Alonso leaves McLaren

[Blake]

I think Alonso has fair respect for Kimi Raikkonen, since they came into the sport at the same time, dueled for the championship in 2005, and Kimi has had to deal with plenty of media criticism throughout his career. For these reasons, I don't think that a Raikkonen/Alonso pairing would turn to shreds like Alonso/Hamilton did this year. They might not become BFFs, but they could probably maintain a working relationship.

I think the main reason they could work together is because Kimi doesn’t get involved in off-track politics. I honestly can’t remember him ever expressing his opinion about anything. Ever.

He is the perfect child of the modern PR machine; praise the team, praise your team mate, don’t say anything else about anything.

 

[<_Spike_>]

Exactly how it should be by a damn sight more drivers.

 

[Omnis]

I think Toyota would want Sutil more than Williams.

 

[Diego440]

I think the main reason they could work together is because Kimi doesn’t get involved in off-track politics. I honestly can’t remember him ever expressing his opinion about anything. Ever.

There was that one video where the British reporter interviewed Kimi right after Schumi got some award, and Kimi said he missed it because something about him being on a ship, was it?

 

[Metar]

There was that one video where the British reporter interviewed Kimi right after Schumi got some award, and Kimi said he missed it because something about him being on a ship, was it?

Depends on the kind of ship you're referring to

If that ship happens to be a toilet, then yes.

 

[<_Spike_>]

Alonso has at least come clean and said that all the favouritism talk was just in the heat of battle, not that I would return much respect to that with the way he acted about it

Fernando Alonso insists the Woking-based McLaren team never favoured British team-mate and title rival Lewis Hamilton.

The Spaniard announced his departure from McLaren on Friday after an incident-pcked year.

The double former world champion finished behind rookie team-mate Lewis Hamilton and third overall in the drivers' standings in 2007.

Alonso's agent Luis Garcia-Abad claimed the divorce from McLaren had been smooth but did not shed any new light on the Spaniard's future.

"All ended well," he said.

At Renault, Alonso had won back-to-back titles and he arrived at McLaren fully expecting to capture a third.

Shocked

But Hamilton shocked everyone by winning a series of races to overtake Alonso as the McLaren number one. The pair also had a number of run-ins during the season.

In his statement, Alonso spoke of the realisation of a dream: "Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out."

The 26-year-old, who had two years left on his deal, felt things had not gone according to plan.

He said: "We have had our ups and downs during the season, which has made it extra challenging for all of us, and it is not a secret that I never really felt at home.

"I know there have been suggestions of favouritism within the team and people say a lot of things in the heat of battle, but in the end I was always provided with an equal opportunity to win."

Alonso, who has been linked with a return to Renault in recent months, will have no lack of offers for a drive next season.

Nico Rosberg of Williams and Renault's Heikki Kovalainen are among the favourites for Alonso's McLaren seat.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis also admitted the team and Alonso had not been able to resolve their differences.

"He is a great driver but for some reason the combination of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Fernando has not really worked out, and in the end we reached a stage where none of us could find a way to move forward," said Dennis.

"We all believe that our joint decision to part company is for the best, and we will now continue to focus on our 2008 world championship challenge."

 

[MagpieRacer]

Renault offer Alonso long term deal:

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/11/03/renault-offers-alonso-long-term-deal/

 

[Oshow]

Ralf should go to McLaren, he is the 3rd fastest driver in the sport after all.

In Ralf's opinion he is, but Trulli out-paced him most of the year!!

 

[Metar]

In Ralf's opinion he is, but Trulli out-paced him most of the year!!

 

[<_Spike_>]

Renault offer Alonso long term deal:

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/11/03/renault-offers-alonso-long-term-deal/

And RBR rubbish Alonso links

Renault look increasingly likely

 

[Diego440]

I didn't know "rubbish" was a verb.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

I didn't know "rubbish" was a verb.

I think it's an all-purpose word in Britain.

