183 replies to this topic

[Senna1Forever]

Was Alonso's 2010 season with Ferrari better than any of Schumacher's first three seasons with Ferrari('96-'97-'98).Both they didn't win the championship but they were contenders.

[baddog]

Some of Michael's drives in that era were true classics. I am pushed to find a 2010 Alonso drive that is particularly memorable. He had a decent year but not his best at all.

Edited by baddog, 02 March 2011 - 05:24.

[V8 Fireworks]

Very biting thread.

Surely '10 Ferrari was a balanced, modern, developed car... not a bizarre f1 design tangent like the '96 car. Schumi's skills are very impressive indeed.

So, yes, why did Alonso not bring the title in a very consistent and strong car... when Schumi always pushed to the limit and made a challenge in crappier cars?

Edited by V8 Fireworks, 02 March 2011 - 05:32.

[SparkPlug]

It has to be Schumacher. As others have mentioned in this thread before, Schumacher was on a completely different level in those years. 5-6 of his wet drives in these 3 years alone walk into any list of top 20 greatest drives of all time. I think these were the years, more than his 2000-2004 seasons, that really defined why he was the best out there.

Alonso is definitely more consistent among the two, however, this could be because he has a better package all around at his disposal, a much more organized Ferrari team around him.

Having said that, Alonso at his absolute best I think is pretty close to Schumacher. IMO this is an unfair comparison between the two of a below par Alonso with a prime Schumacher.

A more accurate comparison will be to compare the 96-98 Schumacher with the 2005-2006 Fernando Alonso. Now that one would be one interesting thread because Alonso was quite simply fantastic in those two seasons, and definitely on a different plane of performance compared to 2010.

[SvenF1]

Was Alonso's 2010 season with Ferrari better than any of Schumacher's first three seasons with Ferrari('96-'97-'98).Both they didn't win the championship but they were contenders.

Absolutely not. Alonso had a race winning car from the start and without his own mistakes would have taken the title quite easily. He also did have some spectacular performances though.

Schumacher on the other hand had quite bad and at first very unreliable cars, but still managed to fight against the much better Williams and later McLaren cars. Not even a competition really, I'd say even Raikkonen had a better first year than Alonso.

[AyrtonSauna]

I'd say that both Schumi and Alonso did a really good job at their 1st year at Ferrari but it's a bit like trying to compare Senna to Fangio.Completely different eras with differnt cars.Some would say that Fangio was braver in pushing to the limits in the days when drivers didn't even wear seat belts! let alone having all the safety features of future cars,roll bars,carbon fibre shell,6 point harness,run off areas,gravel traps and tire barriers,full face helmets!

Schumi won 3 races without the best car in his 1st year for the Reds
Alonso 5 wins in his 1st year for the Reds.

You'd really have to put Alonso in the 1996 Ferrari and Schumi in the F2010 to really compare but I'm afraid that it's impossible.

[BRK]

Apart from everything's that's already been said, I think it's absurd that anyone would want to compare the team that MS drove for in the late nineties to the dominant,top of the league team that it is today. Schumacher helped bring them to the top.

Typical thread.

[V8 Fireworks]

Some would say that Fangio was braver in pushing to the limits in the days when drivers didn't even wear seat belts!

A short while later in the very early 60s, NASCAR toyed with the idea of aluminium fire proof race suits. Of course, such a suit would be very warm to wear. Thus ventilation was to be provided by sitting on a special cushion, fitted with a fan, to provide cool air to the driver's backside.

* genuine story

[V8 Fireworks]

Apart from everything's that's already been said, I think it's absurd that anyone would want to compare the team that MS drove for in the late nineties to the dominant,top of the league team that it is today. Schumacher helped bring them to the top.

Typical thread.

Alonso and Schumi were both tasked with winning the WDC. The same job. Ferrari also had lots of money in 96. In fact the Ferrari team is now run by Italians again (who wanted to sack Todt in 96 when they weren't winning) and the organised precision of Todt is gone.

[tifosiMac]

I'd say Alonso if I'm honest.

[BRK]

Alonso and Schumi were both tasked with winning the WDC. The same job. Ferrari also had lots of money in 96. In fact the Ferrari team is now run by Italians again (who wanted to sack Todt in 96 when they weren't winning) and the organised precision of Todt is gone.

