Pakistan is not a nation noted for motorsport. Indeed, we are not a nation noted for automobiles in general. But Formula One is a sport that truly encompasses the globe, and thanks to satellite television, it can be viewed even in a motorsport inept nation like ours.

Which brings me to the Pakistani tifosi, or fanatic Ferrari followers (pardon the alliteration). Unofficial counts put the current number at two, yours truly and his neighbour in Lahore, Pakistan. (I am sure that there are more, I just find it hard to believe that there are any who support Ferrari as fervently as we do.) What is the only thing that will make the both of us happier than a Ferrari victory in Formula One? The possibility of a Pakistani driver, engineer, crewperson, designer, sponsor or team making it big in the sport. But that doesn't seem likely for a while, and we remain loyal Ferrari fans. As perennial believers in the Ferrari Formula One package, we earnestly believe that "Ferrari will win the next 16 races" before the start of each season.

Unfortunately, that often does not happen, and we are often left to rue and laugh over the foibles and follies that make up for so much of Ferrari's misgivings, such as the time a wheel lug not tightened properly ended the day for Berger at a race in 1995, or when an onboard camera flew off one the prancing horses and ended the day for the other while they were 1-2 at Monza in 1995. And then, of course, there were Berger's repeated explanations at post-race interviews on why the Ferrari didn't handle properly or why he had to retire, "Err, umm, ahh, err, you see, I err, well..."

Foibles and follies aside, Ferrari has possibly the largest budget in Formula One but has remained without a title since Jody Scheckter in 1979. Mismanagement of funds? Poor worker productivity? Sheer laziness? Who knows. What I do feel is that this year is going to be the one when Schumacher Senior pulls it out of the hat for Ferrari. No, not because the Commendatore's old building at the Fiorano test track is now the smiling German's personal apartment and gym or because $30 million is one heck of a salary, but because it just feels so. Pure emotion, that's what makes me believe that Ferrari will have the championship this year - over the thoroughly professional Williams, extremely competent Benetton, and the massively backed Silver Arrows.

Call me irrational, even stupid for not thinking with my head. But then, that is the whole philosophy of the Ferrari automobile; passionate feeling, not from the head, but from the heart.