Teammates are a pain
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It's a clich but true that any driver's most important rival is his teammate. Imagine how Lewis Hamilton feels seeing Jenson Button join 'his' team, Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes, and score two race wins and lead the points table.
In Shanghai on Sunday as in Malaysia two weeks ago - and at the Australian Grand Prix before that - Hamilton was the center of excitement and often the fastest man on the track. He has become a specialist at the outside pass: in Shanghai he three times overtook by going the long way around the medium speed right-handed turn eight in order to hold the inside for the next corner. But there are no points for style in F1.
Pitting for wet tires too early put Hamilton back in 16th place and meant he would stop four times in all - against Button's twice. Hamilton overtook more cars than most but, again, no prizes. VMM's British duo hugged after the race and Hamilton tried to look happy. Certainly things are calmer at McLaren than here in 2007 when, after being out-qualified by Hamilton, Fernando Alonso kicked an office door off its hinges.
These days, at Ferrari, Alonso is more relaxed. After winning the season-opener in Bahrain the Spaniard could not pass his teammate Felipe Massa in Australia and retired in Malaysia. He re-asserted authority in Shanghai with a star turn in qualifying: third place to Massa's seventh. Alonso's jump start penalty pushed him back to 17th but he fought back to fourth - along the way barging past Massa on the way into the pits! This sent a clear message to the other side of the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro garage.
During the Schumacher Era (Part One?) Schumacher's position as team leader at SFM was never in doubt. His comeback with Mercedes GP Petronas couldn't be more different. The 41-year old has failed to beat his teammate, Nico Rosberg, in any single qualifying session or race. In Shanghai he finished 10th for only the fourth time in his career. The winner of 91 Grands Prix and seven world' titles must find this hard to swallow.
It's likely this year's narrower front tires do not suit Schumacher (or Hamilton). He prefers a car with a strong front end, using his skill to keep the rear under control. Paddock humourists in Shanghai suggested the Mercedes upgrade for the Spanish GP in three weeks should be Nick Heidfeld - the team's reserve driver replacing Schumacher in car number three. The German won't see the funny side and will be hoping for a car more suited to his skills - and the chance to vanquish his teammate.
Matthew Marsh is one of Asia's best known motor racing personalities. After a successful career on the track, he now works on the commercial side of the sport. He can be reached at mmarsh@ecuriedrapeaujaune.com.
