Alonso spotted in Maranello

[F355GTS]

Apparently seen there yesterday, perhaps looking to go back?

[cgt2]

Friend saw him in Montana last night, maybe he just missed Rosella's pasta?

[em177]

He's at Mugello for the MotoGP today, just been on BT Sport

[rallycross]

I've never seen him in or around Woking, that does not mean he is not driving for McLaren next year.

[Jasandjules]

rallycross said:

I've never seen him in or around Woking, that does not mean he is not driving for McLaren next year.

Well a chap I know who works there has seen him and Button this year soooooooo

[VolvoT5]

I find it hard to believe he would want to take a step backwards...... the relationship ended on such a sour note and he would be going back to line up against Vettel* who has transformed it into 'his' team now. But on the positive side as Alonso is known for his dodgy career moves you can almost be certain that if he does leave McLaren then Honda will deliver the goods in 2017 and McLaren will be the team to beat!

• I say line up against Vettel but I just get the feeling Vettel is not as happy as he makes out at Ferrari........ and I wonder if Ferrari are fully satisfied as well? I know it is early days in 2016 but Kimi has upped his game a bit and all of a sudden Vettel doesn't look that amazing does he?

[cgt2]

And to thicken the plot further, Toto made some comments last week that if Rosberg's contract were not renewed (ie. if Hamilton and he cannot get on as Ham already has a contract extension) that Alonso is still one of the fastest drivers on the grid.

While I'm a bit fed up with Merc domination, HAM vs ALO would be the exciting battle that HAM-ROS has failed to be for the past three years as they (Hamilton and Alonso) are two very strong personalities who will not give any quarter.

We still haven't really seen Rosberg and Hamilton in a proper, clean wheel to wheel battle apart from Bahrain 2014 which is astounding considering how often they have been 1-2.

But I think the most likely scenario is that Alonso will end his career with McLaren.

Edited by cgt2 on Saturday 21st May 20:11

[cgt2]

cgt2 said:

And to thicken the plot further, Toto made some comments last week that if Rosberg's contract were not renewed (ie. if Hamilton and he cannot get on as Ham already has a contract extension) that Alonso is still one of the fastest drivers on the grid.

While I'm a bit fed up with Merc domination, HAM vs ALO would be the exciting battle that HAM-ROS has failed to be for the past three years as they (Hamilton and Alonso) are two very strong personalities who will not give any quarter and yet judging by recent press conferences have a healthy mutual respect and have even expressed an interest in being team mates again.

We still haven't really seen Rosberg and Hamilton in a proper, clean wheel to wheel battle apart from Bahrain 2014 which is astounding considering how often they have been 1-2.

But I think the most likely scenario is that Alonso will end his career with McLaren.

Edited by cgt2 on Saturday 21st May 20:11

[cgt2]

http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoints/item/129736-b...

[VolvoT5]

cgt2 said:

And to thicken the plot further, Toto made some comments last week that if Rosberg's contract were not renewed (ie. if Hamilton and he cannot get on as Ham already has a contract extension) that Alonso is still one of the fastest drivers on the grid.

While I'm a bit fed up with Merc domination, HAM vs ALO would be the exciting battle that HAM-ROS has failed to be for the past three years as they (Hamilton and Alonso) are two very strong personalities who will not give any quarter.

We still haven't really seen Rosberg and Hamilton in a proper, clean wheel to wheel battle apart from Bahrain 2014 which is astounding considering how often they have been 1-2.

But I think the most likely scenario is that Alonso will end his career with McLaren.

I'm no Hamilton fan (the opposite at times) but I think Hamilton vs Alonso would not be anywhere near as interesting as people think. The team aren't suddenly going to change their approach and allow the guys to run counter strategies and go at it 100%. I also think Lewis would beat him quite comfortably as Lewis is one of those rare sportsmen that just seems to be able to raise his level to beat his opponents almost at will.

In fact I think even Rosberg might have the better of Alonso over a season as he would out qualify him more often than not and given that the first corner is key at Mercedes he would be in a strong position.

