Where to for Alonso?

[HTP99]

bobbo89 said:

The Surveyor said:

Alonso won't walk mid-season if things stay as they are, the only exception being a significant change with the McLaren and it's engine partner which makes them even less competitive.

At the end of the season it will be a different matter. I see Hamilton leaving Mercedes and replacing Kimi at Ferrari (either with his 4th WDC, or in search of it), and Alonso getting the Mercedes drive alongside Bottas. Vettel and Hamilton will be a stella driver line-up for Ferrari on 2018.....

I like that idea and if the option became available to Hamilton I think he'd take it, especially if Ferrari continue to be competitive.

In your scenario though, who gets Alonso's seat at McLaren?

If Vettel remains I cannot see Hamilton going to Ferrari; Ferrari like a clear 1 and 2, also I should imagine Vettel will have a veto too.

[Vocal Minority]

For all of the cheery smiles - history shows that Alonso and Vettel don't play well with others. I can't see either wanting a definite not number 1 status.

For all of the fact I can't warm to him as a bloke, I think of the top drivers I think Hamilton is the only one who would square up to the challenge happily (or at least willingly).

(Also, Tom - have you considered giving up talking about Stroll for lent )

[williamp]

bobbo89 said:

The Surveyor said:

Alonso won't walk mid-season if things stay as they are, the only exception being a significant change with the McLaren and it's engine partner which makes them even less competitive.

At the end of the season it will be a different matter. I see Hamilton leaving Mercedes and replacing Kimi at Ferrari (either with his 4th WDC, or in search of it), and Alonso getting the Mercedes drive alongside Bottas. Vettel and Hamilton will be a stella driver line-up for Ferrari on 2018.....

I like that idea and if the option became available to Hamilton I think he'd take it, especially if Ferrari continue to be competitive.

In your scenario though, who gets Alonso's seat at McLaren?

I know its drifting the thread, but I cannot see LH at Ferrari. Its not his stule they are not his. Too corporate, too like Mclaren. LH feels he needs his spae to be LH, and he wont get that at Ferrari. Too much politics

[anonymous-user]

I would only see Alonso wanting to move to Mercedes or Ferrari for 2018.

We know Bottas is only on a 1 year contract and Kimi's is due to end at the end of 2017.

What I can see happening is Mercedes giving McLaren the Mercedes engine for 2018 which will keep Alonso happy. This will give Mercedes a nice income and prevent Alonso moving to perhaps Ferrari and being a threat.

[The Surveyor]

williamp said:

I know its drifting the thread, but I cannot see LH at Ferrari. Its not his stule they are not his. Too corporate, too like Mclaren. LH feels he needs his spae to be LH, and he wont get that at Ferrari. Too much politics

I agree with what you say 100%, Hamilton doesn't sound a good fit with the Ferrari set-up but then again you would say he wouldn't be a good fit in Mercedes either, on the face of it he's too outspoken and flamboyant for such a 'corporate' team.

I do see Alonso being a good fit in the Mercedes for next year though, either as a replacement for Bottas if he hasn't performed, or as a teammate.

[anonymous-user]

The Surveyor said:

I agree with what you say 100%, Hamilton doesn't sound a good fit with the Ferrari set-up but then again you would say he wouldn't be a good fit in Mercedes either, on the face of it he's too outspoken and flamboyant for such a 'corporate' team.

I do see Alonso being a good fit in the Mercedes for next year though, either as a replacement for Bottas if he hasn't performed, or as a teammate.

To be fair I think Ferrari has changed a lot. Look at how they took Kimi back. That would never have happened a decade ago. Alonso returning to McLaren also was a big surprise.

I am sure IF Ferrari were prepared to get hold of Lewis they would without much of an issue.

[KevinCamaroSS]

The Surveyor said:

Alonso won't walk mid-season if things stay as they are, the only exception being a significant change with the McLaren and it's engine partner which makes them even less competitive.

At the end of the season it will be a different matter. I see Hamilton leaving Mercedes and replacing Kimi at Ferrari (either with his 4th WDC, or in search of it), and Alonso getting the Mercedes drive alongside Bottas. Vettel and Hamilton will be a stella driver line-up for Ferrari on 2018.....

It is generally considered open knowledge that Vettel will not have Hamilton as a team mate.

[swisstoni]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

I would only see Alonso wanting to move to Mercedes or Ferrari for 2018.

We know Bottas is only on a 1 year contract and Kimi's is due to end at the end of 2017.

What I can see happening is Mercedes giving McLaren the Mercedes engine for 2018 which will keep Alonso happy. This will give Mercedes a nice income and prevent Alonso moving to perhaps Ferrari and being a threat.

