McLaren Drivers for 2008
Discussion
A Mercedes backed driver perhaps. I would like to see Gary Paffett get a drive, what with Prodrive looking less likely to be involved and he's done the testing work. Highly regarded by Mercedes and with Lewis's form showing that F1 experience is not needed if you have the talent they might look more favourably on him.
If not, GP2 Champion Timo Glock, he had a handful of outings for Jordan-Ford in 2005 including a point scoring 7th place on debut. Again based on former GP2 champion Hamiltons form.
Outsiders, other current F1 drivers, test drivers.
Further outsiders - A1GP Champion and F3 Euroseries German driver Niko Hulkenberg, Canadian Bruno Spengler (DTM), Mika Hakkinen (I've heard worse rumours).
If not, GP2 Champion Timo Glock, he had a handful of outings for Jordan-Ford in 2005 including a point scoring 7th place on debut. Again based on former GP2 champion Hamiltons form.
Outsiders, other current F1 drivers, test drivers.
Further outsiders - A1GP Champion and F3 Euroseries German driver Niko Hulkenberg, Canadian Bruno Spengler (DTM), Mika Hakkinen (I've heard worse rumours).
I know Renault's the obvious answer but will Renault be willing to pay his salary demands? Would Santander follow him to Renault as that might help if they did.
Alonso would also have to partnered with Fisi as he's not going to put himself up against Heiki or Piquet Jr and is it worth paying Fisi for another season just to be a designated number 2?
Alonso would also have to partnered with Fisi as he's not going to put himself up against Heiki or Piquet Jr and is it worth paying Fisi for another season just to be a designated number 2?
Redmax said:
I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest he'll be staying. I know it's an extreme view but he's been quite conciliatory this week and he's not going to want to run around in a midfield car no matter how much he's paid.
McLaren would be fools to lose him.Hamilton is more dispensible.
Where were Reanault before Alonso? Nowhere. Where are Renault after Alonso? Nowhere.
Yet with Alonso they win back to back WDCs against the might of MS and Ferrari.
Likewise McLaren, not doing well despite having the fastest driver in F1. Along comes Alonso and straight away he gets the team competetive and 1-2 in the WDC.
Alonso has an amazing ability to make a team perform at the very top.
5 per cent said:
Redmax said:
I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest he'll be staying. I know it's an extreme view but he's been quite conciliatory this week and he's not going to want to run around in a midfield car no matter how much he's paid.
McLaren would be fools to lose him.Hamilton is more dispensible.
Where were Reanault before Alonso? Nowhere. Where are Renault after Alonso? Nowhere.
Yet with Alonso they win back to back WDCs against the might of MS and Ferrari.
Likewise McLaren, not doing well despite having the fastest driver in F1. Along comes Alonso and straight away he gets the team competetive and 1-2 in the WDC.
Alonso has an amazing ability to make a team perform at the very top.
Here I was thinking that the other 1000 McLaren employees had had something to do with it.
flemke said:
5 per cent said:
Redmax said:
I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest he'll be staying. I know it's an extreme view but he's been quite conciliatory this week and he's not going to want to run around in a midfield car no matter how much he's paid.
McLaren would be fools to lose him.Hamilton is more dispensible.
Where were Reanault before Alonso? Nowhere. Where are Renault after Alonso? Nowhere.
Yet with Alonso they win back to back WDCs against the might of MS and Ferrari.
Likewise McLaren, not doing well despite having the fastest driver in F1. Along comes Alonso and straight away he gets the team competetive and 1-2 in the WDC.
Alonso has an amazing ability to make a team perform at the very top.
Here I was thinking that the other 1000 McLaren employees had had something to do with it.
Yes Renault will be willing to pay his salary - they've been no where without him. And yes his sponsors would follow him there.
Fisi would probably rather be outshone by a double world champion than Heiki anyway, though I wouldn't think Keiki or Piquet Jr will cause the same upset as Hamilton has this year. There's a few other decent no. 2's kicking around too. Bourdais from Champ Cars? Alex Franchitti?
I watched Hamilton in GP2 a few times and you could see he was the pick of the bunch by quite a margin. I rate Piquet Jnr, but I can't see him coming in and tworrying Alonso in his first season.
Now watch him come in and thrash Hamilton and everyone next year just to spite me...
Fisi would probably rather be outshone by a double world champion than Heiki anyway, though I wouldn't think Keiki or Piquet Jr will cause the same upset as Hamilton has this year. There's a few other decent no. 2's kicking around too. Bourdais from Champ Cars? Alex Franchitti?
I watched Hamilton in GP2 a few times and you could see he was the pick of the bunch by quite a margin. I rate Piquet Jnr, but I can't see him coming in and tworrying Alonso in his first season.
Now watch him come in and thrash Hamilton and everyone next year just to spite me...
5.0 said:
McLaren were third in the constructors last year with those same 1000 people.
And where are they this year?I agree though, Alonso seemed to be able to get the best out of Renault in a way many drivers don't. I don't think he's done that for McLaren especially, I think this year they've been the best of the bunch in the absence of Schumacher at Ferrari, and Alonso in a Renault.
That's why I think Alonso will go back to Renault
Edited by AJS- on Friday 19th October 14:14
Notwithstanding 5.0%'s assertion that Alonso can single-handedly design and build the best car on the grid, it's a big leap of faith to suggest that the Renault will be competitive next year.
I'm sure in Alonso's ideal world he would have both a car capable of winning and a team mate he can dominate. If he had to choose between the two, surely he'd choose the former, particularly if he continued to be a two-times world champion after this season...
I'm sure in Alonso's ideal world he would have both a car capable of winning and a team mate he can dominate. If he had to choose between the two, surely he'd choose the former, particularly if he continued to be a two-times world champion after this season...
Fidgits said:
I would imagine Mercedes would be keen to get a german in the other Mclaren seat for 08..
Not necessarily, look at the DTM the only Germans driving for the 3 pointed star are Bernd Schneider and Daniel La Rosa. Norbert Haug has particular soft spots (well a lot actually, he's a big cuddly walrus of a fellow) for Brits, Paffett, Green and Stoddart. Plus they have another Scot in Paul di Resta, Greek Alexander Margaritas, Austrian Matthias Lauda and of course Mika Hakkinen. They don't seem to be fixated on looking at German talent first.
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