Have Ex-F1 Champions Alonso, Button and Raikkonen Lost Their Drive?
While Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen continues to fall short of making it to the podium, McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso are having their worst season of their careers.
Even as Lewis Hamilton surges ahead with every race, former champions Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button have failed to lived up to the expectations in the fast-lanes of Formula One in the past two seasons. (Lewis Hamilton revels in having to battle to win)
The future of three superstars in Formula One circuit remains in doubt following a poor 2015 season. The trio has continued to hit the right gears. Of the three, only Raikkonen has been consistent with top-10 finishes, including a podium, while the McLaren of Button and Alonso duo has had a horrendous season with both earning points for their team once each. (Fernando Alonso's 'first point of many' at Silverstone)
Distant Dream
Raikkonen returned to Ferrari last year with an aim to replicate his 2007 performance with the Prancing Horse. He has had a torrid outing with Ferrari, finishing just once on the podium since his return to the team in 2014. He finished 12th with no podiums last year.
His teammate Sebastian Vettel believes, "Kimi will soon return to being the driver we all know." But his struggle in clearly visible and something that will not make team management happy.
A final decision on Finn's future in the team will be based on his performances this season. He is currently placed fifth in the points table with 76, Vettel has 135 points while the championship leader Hamilton has 194 points after nine races in the season so far.
In 2014, the Italian giants finished fourth on the Constructors' Championship, marking Ferrari's first winless season since 1993. Vettel's inclusion has brought Ferrari back to where they belong -- currently second -- but a lot more is expected from seasoned Raikkonen.
© AFP
The 35-year-old Raikkonen has got pace, drives fearlessly, earns points but does not have the desired results and a repetition of what he did in 2007 looks almost dim.
Embattled Duo
McLaren, the 12-time Constructors' champions, have failed to make an impact this season, battling to find reliability and competitive pace. Their drivers have either been outrun by competitors or regular retirements have forced them to take the backseat.
Alonso, two-time F1 champion with Renault in 2005 and 2006, is having one of the worst seasons of his career. He crashed his car in pre-season testing that ruled him out of the opening race in Australia. His latest 10th-place finish at British Grand Prix on Sunday earned him his first points this season, marred with four-non finishes.
He returned to his old team McLaren following a poor season with Ferrari in 2014, where he finished sixth, including a lone podium -- a third-place finish in the Chinese Grand Prix.
© AFP
Alonso knows the importance of earning points but at the same time he will be keen to take a leaf out of his British GP performance in remaining 10 races in 2015. His teammate Button is also having a poor season. Like his teammate, the 2009 world champion has been among points just once this year -- in Monaco Grand Prix.
Button finished the 2014 season eighth with 126 points but despite that he was retained in the team to partner Alonso. Many believe this could be the last season for the 35-year-old Briton but he still has time to recover from a woeful 2015 and bow out of the sport on a high.