Even if McLaren got the Merc engine I get the feeling that he's done with hoping.
I don't like the bloke much but it's a terrible waste of talent if he doesn't get into something useful again before retirement.

[tommunster10]

KevinCamaroSS said:

The Surveyor said:

Alonso won't walk mid-season if things stay as they are, the only exception being a significant change with the McLaren and it's engine partner which makes them even less competitive.

At the end of the season it will be a different matter. I see Hamilton leaving Mercedes and replacing Kimi at Ferrari (either with his 4th WDC, or in search of it), and Alonso getting the Mercedes drive alongside Bottas. Vettel and Hamilton will be a stella driver line-up for Ferrari on 2018.....

It is generally considered open knowledge that Vettel will not have Hamilton as a team mate.

Any links to that quote? Toto seemed to think It could happen.

[rubystone]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

What I can see happening is Mercedes giving McLaren the Mercedes engine for 2018 which will keep Alonso happy. This will give Mercedes a nice income and prevent Alonso moving to perhaps Ferrari and being a threat.

You can bet that there have been talks around this already. Potential sticking point is who pays Alonso's salary though.

[slipstream 1985]

I have a feeling lewis want to win championships in 3 different teams to cement his place in history. thus freeing up a space at mercedes.

[GCH]

slipstream 1985 said:

I have a feeling lewis want to win championships in 3 different teams to cement his place in history. thus freeing up a space at mercedes.

Exactly....and for any driver, the lure of the prancing horse is strong.

[Dermot O'Logical]

Unless Mercedes lose Hamilton I'm not sure that there are many options open for Alonso. I admire the blind optimism of those who believe that a Mercedes engine will turn McLaren into front-runners, because the last time they had one they were easily the weakest of the Mercedes engined cars, and they seem to have forgotten how to build a decent chassis.

Ferrari? I suspect that their 2018 dream team would be Vettel and Sainz. As long as they can compete with Mercedes this season, and Vettel can win races, he will want to stay, and fulfil his quest to emulate Michael Schumacher.

Williams or Force India? Neither can afford Alonso unless a big new sponsor picks up the tab, but it could happen. Although under normal circumstances neither would be able to outperform the works team, but Alonso is a special talent, and could well cause a few upsets. But would he agree to a deal with such a team, in the knowledge that they're not going to beat Mercedes' own team in normal circumstances?

What he needs is a well-funded, technically brilliant team with a customer engine which has been uprated by a third-party engine specialist. I wonder...

[EDLT]

I think he'll be the next big name to retire. Audi is throwing money at Formula E right now and they might want to boost their image with a driver people have heard of.

[lee_fr200]

I think I'd mclaren and Honda sort their crap out I think Lewis will go back to mclaren the lure of emulating senna will draw him in, if not I see him at merc with alonso next year

[HustleRussell]

EDLT said:

Formula E

No chance.

Alonso has to stay at McLaren until the season before they finally come good and build a potentially race winning car. I'd say he'll be there for the whole of 2017 at the very least.

Mercedes IMO will be after Vettel or Alonso for 2018, if Alonso gets the drive then a cheeky punt on McLaren for the 2018 constructors is in order.

[bunglesprout]

Much as id love to see Alonso at Mercedes, I really don't think it will happen. Too much history between them. Vettel will stay put at Ferrari, and I hope Sainz will join him there, he deserves it. Unless Honda produce some sort of miracle engine, I think Alonso will retire from F1. I think Hamilton has one more contract left in him after 2018.

[Sa Calobra]

Alonso will retire.

[JohnoVR6]

thegreenhell said:

There are potential drives available at Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault for 2018. None of the private teams, other than Red Bull, could offer him the level of competitiveness or salary he would be looking for, and Red Bull don't need him with the pool of young drivers they already have.

For me, I'd put money on him going back to Renault, be a complete circle almost. Particularly given the current two reckon they could have 'the fourth best car' on the grid;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/drivers-say-ren...

Makes the most sense to me out of the options/ theories suggested so far...well, no, retirement does, but if he's determined to stay in F1, then Renault would appear to be the best fit for the two.

[lee_fr200]

JohnoVR6 said:

thegreenhell said:

There are potential drives available at Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault for 2018. None of the private teams, other than Red Bull, could offer him the level of competitiveness or salary he would be looking for, and Red Bull don't need him with the pool of young drivers they already have.

For me, I'd put money on him going back to Renault, be a complete circle almost. Particularly given the current two reckon they could have 'the fourth best car' on the grid;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/drivers-say-ren...

Makes the most sense to me out of the options/ theories suggested so far...well, no, retirement does, but if he's determined to stay in F1, then Renault would appear to be the best fit for the two.

I suggested that a few weeks ago and got scoffed at as palmer is out of contract end of this year and it's who he won his championships with,