I think Alonso is living off his reputation rather than his current performance. Time is running out for him, he is a fading talent with a st load of baggage which makes him an unappealing prospect compared to the younger talents on offer. Why would Mercedes want him? There is Vandoorne, Wehrlein, Sainz, Bottas... all better long term prospects.

Edited by VolvoT5 on Saturday 21st May 22:00

[cgt2]

VolvoT5 said:

I'm no Hamilton fan (the opposite at times) but I think Hamilton vs Alonso would not be anywhere near as interesting as people think. The team aren't suddenly going to change their approach and allow the guys to run counter strategies and go at it 100%. I also think Lewis would beat him quite comfortably as Lewis is one of those rare sportsmen that just seems to be able to raise his level to beat his opponents almost at will.

In fact I think even Rosberg might have the better of Alonso over a season as he would out qualify him more often than not and given that the first corner is key at Mercedes he would be in a strong position.

I think Alonso is living off his reputation rather than his current performance. Time is running out for him, he is a fading talent with a st load of baggage which makes him an unappealing prospect compared to the younger talents on offer. Why would Mercedes want him? There is Vandoorne, Wehrlein, Sainz, Bottas... all better long term prospects.

Edited by VolvoT5 on Saturday 21st May 22:00

Wow. Did you miss what Alonso did in a shed of a Ferrari throughout the 2014 season? He put that car in places it had no right to be.

Oh and I was never a huge fan of Fred either but I respect his obvious talent.

[FourWheelDrift]

In a Maranello? Times must be tough at McLaren if he's downgraded from the FF.

[williamp]

VolvoT5 said:

I find it hard to believe he would want to take a step backwards...... the relationship ended on such a sour note and he would be going back to line up against Vettel* who has transformed it into 'his' team now. But on the positive side as Alonso is known for his dodgy career moves you can almost be certain that if he does leave McLaren then Honda will deliver the goods in 2017 and McLaren will be the team to beat!

Yes and it went so sour with McLaren in 2007 he'll never go back...

I still think he's overrated. He won 2 WDC but they were over 10 year ago, in a team whose team owner was known for the odd technical infringement or ten. Made Tom Walkinshaw look like a saint....

Anyhow, drivers look around, talk to owners etc. He might be talking about their LMP1 Le mans effort in a few years time...

[amgmcqueen]

VolvoT5 said:

I'm no Hamilton fan (the opposite at times) but I think Hamilton vs Alonso would not be anywhere near as interesting as people think. The team aren't suddenly going to change their approach and allow the guys to run counter strategies and go at it 100%. I also think Lewis would beat him quite comfortably as Lewis is one of those rare sportsmen that just seems to be able to raise his level to beat his opponents almost at will.

Like he did against old man Button...

[Gad-Westy]

cgt2 said:

And to thicken the plot further, Toto made some comments last week that if Rosberg's contract were not renewed (ie. if Hamilton and he cannot get on as Ham already has a contract extension) that Alonso is still one of the fastest drivers on the grid.

While I'm a bit fed up with Merc domination, HAM vs ALO would be the exciting battle that HAM-ROS has failed to be for the past three years as they (Hamilton and Alonso) are two very strong personalities who will not give any quarter.

We still haven't really seen Rosberg and Hamilton in a proper, clean wheel to wheel battle apart from Bahrain 2014 which is astounding considering how often they have been 1-2.

But I think the most likely scenario is that Alonso will end his career with McLaren.

Edited by cgt2 on Saturday 21st May 20:11

I cannot see a situation where Rosberg is booted out because of friction with Hamilton only to bring in Alonso...

Agree with you, can't see an exit from McLaren. Then again, I'm usually very wrong about these things!

[Likes Fast Cars]

Saw this from a couple of days ago -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/36393472

OK, it's Andrew Benson and may or my not be accurate, blah blah. But

As a JB fan I would be disappointed to see him jettisoned while the retched Alonso keeps his drive (yes Ok he's under contract for 2017... but...).