Alonso joins Ferrari for £20m a year?

[Diego440]

I'm of the opinion that if you hire a world champion to race for your team, you have to give him top priority.

As much of a McLaren fan I am (and always have been, since 1982), from the objective viewpoint, I see no reason why Alonso should be given the cold shoulder while everyone at the team wallows with Hamilton's attitude and supports him.

We get so many more interviews directly with Alonso, which I'm pretty sure aren't aired on UK/US T, one of which the journalist asks Alonso what kind of confidence does he have in the team, and without thinking, he just said "Zero. Zero confidence in my team. My results mostly depend on my engineer, Pedro's (de la Rosa) tests and myself." This doesn't just come out of a driver's mouth without any sort of provocation from within the team.

I've always supported McLaren, and because of that, I haven't been an Alonso fan, but I can honestly say the best thing that could happen to both parties is that they part.

 

[Kylehnat]

The true atmosphere at McLaren is not visible to us. On the surface, it appears to be a perennially competitive team with top-tier management. However, David Coulthard, Juan Montoya, and Kimi Raikkonen have all said they were much happier after they left. This is especially surprising for Kimi, because Ferrari always appears to be one of the most stressful teams to drive for. And what of Mika Hakkinen? Why did he retire from McLaren at the top of his game? There's something else about the team that we're not privy to. I imagine that having Ron Dennis's lap dog as a team-mate is not too fun, regardless of who you are.

Lewis Hamilton will never have this kind of season again. Everyone treats him as this infallible god, and he himself is starting to believe that ("I was thinking of Prost and Senna, and how I'm doing something similar to them."). He is quite full of himself (blame the media for that), and has the potential to lose the "nice-guy" persona in a heartbeat. Let's not proclaim him as the second-coming quite yet.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

He is quite full of himself (blame the media for that), and has the potential to lose the "nice-guy" persona in a heartbeat. Let's not proclaim him as the second-coming quite yet.

I recall reading how he was a really down-to-earth guy at the beginning of the year, saying that he was a fan of Adrian Sutil ... and I've wached him go downhill from there. Arrogance is to be expected in Formula One - I imagine it would take a kind of almost narcissistic self-confidence to be able to drive even for a lower-tier team - but it's a shame to watch someone change so much so quickly. But you are right; the media's obsession with him is overbearing. I stopped buying F1 Racing when Hamilton seemed to be the only thing they reported on.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

He is quite full of himself (blame the media for that), and has the potential to lose the "nice-guy" persona in a heartbeat. Let's not proclaim him as the second-coming quite yet.

Yeah, the media has made me kind of sick of him. Sure, he's talented, but do I have to hear all the commentators drool over him. I don't think I have heard a race where the commentators don't praise Hamilton and mention that he's a rookie. I seriously hope he doesn't win the championship, so next year I don't have to listen to how he could become the youngest double world champion. But knowing the media, I think there will still be some ass kissing by the commentators.

 

[mipuumal]

And what of Mika Hakkinen? Why did he retire from McLaren at the top of his game? There's something else about the team that we're not privy to.

Well, Häkkinen was pretty much past his prime. I saw an interview with him where he said he couldn't stand the disappointments any longer, with all the mechanical failures and with Ferrari getting more and more dominant. Plus he had just started a family which had made him relax.

Lewis Hamilton will never have this kind of season again. Everyone treats him as this infallible god, and he himself is starting to believe that ("I was thinking of Prost and Senna, and how I'm doing something similar to them."). He is quite full of himself (blame the media for that), and has the potential to lose the "nice-guy" persona in a heartbeat. Let's not proclaim him as the second-coming quite yet.

Right. That Prost/Senna comment is quite arrogant... No matter what people (including himself) think of him, nobody can be compared to Senna, ever.

Edit: Also comparing his Fuji drive with Senna's Donington '93 is rediculous. Senna was driving in a vastly inferior car compared to the Williams' of Prost and Hill where as Hamilton was driving the best car on the circuit, and Senna didn't have the luxury of starting the race from pole behind a safety car.

 

[Blake]

Hamilton is at the beginning of a long career in Formula 1. I think everyone should just give him time to find his place and to also see how he faces adversity. It’s pointless to judge someone against Senna after 16 races.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

It’s pointless to judge someone against Senna after 16 races.

True enough, but Hamilton's already doing it.

 

[Alfaholic]

When you're a double world champion, you're expecting two attitudes from your team: Having the #1 status, or an equal treatment towards both drivers. Alonso has drove in Minardi, been a test driver and had to prove he was better than Trulli, Fisichella and Villeneuve - And he did. Now... Why the **** should he make a drama out of this if he was given the same opportunities than Hamilton from the very first? Is that you guys want to make him look like The Ogre so bad? The most obvious reason wouldn't be that he hasn't even been equal, but in inferior conditions under his teammate from the first race?

