Formula 1

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together

6 Mins read

The TV camera focuses on the Force India, and it's released. “Where's the Ferrari” cries Martin Brundle commentating for the BBC.

Where indeed, you didn't see it come down pitlane in the background. Have Ferrari's pitsop gremlins returned at a choice moment?

The TV picture we all see cuts to a high angle shot on the outside of La Source. Kimi's infront still, perhaps has even stretched out a little. Time to settle for second?

Not a chance, or so it seems, as Fisichella is back on the trail of the Ferrari catching Kimi again, at fractions a lap, but again he can't quite catch him, let alone get past him, and Sebastien Vettel's rather alarming pace is starting to have everyone looking at what lies behind Fisichella rather than infront of him.

The closing laps. The time when every vibration seems to be amplified to the point where you almost expect the car to stop.

Mallya can't even bear to watch from the pit wall with nerves, he retreats into the garage or motorhome.

And someone's smoking. It's Barrichello. “Everything's normal,” his team tell him, apart of the rooster tail of oil smoke coming out of the back of the Mercedes powerplant.

Mercedes. The same engine that's powering Force India to a historic result. Please let the engine hold out. Please don't let Fisi come across a pool of oil.

The final lap, and it's over Force India have their first ever points, and a first ever podium. Fisichella crawls past the celebrating Force India pits at the far end of the garages.

feeltheforce

Fisichella later says in interviews he could have won the race, but no-one really cares. The podium and points mean both extra money as a constructor and perhaps the chance of more sponsorship.

However, the cloud over Fisichella's near-future with team remains.

Who was Stefano Domenicalli on the phone with on the podium?

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About author
James is our Diet-Coke fuelled writer and has been with TCF pretty much since day 1, he can be found frequenting twitter at @_JBroomhead
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