The car that Michael was handed in 1996 was a joke,as were the team and their performances. Morale was at rock bottom and this continued into subsequent years, when the likes of Williams and McLaren came up with cars that were much better. It was an intensely frustrating period,and it took a long time for the pieces to fall into place. There was no winning culture in the team at the time: thanks to the efforts of MS and the dream team, the Ferrari of 2011 are, on the other hand, the team to beat, coming off of a period of unprecedented success and domination.

Sorry,but I think anyone that is trying to compare that period with the Ferrari Alonso signed up to drive for has a few screws loose in their head somewhere. Bit like comparing the Williams from the mid-nineties to what they are today.

Edited by BRK, 02 March 2011 - 07:19.

[FigJam]

Schumacher. Every day of the week....

He was superb...on another level...during that 3 year spell. Actually you can include 2000 in that also. IMO he hit a peak in 1998, he was fantastic that year after the trials of Jerez 1997 and against a superior McLaren, if it wasn't for what happened at Spa 1998, he would have won that Championship.

He had some truly outstanding drives. Alonso had a good year in 2010 but there wasn't much outstanding about it.

[Chezrome]

Schumacher. Every day of the week....

He was superb...on another level...during that 3 year spell. Actually you can include 2000 in that also. IMO he hit a peak in 1998, he was fantastic that year after the trials of Jerez 1997 and against a superior McLaren, if it wasn't for what happened at Spa 1998, he would have won that Championship.

He had some truly outstanding drives. Alonso had a good year in 2010 but there wasn't much outstanding about it.

I agree. Schumacher did something extra special those years, I rate those years above any championship he got later.

However...

I think that Alonso is not being appreciated enough for 2010. If Alonso did not make the best of his car this year, suppose, for the sake of argument, what of Vettel and Webber? How may poles did Vettel and Webber take? How many first rows did the Red Bull team take? I can't remember a team being THAT dominant in qualifying since the Renaults in 1982 (10 polepositions in 16 races) or Williams in 1992, and they did not win because the cars failed all the time. While Webber and Vettel screwed up so many times.

My take on 2010 for Alonso: he took a good car into contention. He could have done a lot better, I think he has more in him than he has shown. But not a weak year at all.

Edited by Chezrome, 02 March 2011 - 08:27.

[Jan.W]

Ridiculous thread.
Schumacher was at his absolute peak in those years. He would had beaten any other driver in the history (Senna Included) in the same car. And you mention Alonso

[Rob]

IMO he hit a peak in 1998, he was fantastic that year after the trials of Jerez 1997 and against a superior McLaren, if it wasn't for what happened at Spa 1998, he would have won that Championship.

He lost the title by 14 points. Even if Schumacher had won Spa, Hakkinen would still be four points to the good.

[Zava]

I agree. Schumacher did something extra special those years, I rate those years above any championship he got later.

However...

I think that Alonso is not being appreciated enough for 2010. If Alonso did not make the best of his car this year, suppose, for the sake of argument, what of Vettel and Webber? How may poles did Vettel and Webber take? How many first rows did the Red Bull team take? I can't remember a team being THAT dominant in qualifying since the Renaults in 1982 (10 polepositions in 16 races) or Williams in 1992, and they did not win because the cars failed all the time. While Webber and Vettel screwed up so many times.

My take on 2010 for Alonso: he took a good car into contention. He could have done a lot better, I think he has more in him than he has shown. But not a weak year at all.

there's your answer. the car was better in quali than in race compared to other teams (I hope you get what I mean), therefore they could get the pole position even if they weren't the fastest in the race (remember hockenheim?)
also, the second bolded for Vettel.

Edited by Zava, 02 March 2011 - 09:08.

[Smile17]

Ridiculous thread.
Schumacher was at his absolute peak in those years. He would had beaten any other driver in the history (Senna Included) in the same car. And you mention Alonso

um...... no! Ridiculous comment

[BRK]

Ridiculous thread.
Schumacher was at his absolute peak in those years. He would had beaten any other driver in the history (Senna Included) in the same car. And you mention Alonso

/thread.

[Hacklerf]

Schumacher for sure, no doubt about it, the thing is, those Ferrari of 96-98 were pretty crap, and Alonsos this year was capable of things

[PayasYouRace]

Well I think Schumacher's performances in that period can be considered his best.

