Then, with the racing over, the even hotter rumour that Ferrari will confirm Fernando Alonso’s long-anticipated move to the Scuderia on Thursday, clearing the way for Kimi Raikkonen’s return to McLaren.
It’s an intriguing proposition and begs the question: what makes anyone think it would work this time? McLaren have a dreadful record of equal No 1s, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost being perhaps the best example. Alonso’s spell alongside Lewis Hamilton two years ago was hardly a match made in heaven.
So why will it work this time? Well, for a number of reasons. Firstly, Kimi is not in the Alonso mould. He will not be politicking with the engineers. In fact, he won’t be doing much communicating at all with anyone, if previous form is anything to go by.
It is no secret that Kimi’s major problem at McLaren during his five seasons there between 2002 and 2006 was Ron Dennis. Ron used to want to package him like he did Mika but it never worked. Kimi is unpackageable; he is an outsider in the F1 paddock. If McLaren allow him, he will turn up, drive the car and then go home, no questions asked. And this time, crucially, I think they will.
Lewis will be behind him on occasions, just as he was with Fernando, and that is what makes the move so intriguing. How will Lewis react this time?
I think he now has the confidence and maturity to cope with another top team-mate and certainly over the course of the season I would expect him to emerge victorious; he is younger and hungrier.
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