Simviation Forum - Alonso + McLaren = Future?

Sep 19^th, 2007 at 1:37pm

C Offline
Colonel
Earth

Posts: 13144

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7003042.stm

Some interesting excerpts from last weeks hearing:

Quote:

Dennis told last week's 'spygate' hearing, whose transcripts are now public: "We're not on speaking terms.

"We've not spoken. The relationship between Fernando and I is extremely cold - that is an understatement."

At the weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, Dennis said: "My job is to win the World Championship, my job isn't for people to love and hug me.

"If I have difficult relationships with people I have difficult relationships with them."

Contacted after the transcripts were made public, a McLaren spokeswoman said she did not know if Dennis and Alonso spoke last weekend.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #1 - Sep 19^th, 2007 at 1:44pm

Mictheslik Offline
Colonel
Me in G-LFSM :D
Bristol, England

Gender:
Posts: 6011

I cant see Alonso staying with McLaren for much longer.....

.mic

[center]

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #2 - Sep 19^th, 2007 at 2:09pm

Craig. Offline
Colonel
Birmingham

Gender:
Posts: 18590

There are behind the scenes negotiations going on right now I believe between Renault and Mclaren. Two things lead me to this conclusion, Renault not long ago said they would announce the driver line up for 08 at or just after the Italian GP. This has not happend. Secondly Renault desperately want a seat for Nelson Piquet Jr. There is the possibility of a straight swap, or a monetary reimbursement for Mclaren. All this is rumor right now but quite possible..

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #3 - Sep 19^th, 2007 at 2:42pm

ozzy72 Offline
Global Moderator
Pretty scary huh?
Madsville

Gender:
Posts: 37122

But doesn't Alonso have a 2 year contract?

There are two types of aeroplane, Spitfires and everything else that wishes it was a Spitfire!

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #4 - Sep 19^th, 2007 at 2:46pm

Craig. Offline
Colonel
Birmingham

Gender:
Posts: 18590

Ron said Fernando only had to come to him and say he wanted his release and he'd be given it. However he also said he wouldn't release him if he doesn't ask for it and expected him to see out his contract in that case. This was before all this spying nonsense.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #5 - Sep 19^th, 2007 at 4:45pm

CharlottesDad Ex Member

I've just read this on the ITV F1 website:
Quote:

I saw Fernando Alonso on the top floor of Red Bull’s motorhome, talking to Christian Horner and, significantly, to Paul Monaghan, who was Fernando’s race engineer for three years at Renault.

Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz was also at Spa on Sunday. Now if that’s not grounds enough for an ‘Alonso to Red Bull, Webber to McLaren’ story, then I don’t know what is.

Remember where you read it first!

99% innocent no doubt, but a possibility. I'd have my cash on him back at Renault next year though.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #6 - Sep 19^th, 2007 at 5:51pm

Craig. Offline
Colonel
Birmingham

Gender:
Posts: 18590

A point that a few people have noted, did you see how he was with the ferrari guys on the podium in belguim? rather buddy buddy, especially considering his recent spat with Massa from the european gp incident. Another one going round with that is, Once Jean todt leaves Ferrari, which could be as soon as next year if either Schumi or Brawn take the job (otherwise he's out in 2009), then Ferrari will take him on, however 2009 is when these rumors have it happening.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #7 - Sep 20^th, 2007 at 11:51am

C Offline
Colonel
Earth

Posts: 13144

Todays papers were reporting talks between ING and Flavio Briatore - allegedly to discuss raising "funds" to bring the Spanish child back to Renault. Shocked

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #8 - Sep 20^th, 2007 at 5:26pm

expat Offline
Colonel
Deep behind enemy lines!

Gender:
Posts: 8499

Charlie wrote on Sep 20^th, 2007 at 11:51am:

Todays papers were reporting talks between ING and Flavio Briatore - allegedly to discuss raising "funds" to bring the Spanish child back to Renault. Shocked

So he leaves McLaren, where does he go? Ferrari don't want him, that leaves a couple of other teams. Red Bull have muted interest and Renualt would like the golden child back. The rest "seem" happy with thier drivers. As he is somewhat not wanted and damaged goods (PR), the question of funding is not really on his side. He wants to drive in F1, he will have to accept what he is offered if he leaves. Think back to Damon Hill. World champion does not mean the best drive or top money.

Matt

PETA People Eating Tasty Animals.

B1 Boeing 737-800 and Dash8 Q-400

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #9 - Sep 20^th, 2007 at 6:17pm

Craig. Offline
Colonel
Birmingham

Gender:
Posts: 18590

The big differance being age, some 10 years almost IIRC?
Fernando has said though he wont be a long term racer, he just wants to win a couple more and leave young, something a team would have to consider aswell.
There's no doubting his ability, whether you like him or not the guys proven he's the best on the grid right now, time and time again. If he wants a schumacher like situation then a team like Honda or Toyota would be his only option, both former powerhouses like Ferrari were, both in a slump like Ferrari and both needing that driver to get them back to the top, in getting that driver both teams would build the team around him. However he would also need to change his attitude to the people around him for it to work.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #10 - Sep 22^nd, 2007 at 4:06am

Nelson Offline
Colonel
I Fly Sim!

Posts: 42

[quote=Craig] There's no doubting his ability, whether you like him or not the guys proven he's the best on the grid right now, time and time again. [quote]

Criag, I must repectfully disagree with you there. I believe Kimi Raikkonen to be the most talented, with both his pace over a single lap , his ability to absorb F1 pressure and relish in it, his professionalism and his outright athletic ability. Possible only in the area of not breaking cars does Alonso come out ahead (I say that as a McLaren fan who wished Kimi never left....)

Alsonso should pull his head in. He will leave McLaren and take OUR #1 with him to another team ( Wink

) , and he will not find the success which has been handed to him on a platter at McLaren. Flavio can have him back ... give Webber the McLaren !!!! Wink

Needless to say , I am disgusted wih Alonso's attitude recently , it is not the attitude or PR of a driver of the calibre he is. I really think all the "Fernado Mania" in Spain and in the McLaren PR leading up to 2007 has distracted him from doing what it is he is paid to do....

Having said all of that, McLaren should have favored Alonso from the start, but really the area lacking here is Alonso's ability to absorb pressure when challenged. Shuey had similar weaknesses (though admittedly rarely exposed), and again for my mind Kimi is the best under pressure, both on and off the track.

Alonso is gone, as is the #1 on next years MP4- , Flavio must be lauging real hard right now... Angry

cheers,
Paul.

Back to top

IP Logged

Reply #11 - Sep 22^nd, 2007 at 4:45am

Craig. Offline
Colonel
Birmingham

Gender:
Posts: 18590

Kimi is fast, but he's inconsistent, he makes mistakes quite a bit, and like you said, he seems to break a lot of cars. I wouldn't say that Kimi isn't effected by pressure, look at the turkish gp, in quali where he messed up the final few corners when he had to pull out a lap time on a lighter fuel load. Cost him the race.
Fernando is by far the more consistent, thats what wins titles these days, what with the new points system. Look at 05, Kimi could and should have won the title, but key mistakes and untimely crashes lost him the title. 06, Michael Schumacher bar far the quickest driver of the season, but a few mistakes and blow ups cost him the title to. Alonso isn't overly worried about winning every race, he grinds it out the whole season. Thats what he's doing now, and I'd still put my money on him doing it again sadly.

Back to top

IP Logged

	Search the archive: