Alonso on his way to Honda ?
Discussion
Alonso poised for $15m Honda switch
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/04/formul...
Honda would want a two-year deal however...
Fernando Alonso is set to sign a $15m deal to race with Honda in 2009, according to the British newspaper The Guardian.
The former double world champion is keen to return to winning ways as soon as possible following his disastrous McLaren tenure in 2007 and a return to the relatively uncompetitive Renault team this year.
But he may not see Honda, the Japanese owned squad, as a long-term employer, as speculation still reigns that the 27-year-old faces an open door to switch to Ferrari perhaps in 2010.
The Guardian said veteran racer Rubens Barrichello would be the one to make way for Alonso in 2009.
"Fernando is a wonderful driver who would be a fantastic asset to any of the top teams, including this one," said team Chief Executive Nick Fry.
"The job Ross and I have is to build a world championship-winning team," he added.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/04/formul...
Honda would want a two-year deal however...
Fernando Alonso is set to sign a $15m deal to race with Honda in 2009, according to the British newspaper The Guardian.
The former double world champion is keen to return to winning ways as soon as possible following his disastrous McLaren tenure in 2007 and a return to the relatively uncompetitive Renault team this year.
But he may not see Honda, the Japanese owned squad, as a long-term employer, as speculation still reigns that the 27-year-old faces an open door to switch to Ferrari perhaps in 2010.
The Guardian said veteran racer Rubens Barrichello would be the one to make way for Alonso in 2009.
"Fernando is a wonderful driver who would be a fantastic asset to any of the top teams, including this one," said team Chief Executive Nick Fry.
"The job Ross and I have is to build a world championship-winning team," he added.
History will show that it was Alonso whose two World Championship wins finished Michael Schumachers career, so we have him to thank for that.
Alonso went into self destruct courtesy of Lewis Hamilton and the fall out with Mclaren still resonates. Alonso has foolishly lost the plot at the moment and there is the possibility that he will never recover the situation to be within shout of the World Championship again.
Alonso went into self destruct courtesy of Lewis Hamilton and the fall out with Mclaren still resonates. Alonso has foolishly lost the plot at the moment and there is the possibility that he will never recover the situation to be within shout of the World Championship again.
TBH I think Honda would be mad to do this deal - it has short term written all over it:
Alonso will be moving on, which brings disruption
He isn't known for his harmonious way of dealing with things
He prefers a subservient team mate - either Honda driver wouldn't be great for this - even Rubens got fed up with Ferrari in the end
At present, Honda have a stable environment, which is moving forward. They also have two GP winners, one of which knows the team well, the other has years of knowledge of working with Ross at a top team. If they can't make the next step with what they already have, they won't do it with Fernando.
Alonso will be moving on, which brings disruption
He isn't known for his harmonious way of dealing with things
He prefers a subservient team mate - either Honda driver wouldn't be great for this - even Rubens got fed up with Ferrari in the end
At present, Honda have a stable environment, which is moving forward. They also have two GP winners, one of which knows the team well, the other has years of knowledge of working with Ross at a top team. If they can't make the next step with what they already have, they won't do it with Fernando.
kevin ritson said:
He prefers a subservient team mate - either Honda driver wouldn't be great for this
To an extent, I agree with you and from a brief look it appears that Alonso has a Schumi-esque desire to have a lackey as No. 2.However, from recent comments coming from the Alonso camp, you get the impression he feels he wasn't treated the same as Hamilton at McLaren and wasn't given the same opportunities to win as him, thereby implying that he was made into the subservient team-mate to LH.
He certainly hasn't been barking too loudly when Piquet has done better than him, although he wouldn't have much opportunity to
I can't really work him out - does he want to be out and out No. 1 driver, or does he just want a fair chance to pummel his team-mate?
Again, he beat Fisi mostly through talent and never complained when Fisi drove a better race than him (Australia....05?)
Fortitude said:
History will show that it was Alonso whose two World Championship wins finished Michael Schumachers career, so we have him to thank for that.
Alonso went into self destruct courtesy of Lewis Hamilton and the fall out with Mclaren still resonates. Alonso has foolishly lost the plot at the moment and there is the possibility that he will never recover the situation to be within shout of the World Championship again.
I thought it was Kimi moving to Ferrari that made things rather difficult.Alonso went into self destruct courtesy of Lewis Hamilton and the fall out with Mclaren still resonates. Alonso has foolishly lost the plot at the moment and there is the possibility that he will never recover the situation to be within shout of the World Championship again.
kevin ritson said:
TBH I think Honda would be mad to do this deal - it has short term written all over it:
Alonso will be moving on, which brings disruption
He isn't known for his harmonious way of dealing with things
He prefers a subservient team mate - either Honda driver wouldn't be great for this - even Rubens got fed up with Ferrari in the end
At present, Honda have a stable environment, which is moving forward. They also have two GP winners, one of which knows the team well, the other has years of knowledge of working with Ross at a top team. If they can't make the next step with what they already have, they won't do it with Fernando.