I don't think you can compare 1996. The car wasn't as bad as many seem to remember. It was easily the 2nd fastest in Melbourne, never dropped much below the Benettons and was improved later in the year. But importantly, it was too far from the Williams to make a serious attempt on the championship. His 3 wins that year were good but he needed slightly special circumstaces to make them work.

However in 1997 and 1998 saw Schumacher at his peak. His only real driver-error was his part-blame in Spa '98. The Ferrari was not quite up to the Williams and McLaren in '97 and '98 respectively, yet he lead the championship for much of the former season and hunted down Hakkinen in the latter. Those were excellent seasons.

Alonso last year didn't show that. He had some great drives but he also made silly race ruining mistakes at Monaco, Silverstone and Spa. He seemed to not be able to find the consistancy of his own championship years, when his mistakes were as rare as Schumacher's in his peak period.

But I say revisit this topic after 2012.

Edited by PayasYouRace, 02 March 2011 - 09:27.

[keeppushingurep1]

we are all saying how good f10 was, but if you look at Massa´s standings and you dont look at Alonso´s, you can think the car was not that good.

Especially since Massa was extremely close of being an F1 WDC and he deserves some credit

[Zava]

Well I think Schumacher's performances in that period can be considered his best.

I don't think you can compare 1996. The car wasn't as bad as many seem to remember. It was easily the 2nd fastest in Melbourne, never dropped much below the Benettons and was improved later in the year. But importantly, it was too far from the Williams to make a serious attempt on the championship. His 3 wins that year were good but he needed slightly special circumstaces to make them work.

However in 1997 and 1998 saw Schumacher at his peak. His only real driver-error was his part-blame in Spa '98. The Ferrari was not quite up to the Williams and McLaren in '97 and '98 respectively, yet he lead the championship for much of the former season and hunted down Hakkinen in the latter. Those were excellent seasons.

Alonso last year didn't show that. He had some great drives but he also made silly race ruining mistakes at Monaco, Silverstone and Spa. He seemed to not be able to find the consistancy of his own championship years, when his mistakes were as rare as Schumacher's in his peak period.

But I say revisit this topic after 2012.

?

Edited by Zava, 02 March 2011 - 10:52.

[Youichi]

However in 1997 and 1998 saw Schumacher at his peak. His only real driver-error was his part-blame in Spa '98.

It never ceases to amaze me how people only remeber then things they want to, and not what actually happened.

Schumacher made NINE mistakes in the 16 races in 1998, NINE !

Watch the the races again and count them, and this is supposed to be Schumacher at his peak ?

[Scotracer]

I still rate Michael Schumacher at his peak at least on-par with Senna at his peak. They were both driving gods.

Alonso? Very very good but not on the same level.

[marcoferrari]

1997 was a great year for Michael, for me much better then 1998... Jacques was quite lucky in the second half of the 97 season winning 3times after mechanical failures of Hill (Hungary), Trulli (Austria) and both McLarens (Luxembourg)...

Edited by marcoferrari, 02 March 2011 - 09:58.

[PayasYouRace]

Your link's broken Zava.

It never ceases to amaze me how people only remeber then things they want to, and not what actually happened.

Schumacher made NINE mistakes in the 16 races in 1998, NINE !

Watch the the races again and count them, and this is supposed to be Schumacher at his peak ?

Sorry I should have said race ending driver error. I admit I forgot about Monaco, so that's one more. Though seeing as he finished every other race or retired with mechanical issues, perhaps you can enlighten us as the what the other 7 are?

That's besides the point, my whole post was meant to convey that at that time Schumacher was getting more out of the car than at for most of the rest of his career.

[HP]

Alonso in 2010 was a mixed season. He made too many mistakes in the early season. But then his comeback was brilliant, and I don't think it was the car only.

In the end neither he, nor the car messed up the last race, but the team...

It never ceases to amaze me how people only remeber then things they want to, and not what actually happened.

Schumacher made NINE mistakes in the 16 races in 1998, NINE !

Watch the the races again and count them, and this is supposed to be Schumacher at his peak ?

Let's relax. A lot of people would be happy, if at their peak they'd make only 9 mistakes over a period of one year. Hands up who think he'd make less mistakes in his chosen profession. If anyone is truly that careful to avoid any mistake, he'd be slow as a snail, especially in a race car.

Besides at that time Schumacher hadn't mellowed down. He still wanted to lap everyone, if possible. He was on the edge, and sometimes over it. I take any one of his mistakes over any faultless, but dull drive, which ironically MS has been accused of after his WDC win in 2000.

