established drivers in the market. However, with the other top drivers already settled in their respective teams, they will find it difficult to replace Kimi. The best option at this point for Lotus is to approach Felipe Massa. He will certainly be tracked by other teams and he may even commit himself early so as to avoid risking last minute rush to drive for next season. The other option, a very interesting one at that, is Robert Kubica. Anyone remember him? He has already returned to racing through Rally. I feel, it’s just about time for his return to F1!
   
   
3. Ferrari F1: I have mixed feeling about this one. I must admit, whatever driver changes happen in 2014, Ferrari will have the best driver line-up of them all! In that regard, they will be the team to watch and will provide perfect competition to Red Bull. The concern I have is, Ferrari have never had two top drivers in their line-up. Or maybe, they had 2 top drivers, but they clearly demarcated them as #1 and #2 so as to assist one of them to win the driver’s championship and the team to win the constructors. We are talking about two egos clashing here - ice and spice in the same team. Imagine this – Alonso allowing Kimi to pass him during the race so that Kimi can catch Vettel in the drivers championship? Difficult to imagine, huh?
   
   
4. Kimi Raikkonen: 2nd best decision for Kimi Raikkonen. I personally would have loved Kimi to join Red Bull. But somehow it didn't work out and he joined the only team that can compete with the Red Bulls. Kimi is at the 2nd half (or last quarter) of his career. He will fancy himself winning races consistently and competing for the championship. Honestly, I don’t think Lotus can fulfill this dream. They are, at best, a mid-table team with a top driver doing his best to ensure the team competes with the top ones.
   
   
5. Fernando Alonso: This is where it gets more interesting. Why will Ferrari allow Raikkonen to join Ferrari when they already have Alonso? Is it to challenge Alonso to further improve? Maybe. Is it some kind of contingency planning? Is Alonso looking at other alternatives? You never know when it comes to Formula 1. Very few drivers have been loyal to their team. Likewise, very few teams have been loyal to their drivers.

So, all the Raikkonen fans, rejoice! The current season is still not done and dusted but the 2014 season has already started buzzing. Let’s brace ourselves for a driver merry-go-round and a wonderful 2014 season.

For more articles on Kimi Raikkonen, click here.

Raikkonen on the cusp of yet another deserving milestone

My friends who know me know that I am a sports fan. If you try to dig deeper, you will know the sports I like. Even more deeper and you know the sportsperson(s) I admire! If you want to take a sportcut, check my twitter profile and everything's mentioned in less than 140 characters!

I am a huge fan of Kimi Raikkonen. I used to follow him since his McLaren days. Was disappointed when he left F1 to pursue his passion - rallying. Was elated when he rejoined F1 with Lotus Renault. Watches every F1 race and remains elated since he finishes every race in point scoring positions! Yes, that's one of the records he currently has and is one race behind MSC. This Canadian GP will change all that!

This and all the other records that Raikkonen has is given in this article I wrote for SportsKeeda. Here's the Link.

2013 F1 season - what to expect?

So we have officially begun our 2013 season. The wait from the last race of last season (Brazil) to the start of this season (Australia) was too long. 110 days to be precise. But as a true F1 fan would say, the wait was all worth it! So, without much delay, let's directly move on to what we can expect in 2013.

Assumption: I am assuming 2013 will NOT be like 2009 season where, out of nowhere, Brawn single-handedly outperformed everyone and took the bull by it's horns! That season was non-competitive to say the least.

Top Driver changes from 2012 to 2013: The biggest driver change that happened was obviously that of Lewis Hamilton moving out of McLaren F1 to Mercedes F1. Shocking to say the least. Was money the key motivator? Your guess is as good as mine. Also, Hamilton has replaced arguably the best F1 driver ever (Michael Schumacher), MSC's second coming was not impressive at all and all his fans might be relieved to know he's finally retired and moved on.  Hamilton's move as allowed Sergio Perez to realize his dream of driving a winning car by moving to McLaren F1.