One doesn't bite the hand that feeds him, specially not in F1 with those oversized budgets. Alonso should be VERY stupid to complain and build up this drama if he was being treated well, and after roughly five years of serious racing, I don't see why should he throw his reputation away just for this. And after reading things like this...

... It's more obvious to me that Ron have forced the situation to make Alonso work on the car before feeling uncomfortable, fight against his team and make him look like the bad guy while he and his golden boy show their teeth. Good work Ron, may your boy end up like Villeneuve.

Why would Ron enter a hugely expensive contract with a world champion driver if his intention was to back his rookie? Alonso's been a moaner since whenever. He moaned all the time at Renault too ("I'm alone in the team"). That's just the way he is. It doesn't seem to hurt his performance on track. Perhaps that's how he motivates himself.

Also, Ron's known Hamilton since he was a little kid in a go kart. He's watched over his career for many years. It's hardly surprising that he's going to be all gushing when this kid who he's watched mature and grow up inside and outside the car immediately becomes a championship contender. Also hardly surprising that he's going to be businesslike at best towards a driver who tried to blackmail him.

I watched F1 for a very long time. I saw Prost, Senna and Schumacher all start their careers. All of them, even in rubbish cars, were obviously special. Hamilton can reasonably be compared to that. He's having a bigger impact than all three of them, because he's in a very hot car. But even so, he's not doing the usual rookie-in-a-top-car thing and cruising around 3 places behind his teammate for half a season and then maybe securing a single win. If Hamilton's doing this well against Alonso, how well do you think Raikkonen would have been doing in that seat? If Hamilton, a rookie, is racing wheel to wheel with Alonso, would Raikonnen then be showing Alonso a clean set of exhaust pipes all season? Or is Hamilton actually, shock, just doing a very good job in the car?

The commentators are unfortunately going to use the word "genius" to describe him once a race, because that's what they did with Prost, Schumacher and Senna too. I suppose you can either get used to it, or watch with the sound off.

 

[Sureboss]

Maybe I'm playing with fire, but doesn't the points table show that backing Hamilton (if that has happened) was the right thing to do?

 

[<_Spike_>]

Here we go again...will someone please tell this bloke to just shut up and get on with it...or at least p*ss off to another team

Fernando Alonso has insisted that he does not get enough support from McLaren and team boss Ron Dennis.

The two-time world champion has once again insisted that McLaren are giving preferential treatment to team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who leads the world championship going into the fine race in Brazil.

Alonso trails Hamilton by just four points following the Englishman's mishap in the pits in China at the weekend and is still firmly in contention for a hat-trick of titles.

However, he has launched a scathing attack on his employers.

Favourable

Alonso was quoted in the Daily Express saying: "We are going to try to make the impossible possible. But I know the team are never going to be favourable towards me."

Alonso also stepped up his personal feud with Dennis, blaming him for the team's off-track problems this year and hinting that he has struggled to get on with drivers at McLaren in the past.

"He (Ron Dennis) is behind many of the scandals McLaren have been involved in off the track this year," Alonso said.

"Each one has his own philosophy, he has his, and we all understand it. I have spoken a lot with (David) Coulthard, (Juan Pablo) Montoya, Kimi (Raikkonen). They have all left the team and found a lot of happiness. There must be a reason."

Dennis has promised a fair fight between his drivers in Brazil.

"We will do everything in order that our drivers have the right opportunity to win the world championship," he said.

"Both of them need to do different things and the team will be supportive of that."

Source - SkySports

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Fernando, if you're reading this - and I'd be very surprised if you are - just sign up for another team already. Renault are offering you a spot and you might be able to negotiate a Toyota contract. And while you might shudder a the lacklustre Japanese team, you might be able to do what Schumacher did for Ferrari and make it a serious team.

 

[Diego440]

wouldn't it be better if Ron Dennis and L Hamilton go and build up Prodrive, while Alonso and de la Rosa are signed up by Mercedes, thus breaking up McLaren, and saving the hassle of having to pay the fine?

 

[<_Spike_>]

Not really, though Alonso would get his wish of being preferred driver because...well who's going to prefer De La Rosa over anyone other than Ralf? But anyway... Yeah... save the newbie team for Richards and washed up drivers.

 

[Alfaholic]

Here we go again...will someone please tell this bloke to just shut up and get on with it...or at least p*ss off to another team

Where did that quote from? There's a difference between "giving preferential treatment to a teammate" and "I know the team are never going to be favourable towards me.". Sounds like Alonso's saying he knows he'll never have #1 status at McLaren, but the story's trying to turn that into "My team mate gets better treatment". I can only base that on what's been posted though.