I for one have better memories of Schumachers 98 campaign, than on Button in his WDC year. Button drives extremly clean, but for me it's not really exciting, and it was mostly car advantage, (as Barrichello (and Hamilton last year) proved). I'd even take one of MS worst drive, which was Japan in 2003 over any of Button's, save his first win. And funny enough, some of Alonso's most memorable races for me, came after he sprung truly alive after a mistake. MS or FA on fire, I don't think there is a huge difference.

But part of it has to do that these days that front runners more or less just have to manage their race, and are not really doing what I call racing. After a mistake they have to claw back, there their skill really starts to shine, or their nerves to show. Skills, I consider Schumacher more skilled, Alonso is better with his nerves, especially in decider races.

[Zava]

Your link's broken Zava.



Sorry I should have said race ending driver error. I admit I forgot about Monaco, so that's one more. Though seeing as he finished every other race or retired with mechanical issues, perhaps you can enlighten us as the what the other 7 are?

That's besides the point, my whole post was meant to convey that at that time Schumacher was getting more out of the car than at for most of the rest of his career.

whoops, thanks, I swapped the url and the title
fixed.

[PayasYouRace]

whoops, thanks, I swapped the url and the title
fixed.

Considering he managed to salvage 3rd from that race. It's not bad.

But yes, I had 1997 as the standard and forgot that 1998 wasn't as good. I'd say his 1998 was maybe on a par with Alonso's 2010.

[Beyond]

I think many here just don't remember how "not very good" was alonso's championship till SPA, which is some 2/3 of the championship. He did several mistakes that in the end cost him the title, and they were not related to pushing the car to limit or so (jump start china, crash spa, stupid dt with kubica etc) and let's not forget that he was "lucky" because he got 2 wins thanks to vettel's car failures.
2005 and 2006 were better raced by him, those are alonso's benchmarks so far.
Comparing 96-98 schumacher, which is one of the best performance in the history of the sport, with quite a bad car (96), a clearly inferior car (97) and still a less competitive car (98), with the 2010 alonso who made many mistakes and had a second best car for most of the year (I repeat that in the first half, were alonso's fails that made people think ferrari was not that good, he was always fighting for podium from the 2nd row), is absurd.

Edited by Beyond, 02 March 2011 - 11:12.

[AlainProstX]

Todays competition is much higher. We have Alonso, Button, Hamilton, Kubica, Rosberg and Vettel... 6 great drivers are good enough to fight for the championship. Nobody needs to tell me that Villeneuve, Hill, Alesi, Frentzen or Coulthard are on the same level as the drivers above.

But I think comparing 2010 with 1996-98 is a bit unfair, Alonsos peak was during the 2005-06 season. There he was outstanding and his drive at hungary 2006 is one of the best I have ever seen.

[Atreiu]

I don't remember the 96-98 seasons to the last detailes, but Schumacher never wasted half a season with mistakes of his own before mounting a challenge. He was usually there everytime the Williams and then the McLarens dropped it and certainly didn't throw tantrums via radio to get the teams attention.


I also don't think that was when Schumachr peaked, even though he was fantastic, there were errors here and there. IMO, he peaked from 2000 to 2002.

Not even for Alonso is 2010 a benchmark season.

Edited by Atreiu, 02 March 2011 - 11:30.

[2ms]

Was 2007 the best Ferrari driver first season in history?

Raikkonen was more successful in his first season at Ferrari than any current F1 driver has been in their first season at any F1 team. Was Raikkonen's first season at Ferrari the best first season for a driver at any team in history? If there is a case that may indicate it was not, how far back do we have to go to find it?

Edited by 2ms, 02 March 2011 - 12:03.

[Zava]

Was 2007 the best Ferrari driver first season in their history?

no, Scheckter and Fangio also won in their first ferrari season.

[marcoferrari]

Todays competition is much higher. We have Alonso, Button, Hamilton, Kubica, Rosberg and Vettel... 6 great drivers are good enough to fight for the championship. Nobody needs to tell me that Villeneuve, Hill, Alesi, Frentzen or Coulthard are on the same level as the drivers above.

But I think comparing 2010 with 1996-98 is a bit unfair, Alonsos peak was during the 2005-06 season. There he was outstanding and his drive at hungary 2006 is one of the best I have ever seen.

Thing that changed during the years is the level of competition... Lately cars came much closer together pacewise, so it looks like "how many great drivers we have currently"... In those earlier years there were mostly only two teams fighting at the front and for the championship... I don t see for example Damon Hill being a worser driver then Kubica, Rosberg or Button... First two still has to prove something, cause they have practically achieved no big results yet... Damon Hill for example gave a first win to Jordan and was also very close to do it for Arrows... And scoring 22 wins is hardly a random... To others - Coulthard was not that far from Häkkinen, for me the same league as Rubens, Alesi or Frentzen can be compared to Rosberg or Kubica... And Villeneuve at his peak should be somewhere near Massa, who was a clear match to Räikkonen... So, don t think the previous champions or beloved drivers (Frentzen, Alesi) were so much worser then Rosberg, Kubica or Button, for example... My opinion is, there are only 3 outstanding drivers currently and you all probably know their names...

Edited by marcoferrari, 02 March 2011 - 12:20.

[gerry nassar]

There is no comparison. Love him or hate him Schumacher between 1996-1998 was at his top form and even he would never surpass that. Alonso 2010 is nowhere near that level - especially when you consider the first half of his season. But really other than being his first year at Ferrari, its probably not fair to pick it to compare to Schumacher's best. I'd just compare the one year they really went head to head and that was 06 and Alonso was better overall that season.

[2ms]

There is no comparison. Love him or hate him Schumacher between 1996-1998 was at his top form and even he would never surpass that. Alonso 2010 is nowhere near that level - especially when you consider the first half of his season. But really other than being his first year at Ferrari, its probably not fair to pick it to compare to Schumacher's best. I'd just compare the one year they really went head to head and that was 06 and Alonso was better overall that season.

Nah, the R25 and R26 cars were too unbeatable to tell much. Alonso needs to win outside of those two cars. It's coming on 10 years now. Good thing he got young start.

[2ms]

no, Scheckter and Fangio also won in their first ferrari season.

So on paper it's a 3-way tie? The question then is whether F1 was more or less competitive in those days.

[AlainProstX]

Nah, the R25 and R26 cars were too unbeatable to tell much. Alonso needs to win outside of those two cars. It's coming on 10 years now. Good thing he got young start.

Can`t aggre with you. Those car were just reliable, but not very fast compared to the competitors. 2005 Kimis Mclaren was way faster, sadly, the Merc engines were bad.

2006 Schumis Ferrari was very reliable too and faster then the R26. Alonso made no real mistake that year but Schumi still managed to challenge him till the last race, eventhough Michael made some silly mistakes (like Alonso last year).

[wati]

The car that Michael was handed in 1996 was a joke,as were the team and their performances.

Yeah, I remember he put that car on pole in France, and was out of the race before it even started. Right driveshaft fell off the damn thing in warm up lap ...

[PayasYouRace]

no, Scheckter and Fangio also won in their first ferrari season.

Also, Fangio also won in his first season at Mercedes. Senna won in his first season at McLaren.

[Group B]

Yeah, I remember he put that car on pole in France, and was out of the race before it even started. Right driveshaft fell off the damn thing in warm up lap ...

Yep, I still remember that. Must've been sooo disheartening.

[eoin]

People have very short memories. Alonso was fairly average for a lot of last season. Mistakes in Oz, China, Monaco, Canada(?), Silverstone, Spa cost him a lot of points and he had a nightmare weekend in Turkey and was handed victory in Germany. Alonso himself has had much better seasons that last, even 2007.

[speng]

People have very short memories. Alonso was fairly average for a lot of last season. Mistakes in Oz, China, Monaco, Canada(?), Silverstone, Spa cost him a lot of points and he had a nightmare weekend in Turkey and was handed victory in Germany. Alonso himself has had much better seasons that last, even 2007.

Come to think of it, you are right.

[2ms]

People have very short memories. Alonso was fairly average for a lot of last season. Mistakes in Oz, China, Monaco, Canada(?), Silverstone, Spa cost him a lot of points and he had a nightmare weekend in Turkey and was handed victory in Germany. Alonso himself has had much better seasons that last, even 2007.

In my opinion 2007 was Alonso's best year in terms of quality of driving/racing.

[Henri Greuter]

Was Alonso's 2010 season with Ferrari better than any of Schumacher's first three seasons with Ferrari('96-'97-'98).Both they didn't win the championship but they were contenders.