Driver Comeback: The comeback of the season could easily be Adrian Sutil. After being in the sidelines in 2012 and out of Force India, he has made a welcome return to his previous team. Hulkenberg decided to move on for greener pastures leaving a seat open for Sutil to grab with both hands. He now has a fantastic opportunity to prove his worth to the F1 community. 

Top Contenders: The usual suspects here - Vettel, Webber, Alonso and Button. Dare I add Kimi Raikkonen here. I will be more than surprised if the winner is anyone other than the names mentioned above. Vettel has had a great 2012 season and will like to continue the momentum. Webber would like to prove that he can be the numero uno in Red Bull. Alonso last won the championship in 2006 with Renault. Button is now finally the top driver in McLaren. He has the responsibility to lead his Hamilton-less team this season. And finally Kimi - watch out for him, if his car is as consistent as it was in 2012, we might have a Lotus driver blossoming this season.

Dark Horses: Last year, Lotus F1 team were the dark horses. I am sure all will agree that they outperformed their tag and became 3rd in the Drivers championship (Kimi Raikkonen) and 4th in Constructors. This year I fancy them as one of the top contenders. Mercedes F1 will be the dark horses of the season. Why? Although they have a car that's fast (if not faster than most on the grid), they could struggle with reliability. They had the same problem last year. Unless that is sorted out, I don't expect them to be on the podium on a consistent basis. Also, watch out for Sahara Force India F1 to pose a real threat to midfield and some of the top teams.

Click on image for Full screen view. Image courtesy: graphicnews.com

All in all, this will be an intriguing season of Formula 1. My personal favorite is Kimi Raikkonen and if he continues his form from last season, we have a race on our hands!

Waiting to hear this phrase for the first time this season - The five red lights illuminate.. And when they go out...

Leave me alone. I know what I am doing..

That's typical Kimi Raikkonen for you!

No, I am not being arrogant or showing attitude. The topic is not even what I said. That's what Kimi Raikkonen said. The great Iceman. This happened during the Abu Dhabi GP (Yas Marina) 2012. As it always happens, the race driver is constantly in touch with his assigned race engineer. When Lewis Hamilton retired due to mechanical problem after leading the GP, Kimi Raikkonen suddenly found himself leading the race. He knew this was his chance. The race engineer thought of motivating Raikkonen by providing strategic instructions about who is behind him and by how much. Guess what Kimi Raikkonen said:

"Leave me alone. I know what I am doing!"

Needless to say, the Iceman actually knew what he was doing. And he won the race! Typical Kimi.

Lotus blooms in the desert

Kind courtesy: http://blog.axisofoversteer.com/

Now there are some who'll think that Kimi Raikkonen is arrogant and not a team player. You'd think he's doesn't respect team orders and does what he thinks is right. Let me tell you, you can't be more wrong!

I have followed Kimi Raikkonen since his early F1 days. You may read this post to see how excited I was when I heard he is coming back to Formula 1. The guy is uber cool! Hardly any expressions, very shy and doesn't know how to interact with the media. He is a party person too. Many F1 drivers were happy to see him come back and he brings coolness back to F1 (atleast I think so too). His responses can easily be misunderstood by a new-comer. As a constructor, you give him a car to drive and he will extract the best out of the car. That's a guarantee! Everyone in F1 knows it. When Raikkonen told his race engineer to leave him alone, he actually meant he didn't want any interference from anyone. He knows it's now his race to win and the best opportunity for Lotus GP to snatch a victory this season. It's now up to him to complete what Lotus had dreamt of. And he did it in grand style. Even the Lotus team admitted the guy was full of concentration and they let him have his way. And his way was nothing but victory! He won it for himself, for his team and his fans. I am really happy for the Iceman.

Sometimes you just need to trust the guy to complete the work he is required to do. And guess what, the guy will respond. Definitely, if his name happens to be "Kimi Raikkonen".

Behold, the Iceman returneth!!

And Lotus Renault GP, it shall be. For 2 long seasons!!