 

[<_Spike_>]

We invented the language, don't argue with it >.> lol

 

[Skid Mark 33]

Mmmh... I know a not very talented driver who is now without job. He is the brother of a very talented driver who retired in 2006. I don't post his name, because otherwise my head will explode!11111

The name of this not very talented driver is Ralf Schumacher. His bro Micheal Schumacher (7-times world champion and retired in 2006)! 👍

 

[Skid Mark 33]

I think it's an all-purpose word in Britain.

Over here we say rubbish instead ouf garbage.

 

[Skid Mark 33]

I think the only reason Alonso would join Ferrari is so that he would have number 2 on his car, and Lewis would have number 3!

 

[MagpieRacer]

Theres an edit button btw. Triple posting in 4 minutes isnt clever..

I can quite easily see him back to Renault, so can Suzzie..

 

[Blake]

There was that one video where the British reporter interviewed Kimi right after Schumi got some award, and Kimi said he missed it because something about him being on a ship, was it?

Brilliant! I’d forgotten about that. He does have some class one-liners.

Theres an edit button btw. Triple posting in 4 minutes isnt clever..

Especially considering the content of those 3 posts…

 

[<_Spike_>]

lol, ah yes Kimi's "TMI" moment, that was great.

"Well at least your car will go faster"

 

[Sharky.]

I'm glad Alonso's gone from McLaren, maybe now Lewis will get a team mate who actually wants to help him, not block him in qual etc...

I say hire Jenson. That lad's got potential, put him in a decent car and watch him fly, a la Hungary 06 (or was it 05?).

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I say hire Jenson. That lad's got potential, put him in a decent car and watch him fly, a la Hungary 06 (or was it 05?).

McLaren would have to buy out Button's contract the way Honda did with Williams. They probably won't want to do that because while JB can certainly be quick and consistent - see the final six races of last year where he scored more points than anyone else - Honda are said to have paid thirty million dollars to release him from that contract. He's supposedly repaying that by taking a pay cut and I seriously doubt Honda will let him go until the balance is paid. Thirty million dollars certainly make for some golden hancuffs.

And yes, it was Hungary '06 that he had that drive you mention (and his first win).

 

[Eagle]

Sorry but I find the concept of JB partnering Hamilton a bit hilarious.

First Podium
Button: 70 races
Hamilton: 1 race

First Win
Button: 130 races (may not be exact)
Hamilton: 6 races

What exactly is he meant to bring to McLaren that they can't get cheaper, for longer, and eventually better, elsewhere? People quite rightly argue Button hasn't had anything like the same opportunities as Hamilton but the fact remains he has precious little to show for his efforts, even when things have been good like in 2004. I can think of perhaps two impressive performances - Germany 2004 and Hungary 2006.

 

[superberkut]

Sorry but I find the concept of JB partnering Hamilton a bit hilarious.

First Podium
Button: 70 races
Hamilton: 1 race

First Win
Button: 130 races (may not be exact)
Hamilton: 6 races

What exactly is he meant to bring to McLaren that they can't get cheaper, for longer, and eventually better, elsewhere? People quite rightly argue Button hasn't had anything like the same opportunities as Hamilton but the fact remains he has precious little to show for his efforts, even when things have been good like in 2004. I can think of perhaps two impressive performances - Germany 2004 and Hungary 2006.

True, and even funny. If Button were to sign for McLaren, however, the prospect of an all-conquering (unlikely; Ferrari is there), all-British team may attract more viewers, but then, things were different in the 50s when the Brits swarmed a sport dominated by an Argentinian and Italians. Now that the Commonwealth countries have conquered F1 and back, this may be irrelevant.

 

[Sharky.]

Sorry but I find the concept of JB partnering Hamilton a bit hilarious.

First Podium
Button: 70 races
Hamilton: 1 race

First Win
Button: 130 races (may not be exact)
Hamilton: 6 races

Hamilton had a good car from the outset. The Honda was a midfield car at best.

]What exactly is he meant to bring to McLaren that they can't get cheaper, for longer, and eventually better, elsewhere?