Also, while drivers who have left have been happier, it's also true to say that drivers tend to stay at McLaren for a very long time - in F1 terms. There must be a reason for that too.

could be watertight contracts of course

 

[<_Spike_>]

Fernando is just being a baby that he actually has to play equal. And honestly...after what he's been doing, would you blame McLaren for giving Hamilton preferential treatment. None of this "I'm not getting equal treatment" stuff started until Lewis proved he was more than a match for Fernando.

 

[Skid Mark 33]

Is Alonso really going to Ferrari. Really I would prefer it if the spoilt brat was going to hell, but I'm not sure so thats why I'm asking!

 

[Greycap]

Having totally wrong tyre pressures in the critical qualifying session in Fuji was equal? Right. And of course just a coincidence.

And honestly, yes I would. Without any hesitation. At least the would be a honest thing to do, unlike the "we have no #1 driver" comments from a certain bald Englishman.

Have you Hamilton fans ever thought about the situation the other way? What if Alonso was the king in the team, Hamilton was fighting the entire team and Dennis would be saying that both drivers have equal treatment? Wouldn't you be screaming bloody murder and thinking that it's completely wrong? Yes, you would. Because it would be. And it still is - the situation is just reversed.

I'm not an Alonso fan. I'm a Räikkönen fan, naturally. But I'm against Hamilton because I think he has got too much too early and too easily, he should have had to earn his place at Mclaren by driving the Spyker for a year, then progressing to maybe BMW, then McLaren. I would definitely appreciate his skills. Now he just looks like a spoiled kid that gets everything he wants, even the world championship, and that may even be the truth. There will be the time he won't have the best car in the field and that'll be a hard blow to him. Suddenly it isn't that easy anymore.

Flame me, I know you want to. But take off those Union Jack glasses for a while and think about the point I'm making.

 

[Skid Mark 33]

Well to be honest, I think Hamilton is a different kind of guy to Alonso. Alonso started off in F1 for Minardi, and back then, he was about racing. Now all he is about is winning, and if he does'nt win he sulks until the cows come home. Where as Hamilton, he always stays positive. Even after the crash that set him a long way down the grid in qualifying at the Nurburgring he thought, Right. Lets stay positive and race like hell. And even when he got out cockpit after scoring no points, he was still smiling. Hamilton enjoys racing. And that is what it should be about. Enjoyment, not winning!

 

[<_Spike_>]

Too much too soon and too easily...Hmm...It didn't do Michael Schumacher any harm

As I've said before, I liked and respected Alonso before he showed his true colours. Bring back 05 Fernando please.

 

[Skid Mark 33]

I agree. I think he was fine until he won the championship in '05. After that the power just went to his head!

 

[Only_in_f1]

Am i the only one that feels (slightly) sorry for Alonso? I dont think anyones reputation has been destroyed or downgraded as much as his in one season.

I think he has a right to moan to a certain point. One, a 'rookie' has come in and stole his thunder and maybe even his title. Two, hes competitive. I'd rather have a two time champ moaning like hell if hes not winning, rather than him just sitting there doing nothing. It shows he want to win, ok maybe not with Mclaren at the rate hes moaning, but still he has a passion.

At least hes not putting a face on. He's saying it as he can see it. May not be 100% truthful but still hes spoken his mind. For that i respect him.

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

Am i the only one that feels (slightly) sorry for Alonso? I dont think anyones reputation has been destroyed or downgraded as much as his in one season.

Actually he was already heading downhill in the reputation department last year, and frankly he really only has himself to blame, and perhaps the people around him that may give him really bad advice, and perhaps the Spanish media that seem to egg him on to make rather ridiculous and often unfounded insinuations.

IAt least hes not putting a face on. He's saying it as he can see it. May not be 100% truthful but still hes spoken his mind. For that i respect him.

I would never respect anyone who has clearly made some outlandish accusations, and seems to only blame others for his faults, but is quick to blame himself for his wins.... and not just this year but last year as well.

I don't think Alonso really cares if anyone respects him considering all that has happened, but the reason other drivers seem to have more respect from fans than Alonso is that they don't play the blame game like he does, and don't use the media to spread rumors like he apparently does.

'05 Alonso was a very different person and I hope things change and we see that side of him again. Perhaps by going back to Renault that might be possible, but he burned some bridges there as well when he blamed his team for his problems mid season, so who knows.

 

[Only_in_f1]

I see your point.
I know that saying some of the stuff he has isnt good but thats not what i respect him for. Like Kimi at brazil last year. When Martin asked 'you missed Pele and Schumacher's presentation, where were you?'
Now Kimi could have said, 'Oh sorry didnt know it was on.'
But no he said 'I was having a ****.'

