Jensons future

Author
Discussion

VolvoT5

4,155 posts

175 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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He is a glorified reserve driver.... a role not really suitable for a former champion.... IMO if he couldn't get a drive he should have left with a bit of dignity. Now he is in danger of turning into a Barrichello type figure, hanging around desperately touting himself for a drive at every GP.

VolvoT5

4,155 posts

175 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
quotequote all
Of course this covers McLaren's arse should Alonso flounce out after winter testing if he discovers the car is a pile of poo.

Jasandjules

69,954 posts

230 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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VolvoT5 said:
Of course this covers McLaren's arse should Alonso flounce out after winter testing if he discovers the car is a pile of poo.
Yup. They kind of have the best of both worlds. Not sure why Jenson is doing this but I suspect the money is good....

If Stoffel stuffs it up (which frankly I doubt, I expect he will match Alonso at least) then they can bin him and put Jenson back in the car, or if Alonso decides to walk........


MG511

1,754 posts

242 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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Williams have a car that is going backwards and look to need a driver who brings a budget for next year. McLaren had Perez for one season and KMag for one season, maybe they are not too confident after all in SVD, he's having a very poor season in Japan.

lee_fr200

5,485 posts

191 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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It's easy to look good if they have a good car!

If the cars crap that's when you see how good they are!

Look at pascal he's doing a bloody good job

Then you look at kyvat who's going from bad to worse

AXlawrence

532 posts

125 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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Knew it would come this year or next but still gutted, last weekend at Spa was the last time I got to see him race, and I didn't even get to see him race.

He's just there in case Fernando decides to walk if the car isn't any better next year, I don't blame him for not going anywhere else as it's not like he would've been able to sign for a winning team.

Maybe he could drive again in 18 if Fernando retires. Not sure who else they could sign, Ricciardo? Hulkenberg? Vettel?

Edited by AXlawrence on Saturday 3rd September 17:18

BUG4LIFE

2,029 posts

219 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
quotequote all
Top Gear next year then!

Blib

44,228 posts

198 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
quotequote all
BUG4LIFE said:
Top Gear next year then!
From one outfit surviving on past glories to another.

hairyben

8,516 posts

184 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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Blib said:
BUG4LIFE said:
Top Gear next year then!
From one outfit surviving on past glories to another.
Heh.

Seems a bit of an ignoble end to His career - going out with whimper, drifting away rather than announcing his retirement and celebrating his career like massa has done?

He can still retire and be reserve driver/ambassador etc, come back to help macca in hour if need etc and thered be no shame in that.

Bradgate

2,826 posts

148 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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Daz68 said:
Back up in case Alonso gets fed up and leaves?
yes

McLaren are covering themselves in case Alonso doesn't fancy another season of 'hoping to get into Q3' if next year's car is off the pace.

Crafty_

13,298 posts

201 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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Either you want to race or you don't.

He still wants to race, but hasn't got a seat. No-one else will meet his wage demands even if they were interested.

So all he's left with is hanging around the garages like Schumacher did when he retired, wanting to be back in the car.

He's kidding himself about a 2018 drive.

As others have said its hardly a dignified end to a solid career.

llewop

3,594 posts

212 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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Given Alonso's recent history in getting himself crocked, not an insignificant chance of being in a race next year - super-sub role could amuse him.


hairyben

8,516 posts

184 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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Bradgate said:
Daz68 said:
Back up in case Alonso gets fed up and leaves?
yes

McLaren are covering themselves in case Alonso doesn't fancy another season of 'hoping to get into Q3' if next year's car is off the pace.
He'll never drive a decent car unless someones injured, if the cars any good alonso will stay and mclaren will have stoffel etc to complete the experienced+young lineup, only chance is if the cars a pile of poo and alonso walks away button gets to have his discarded sloppy seconds car. Fantastic. Did he ask ron for some castrol do you think?

BUG4LIFE

2,029 posts

219 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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Crafty_ said:
Either you want to race or you don't.

He still wants to race, but hasn't got a seat. No-one else will meet his wage demands even if they were interested.

So all he's left with is hanging around the garages like Schumacher did when he retired, wanting to be back in the car.

He's kidding himself about a 2018 drive.

As others have said its hardly a dignified end to a solid career.
Doubt he cares. He's still going to get paid by McLaren, enjoy a bunch of time with friends and family, keep the door slightly open for the odd race here and there...not a bad way for a 36 year old to enjoy semi-retirement!

Crafty_

13,298 posts

201 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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BUG4LIFE said:
Doubt he cares. He's still going to get paid by McLaren, enjoy a bunch of time with friends and family, keep the door slightly open for the odd race here and there...not a bad way for a 36 year old to enjoy semi-retirement!
Don't think he is enjoying any of this. He doesn't want to retire.

FourWheelDrift

88,572 posts

285 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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Well who's going to run the McLaren F1 team when Ron Dennis retires again.

VolvoT5

4,155 posts

175 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
quotequote all
Crafty_ said:
Either you want to race or you don't.

He still wants to race, but hasn't got a seat. No-one else will meet his wage demands even if they were interested.

So all he's left with is hanging around the garages like Schumacher did when he retired, wanting to be back in the car.

He's kidding himself about a 2018 drive.

As others have said its hardly a dignified end to a solid career.
And IIRC that didn't work out well for Ferrari as he ended up guiding the development of the car in a way that interfered with the relationship between the team and Raikkonen who was supposed to be the lead driver at that point.

carinaman

21,332 posts

173 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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VolvoT5 said:
And IIRC that didn't work out well for Ferrari as he ended up guiding the development of the car in a way that interfered with the relationship between the team and Raikkonen who was supposed to be the lead driver at that point.
You're correct. Was it after Monaco 2007 when Christian Dyer drastically changed the car to suit Kimi?

I've bought Motor Sport and just seen the 'Is Kimi worth it?' piece on the front cover. I'll be reading the Sir JYS and Zanardi articles first.

Edited by carinaman on Saturday 3rd September 18:41

VolvoT5

4,155 posts

175 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
quotequote all
carinaman said:
You're correct. Was it Monaco 2007 when Christian Dyer drastically changed the car to suit Kimi?

I've bought Motor Sport and just seen the 'Is Kimi worth it?' piece on the front cover. I'll be reading the Sir JYS and Zanardi articles first.
Yes I think you are correct. Although I was actually thinking more of 2008 when Michael was put in charge of the development side of the car and in conjunction with Ferrari developed a front suspension update that Raikkonen simply couldn't get on with....... so mid season he scored virtually nothing for several races until he was allowed to go back to the old set up. Apparently Kimi wasn't even informed of this suspension change and spent several races trying to figure out WTF was going on. Or so the story goes.

My point really is that having Jenson there to develop the car means effectively having 3 big fish in the pond which may not be a good thing.

cgt2

7,101 posts

189 months

Saturday 3rd September 2016
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llewop said:
Given Alonso's recent history in getting himself crocked
Alonso is a lot more mature than he was in 2007. He has said probably three dozen times in interviews that he is definitely driving in 2017 - only the halfwits at Sky F1 seem to constantly recycle the theory he is not when they have nothing else to witter on about...