I'm sure Brits the world over would like to see an all-English driver lineup. It's also about unleashing (bit too strong a word?) Jenson's potential.

People quite rightly argue Button hasn't had anything like the same opportunities as Hamilton but the fact remains he has precious little to show for his efforts

You said it yourself earlier in that sentence

DYR: Thought so. Brilliant race for him if there ever was one.

 

[Lee]

I think the only reason Alonso would join Ferrari is so that he would have number 2 on his car, and Lewis would have number 3!

A) Ferrari are grid locked untill '09 at the very least..

B) Hamilton will infact be number 23, McLaren were taken out of the constructor standings remember.

C) I see Alonso at Honda, it just seems oh so strange Barrichello has lately been linked to Super Aguri. God knows what that would do to Jenson. (I'm thinking the effect Kubica had on Heidfeld, fingers crossed anyways..)

 

[prisonermonkeys]

B) Hamilton will infact be number 23, McLaren were taken out of the constructor standings remember.

I recall reading that McLaren would be forced to carry #24 and #25 next year if Prodrive make the grid (as they would be #22 and #23), but I can't remember where that was.

Then again, it's looking unlikely that Prodrive will make the grid next year.

 

[Muzaffar]

I recall reading that McLaren would be forced to carry #24 and #25 next year if Prodrive make the grid (as they would be #22 and #23), but I can't remember where that was.

Then again, it's looking unlikely that Prodrive will make the grid next year.

Oh please, Prodrive will make it somehow. I don't think David Richards would be stupid enough to reject the offer. He already said that Prodrive will be racing next year, but the truth is, what chassis and engine Prodrive will you is still uncertain. To be honest I can't see Alonso going anywhere other than Renault. Somehow i feel Fisi would be fired sometime next year (or even at the end of this year) and have Alonso team up with Heikki (unless Flavio Briatore wants to bring in Nelson Piquet jr. in) but Fisi should do what Wurz did and retire from F1. He's too old to drive anyways....

 

[Metar]

The name of this not very talented driver is Ralf Schumacher. His bro Micheal Schumacher (7-times world champion and retired in 2006)! 👍

You're trying to answer what everybody knows, and correcting those who answer with intended foolishness.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Oh please, Prodrive will make it somehow. I don't think David Richards would be stupid enough to reject the offer. He already said that Prodrive will be racing next year, but the truth is, what chassis and engine Prodrive will you is still uncertain.

I don't think they have a choice. I'm willing to be Bernie will sue the pants off them if they don't make the grid, which is a bit rude considering he killed the customer chassis idea that would allow Prodrive to line up at the first round of the 2008 season. What's it going to be, Bernie? You say you want a full grid and then you go around stymying (sp?) opportunities for potential teams to do just that.

To be honest I can't see Alonso going anywhere other than Renault. Somehow i feel Fisi would be fired sometime next year (or even at the end of this year) and have Alonso team up with Heikki (unless Flavio Briatore wants to bring in Nelson Piquet jr. in) but Fisi should do what Wurz did and retire from F1. He's too old to drive anyways....

Fisi is over-rated; the only reason he's got such a good drive is because Alonso like having him around. And the only reason Alonso liked him was because Fisi knew a number two driver's place. See, if Kovalainen had been paired with Alonso this year, he would have learned how to race. But he was instead paired with Fisichella and only learned how to drive.

 

[Eagle]

There's something of a collection of drivers at the moment who've seemingly passed their use-by date - Fisichella has been truly underwhelming, Barrichello's career seems over and I'm quite sad it's ending on such a dismal note. Coulthard just keeps on driving and doing reasonably well but I question how long he'll still be around. And then we have Ralf Schumacher who's looking set to wind up driving his own minivan provided he can get it passed the FIA. Let's hope it's not a Toyota.

I for one am quite interested in the prospect of some more fresh blood entering the mix, Hamilton's entry was an anomaly but the rise of Rosberg, Heidfeld, Kubica, Sutil, is all making racing more interesting.