After 2 long years, we can finally expect to see Kimi Raikkonen inside the F1 cockpit!! I have been waiting for this news since the time he left!! I tried following rallying, but just couldn't enjoy it. And F1 became a tad monotonous with all the changes happening and with Sebastian Vettel winning almost every race (similar to the Michael Schumacher era). There's hardly any competition for Vettel now. Something has to happen to change this. In the long term, Kimi Raikkonen could just be the answer. Raikkonen's comeback is not only great news for his fans but also to the F1 community in general. It will boost the viewership throughout the world, thereby bringing in more sponsorship. Hell, it's a win-win situation for everyone!! The last time such a thing happened was in 2010 when Schumacher returned. We know that didn't work out pretty well for Schumi. But this time it'll be different for sure.

Here are some of the reasons why Raikkonen's comeback is important to F1 community in general:

1. F1 will be cool again: As mentioned, a lot of things have changed in F1. We now have a youngest 2 time World Champion in Sebastian Vettel. We have 2 world champions in McLaren F1 team - Hamilton and Button. Ferrari has Alonso. Massa had a freak accident while driving and hasn't been the same again. Michael Schumacher made a comeback but isn't the same old destructive one!! Lots of technical changes - KERS and DRS among others, lots of rule changes - no refuelling, same tyre rule, engine changes etc. The bottom-line is: F1 is now becoming more and more monotonous with every single race. Rain is the only aspect that make F1 interesting!! With Raikkonen coming back, lots of F1 fans will have something to cheer about. When Raikkonen left F1, he left a huge void which wasn't filled by any other driver. Void was not of a world champion (we have that every year). Void was that of a "cool, no-nonsense driver who needs a car and he will do the rest" kind of a personality.
   
   
2. Raikkonen is (honestly) going nowhere in Rallying: By his high standards, Raikkonen has had a forgettable rallying career. He left F1 to do something he loved: Rallying. However, he realized that rallying is a lot different than F1 and there are some really talented drivers over there. Also, not all of Raikkonen fans are following his rallying career anyways (including me). It makes much more sense for him to come back to a sport he (almost) dominated.
   
   
3. Unlike Schumacher, Raikkonen still has some racing years ahead of him: Raikkonen is more than 10 years younger to Michael Schumacher. Ten long years!! If Schumi can make a comeback, Raikkonen surely can. Schumacher's comeback was the biggest news in 2010. And 2 seasons later, it remains the biggest news. Schumacher hasn't really set the track on fire!! In fact, his much younger partner in Mercedes GP, Nico Rosberg, has performed better than him. This leads me to the obvious question: Will it be the same for Raikkonen? The answer, quite frankly, is NO. Unlike Schumi, Raikkonen still has atleast 4-5 years of racing left in him. Raikkonen didn't leave motor-sport, he just switched from F1 to rallying - which means his racing experience is still very much there!!
   
   
4. Business sense for Lotus Renault F1 team: 2011 season started with a blow for Renault team with the accident of Robert Kubica. And Renault were not the same again. They were expected to pose a serious challenge to the Red Bulls, McLaren's and Ferrari's. They eventually ended up as the best of the rest closely followed by Sahara Force India team. Lotus Renault has planned a lot of changes for the 2012 season and Raikkonen is one of them. Also, Raikkonen will be coming along with a sponsorship deal for the team which they will obviously welcome with both hands.

Personally, I have been a huge fan of the Iceman. I love the way he drives - no confusion, just pure racing!! Ask any Kimi Raikkonen fan. He / she will admit this is the biggest news in F1 circles!! However, don't expect him to start winning races immediately. The team is going through a series of changes and will need some time to adapt. Raikkonen needs some quality time with the car and race experience with KERS and DRS. We can however expect him to compete with the best cars and show them what they missed in 2011. And hey, he can switch teams right? Who knows, he might just switch to Mercedes GP with Schumi eventually retiring and Rosberg eyeing a Ferrari seat!! And Kubica is also considering Ferrari as one of his options for 2013, which is quite possible with Massa under-performing. You never know what happens next in the world of F1.

As a fan, I only hope that this time, the iceman will remain in F1 till his retirement. I can't wait for the 2012 season to begin. It's still 4 months away, but guess what? Now it's worth the wait!!