I think you've made some very good points, regardless of how quick Alonson is (and he is...)Alonso will be moving on, which brings disruption
He isn't known for his harmonious way of dealing with things
He prefers a subservient team mate - either Honda driver wouldn't be great for this - even Rubens got fed up with Ferrari in the end
At present, Honda have a stable environment, which is moving forward. They also have two GP winners, one of which knows the team well, the other has years of knowledge of working with Ross at a top team. If they can't make the next step with what they already have, they won't do it with Fernando.
Muzzer said:
kevin ritson said:
He prefers a subservient team mate - either Honda driver wouldn't be great for this
To an extent, I agree with you and from a brief look it appears that Alonso has a Schumi-esque desire to have a lackey as No. 2.However, from recent comments coming from the Alonso camp, you get the impression he feels he wasn't treated the same as Hamilton at McLaren and wasn't given the same opportunities to win as him, thereby implying that he was made into the subservient team-mate to LH.
He certainly hasn't been barking too loudly when Piquet has done better than him, although he wouldn't have much opportunity to
I can't really work him out - does he want to be out and out No. 1 driver, or does he just want a fair chance to pummel his team-mate?
Again, he beat Fisi mostly through talent and never complained when Fisi drove a better race than him (Australia....05?)
Fast forward to Indianapolis the following year and he was rattled that Giancarlo had him beaten. Nothing to be ashamed of - it's part of the make-up of most champions (and I'll give him credit that he at least allowed himself to drive alongside a potential World Champion - Schuey didn't or had clauses put in to make sure it wasn't a problem)
Edited by kevin ritson on Monday 4th August 13:00
woof said:
The former double world champion is keen to return to winning ways as soon as possible
So why would he want to sign for Honda.......
The Spantard will go to Ferrari after Kimi hangs his helmet up, which would have been end of 2009, but given his apparent lack of enthusiasm of late may end up being the end of this year, which would be so funny if Alsono got a one year deal with somewhere else and ended up missing the Ferrari boat.....
kevin ritson said:
Fast forward to Indianapolis the following year and he was rattled that Giancarlo had him beaten. Nothing to be ashamed of - it's part of the make-up of most champions (and I'll give him credit that he at least allowed himself to drive alongside a potential World Champion - Schuey didn't or had clauses put in to make sure it wasn't a problem)
Yes, but being rattled that your team-mate has beaten you and demanding a subservient number 2 are two quite different things..The problem is that Lewis is the only team-mate he's had that's been on a par with him consistently. Until he gets another one on the same level - possibly Button - we'll never know if
a) He really is that good.
or
b) If he does want a lackey next to him
or
c) He doesn't care and just wants the same opportunities, etc.
I can understand his gripes at McLaren. It's just the way he went about dealing with it (grassing up your own team and throwing various childish strops) that makes me dislike him.
FWIW, I'm not sure that Honda are throwing money at the right horse. They have a good lead driver who has been with the team for year, won a race and is (at the moment) loyal. Despite his lack of success, JB is also quite highly rates in the paddock aswell - if he wasn't British I suspect McLaren would have been knocking at his door at the end of last year.
They have a top quality technical director and the 'Schumacher' of testing (Wurz) with Davidson at their disposal aswell (he didn't do too badly developing the 2003 and 2004 cars...)
They seem to lack design direction and outright talent, not a star driver. Granted, star drivers attract star names in the factory, but if I was them I'd invest in a Vettel or Kubica type and plough the cash into the design team....
Muzzer said:
kevin ritson said:
Fast forward to Indianapolis the following year and he was rattled that Giancarlo had him beaten. Nothing to be ashamed of - it's part of the make-up of most champions (and I'll give him credit that he at least allowed himself to drive alongside a potential World Champion - Schuey didn't or had clauses put in to make sure it wasn't a problem)
Yes, but being rattled that your team-mate has beaten you and demanding a subservient number 2 are two quite different things..The problem is that Lewis is the only team-mate he's had that's been on a par with him consistently. Until he gets another one on the same level - possibly Button - we'll never know if
a) He really is that good.
or
b) If he does want a lackey next to him
or
c) He doesn't care and just wants the same opportunities, etc.
I can understand his gripes at McLaren. It's just the way he went about dealing with it (grassing up your own team and throwing various childish strops) that makes me dislike him.
FWIW, I'm not sure that Honda are throwing money at the right horse. They have a good lead driver who has been with the team for year, won a race and is (at the moment) loyal. Despite his lack of success, JB is also quite highly rates in the paddock aswell - if he wasn't British I suspect McLaren would have been knocking at his door at the end of last year.
They have a top quality technical director and the 'Schumacher' of testing (Wurz) with Davidson at their disposal aswell (he didn't do too badly developing the 2003 and 2004 cars...)
They seem to lack design direction and outright talent, not a star driver. Granted, star drivers attract star names in the factory, but if I was them I'd invest in a Vettel or Kubica type and plough the cash into the design team....
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