[Andrius]

James Allen alluded to something on the weekend that has been nagging at me since about the half-way point of the season. And that is what could Michael Schumacher do with a car as good as the F2008?

Allen suggested that some where saying that the only reason Hamilton is even in the title hunt is because the Ferrari drivers have singularly failed to deliver the goods. I think there's some truth to this theory.

We all know how crappy a season Raikkonen's had. He's lost 16 points that I can think of through chucking the car at the scenery or another car. Spa - lost 8 points spinning out of 2nd. Singapore - lost 4 points running by hitting the wall while running 5th and Monaco - lost 4 points by ramming Sutil while running 5th. Can anybody see Schumi doing that? Those points would have clinched the WCC already and seen him still in contention for the WDC.

Massa hasn't lost as many points, just 8 (from memory) from throwing it off the road in Malaysia but those 8 points would see us with 1 point ball game with 1 race to play. Throw in a truly awful performance at Silverstone and you have the makings of a championship lost.

I have the feeling that even a 2006 vintage Schumi would have put Hamilton away this year. The F2008 is the better car and Schumi would have put it to great use. Even if you account for the mechanical troubles Ferrari have had I still think Schumi's leadership and ability to extract every point that the F2008 has in it would have seen the WDC over with 2 races to spare.

Not that Hamilton doesn't deserve the title. He's a truly gifted driver and is thoroughly deserving of his impending title but as a Ferrari fan this season has made me appreciate how much Michael Schumacher brought to the table every other Sunday.