A Lackluster Begin
There’s little doubt that Ferrari has had an unsatisfactory begin to the 2025 Method 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 Purple Bull after which went on to win the Constructors’ Championship. Due to this fact, the judgment for Ferrari is actually not constructive, however there may be nonetheless time to make up the hole – in a season that may finish in December.
The Regular Over-the-Prime Headline from Bild
On Monday, April 7, the German newspaper Bild – as is its type – didn’t maintain again in describing Ferrari’s present state of affairs and titled: “The Return of the Purple 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 according to what Bild has been recognized for over time – particularly in terms of the Italian crew.
In Michael Schumacher’s first yr at Maranello, he failed to start out from pole place in France as a consequence of a blown engine in the course of the formation lap.
Bild was extraordinarily harsh: “Within the trash together with this cucumber!” with a headline: “Schumi: the Ferrari smoke beneath 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 profitable 5 consecutive world titles and making historical past, Bild revisited the yr 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 beneath 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 monitor in the course of the third lap of the race. There was a substantial 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 monitor in eleventh place, and due to the Security Automotive, 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: “Onerous to consider Schumi received this race. The idiots within the Ferrari pits had ruined the whole lot once more…”
Poor Schumacher, surrounded by a bunch of incapable individuals – who would finally assist him win 5 consecutive world titles throughout these years.
However Now There’s No Schumacher
If in all these situations there may very well be some justification for the hyper-protectionism towards Michael Schumacher, in 2025 – regardless that Ferrari isn’t delivering as anticipated – the “return of the crimson cucumber” appears excessively offensive and remaining, particularly for the reason that Method 1 World Championship is just simply starting.
Might it maybe be associated to Lewis Hamilton’s determination to go away Mercedes, a German crew, and be part of Ferrari? Ah, who is aware of…
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