Thats what i ment when i said i respect Alonso.

 

[Casio]

Too much too soon and too easily...Hmm...It didn't do Michael Schumacher any harm

By winning the only two races Benetton won in the first two years he was there?

 

[<_Spike_>]

Ok ok so bad example, yeesh

 

[m7ammed]

I'm not an Alonso fan. I'm a Räikkönen fan, naturally. But I'm against Hamilton because I think he has got too much too early and too easily, he should have had to earn his place at Mclaren by driving the Spyker for a year, then progressing to maybe BMW, then McLaren. I would definitely appreciate his skills. Now he just looks like a spoiled kid that gets everything he wants, even the world championship, and that may even be the truth. There will be the time he won't have the best car in the field and that'll be a hard blow to him. Suddenly it isn't that easy anymore.

Its like hating someone because he was born with rich parents , Have you followed Hamiltons career ? do you know how easy he got , for all we know he could of had the toughest time going through different racing series than most drivers on F1 today , but we don't know that do we. Alonso and Hamilton drive the same car and sometimes he beat a 2 time world champion I don't need to see him in a spyker to admire his skill.

Alonso is whiny type of guy when things don't go his way he bitches , why can't he be like Robert Kubica for example who stated that he has underperformed this season although we all know that he has to retire from a couple of races and missed another because of his accident.

BTW I'm not a hamilton fan and I more of Heidfeid Kubica Fan

 

[Kylehnat]

Too much too soon and too easily...Hmm...It didn't do Michael Schumacher any harm

Schumacher had to fight hard for his first two championships, the first of which came 4 years after his debut. He then built up Ferrari into what it is now (and didn't win a championship until his 5th year with the team). I'd hardly call what he did "easy".

As I've said before, I liked and respected Alonso before he showed his true colours. Bring back 05 Fernando please.

Will you still like Hamilton when he shows his true colors? He's already showing signs of assholeish-ness, and there have been plenty of times when he's looked very insincere.

At least hes not putting a face on. He's saying it as he can see it. May not be 100% truthful but still hes spoken his mind. For that i respect him.

I'd like to know what's really going on within the team. Alonso is a smart guy, so I find it hard to believe that he'd sabotage a $25 million/year contract and a perennial shot at the title just because his teammate is good. It seems like there is more than one bee under his bonnet.

 

[Blake]

But I'm against Hamilton because I think he has got too much too early and too easily, he should have had to earn his place at Mclaren by driving the Spyker for a year, then progressing to maybe BMW, then McLaren. I would definitely appreciate his skills. Now he just looks like a spoiled kid that gets everything he wants, even the world championship, and that may even be the truth.

He did earn his place at McLaren. In the last 8 years he&#8217;s won 5 titles, and in a few weeks that could quite possibly be 6 from 8. Don&#8217;t tell me he didn&#8217;t earn that. Sure, he&#8217;s had the equipment to do it, but when has someone won a championship without the best or second best car on the grid? Yet you rarely can deny their talent.

He&#8217;s also had to beat a double world champion, which he is doing quite comfortably. In 16 races he&#8217;s had two significant mistakes (rookie mistakes, admittedly) which have resulted in 0 points. Alonso has had 1 significant mistake which resulted in 0 points and a reliability problem which caused him to qualify 10th.

And yet Hamilton is still beating him in equal equipment. There is no way you can deny his talent. You don&#8217;t win a race like Fuji without it.

He has also had better judgement than Alonso for the balance of the season&#8212;so many times Alonso has fallen off the track challenging for position. Hamilton has pulled it off every time despite some moves which were very marginal.

He has extreme control and great judgement and IMO has been the better driver this season. Especially when you consider his relative lack of experience.

There will be the time he won't have the best car in the field and that'll be a hard blow to him. Suddenly it isn't that easy anymore.

Since when was it easy?

 

[Kylehnat]

There is no way you can deny his talent. You don#&8217;t win a race like Fuji without it.

Not to slight his Fuji drive (which was better than Senna AND Prost combined) but Heikki Kovalainen started 11th and finished 2nd with a dry setup. This suggests that 1)Hamilton wasn't the only one who drove well and 2)there was a lot of crazy 🤬 going on behind him the whole time which might have made things easier for him.

Hamilton has pulled it off every time despite some moves which were very marginal.

And therein lies his downfall. He's gotten away with several things which could have easily knocked him out of races. His luck has been astounding. I feel he was a much better (smarter) driver at the beginning of the season.

 

[Blake]

Why? It&#8217;s the same tenacity and judgement that he used to overtake Alonso at the first corner in his very first F1 start. I don&#8217;t believe luck was as big a part of many of those moves as you suggest.