Randomly it hit me; I saw Pedro Diniz in the Forti FG01.. We are turning into old Formula One souls! I would rather say old Formula One 90babies. However, that would not cover the whole story. What is a fact is that 2050 is closer by then 1990. Which does hurt a bit.
I’m not sure how you are standing in it though I vividly remember Pedro Diniz battling with his Forti Corse. Giving him the name of pay driver while he did a great job at Ligier and Arrows. I vividly remember the Tyrrell Towers. Those beautiful masterpieces I only seem to enjoy a lot. The groove tyres that made their debut on the grid. First with three grooves in 1997, and four grooves in 1998.
Late Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone running the show with their own iron fist. Making the sport big and great. Schumi making his move to Ferrari after a dubious 1995 season. Reviving Ferrari on a level only Schumi can. Today’s “top” drivers such as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will never be able to do so.
Schumi at Ferrari that truly sparked my love for Formula One back in 1996. That insane year he won with the F310 three races! Something that shouldn’t be possible at all. The year Damon Hill got sacked by Williams. Only to be replaced by the unknown John Newhouse who would win the last title for the Williams Team. Be honest, Williams today isn’t the team from the 1990s. Nigel Mansell rumoured 20 times he would return after the cockpit of his McLaren was too small. Jordan wanted him, while John Watson tested in late 1992 with the beautiful Sauber. Another team that isn’t the team it used to be.
It might be just me, we are becoming old souls, the souls that will be memorize the prime time of Formula One. A time where people like late Tom Walkinshaw, Giancarlo Minardi, Late Eddie Jordan, Peter Sauber and Fernando González Luna ruled the paddock. What do I miss those days. What do I miss Pedro Diniz battling with his Forti Corse!
1996 Drivers