In my opinion, Ferrari was much more in the doldrums back in '96 and even in early '97 then in 2010. 1996 was their first year with the for them entirely new V10 concept engine and the organisation barely out of the mess that it was before Todt and Di Montezemo arrived.
And get the feeling that Ferrari had a better car at the sttart of the season in 2010 then it had in 1996.
materialwise and team-wise, MS had it much more difficult to do well in '96 and very early '97 then Alonso in 2010.


Other then that it appears to me that the question can be rephrased as: Who do you like/appreciate more? Schuey or Alonso ?

Henri

[7timesbetterthantherest]

Yup , Hakkinen VS Schumacher battles were the best so far I have seen since 1994 (( the beginning of the Schumacher era )) ..

They were the top 2 drivers of the day fighting it out ...

Please stop putting Alonso on a higher pedestal ... becuase he will never ever be in the same league as Schumacher's peak period ...NEVER

Schumacher made the best out of the 2006 season - his car was no match for the Renault in the first half and had to make alot of catching up to do in the second half .... When he did catch him towards the end , they were tied on points (up to Japan) but Schumacher had 1 more race win than Fernando ... If it was'nt for that freak blown engine in Suzuka - = 8 world titles ... schumacher had the momentum going for him in the last races ... Was leading the the Japanese GP and then BAM !! Engine blows up !! It gave the title to Alonso on a gold plate ...

If anybody here disagrees that Schumacher was the driver of that 2006 year , well you should get yourselves a copy of F1 racing's december issue 2006 (VOTED BY THE FANS and top F1 Journalists) :

DRIVER OF THE YEAR : MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

MAN OF THE YEAR : MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

Edited by 7timesbetterthantherest, 02 March 2011 - 15:25.

[wingwalker]

In my opinion 2007 was Alonso's best year in terms of quality of driving/racing.

Seriously? Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but that's an odd choice.


90's Schumacher would walk it imo, Alonso made too many mistakes last year.

[Bleu]

Well regarding 1997 and 1998 cars, they were not that bad as many thought I say. 1997 Williams was overall the best car. They had some bad races, especially at Hockenheim. I say this by pace alone, and not considering team mistakes (especially that when they started with slicks in both cars at Monaco after 1-3 in qualifying)

Ferrari was 2nd best car if you consider whole season, McLaren had difficult early season apart from Melbourne and Benetton was just dismal in slow circuits like Monaco, Hungaroring and Jerez.

In 1998 the car was better compared to all other teams apart from McLaren. They started a season long way behind, but closed the gap by mid-season and it was very tight between McLaren and Ferrari for the second half of the season.

To the question I think Schumacher did better than Alonso and quite clearly. He made many mistakes in 1998 but mostly they were just minor ones (ran wide in last corner and went through grass at Hungaroring for example). One mistake which cost him two points happened in Austria, which was not mentioned before.

Edited by Bleu, 02 March 2011 - 19:51.

[Augurk]

Well regarding 1997 and 1998 cars, they were not that bad as many thought I say. 1997 Williams was overall the best car. They had some bad races, especially at Hockenheim. I say this by pace alone, and not considering team mistakes (especially that when they started with slicks in both cars at Monaco after 1-3 in qualifying)

Ferrari was 2nd best car if you consider whole season, McLaren had difficult early season apart from Melbourne and Benetton was just dismal in slow circuits like Monaco, Hungaroring and Jerez.

In 1998 the car was better compared to all other teams apart from McLaren. They started a season long way behind, but closed the gap by mid-season and it was very tight between McLaren and Ferrari for the second half of the season.

To the question I think Schumacher did better than Alonso and quite clearly. He made many mistakes in 1998 but mostly they were just minor ones (ran wide in last corner and went through grass at Hungaroring for example). One mistake which cost him two points happened in Austria, which was not mentioned before.

And in both 1997 and 1998 Schumacher took the title fight to the last race even though the other cars had a slight-to-major advantage over (at least part) of the season.

But seriously, every Ferrari driver there has been since 1996 has been reaping the benefits of the dream team's work. In 1997 they started reaping their own efforts' benefits. From 2000 Barrichello had the pleasure of being a part of the success, in 2006 Massa, 2007 Kimi and 2010 Fernando. All of them have inherited a far better team than Ferrari would have been without the efforts of Schumacher, Brawn, Byrne, Todt and the likes.