F.Alonso's future driving in F1

[MGJohn]

Be he directly involved by design and guilty or not with what happened last year, I for one will be interested to see just how Alonso shapes up in future races. When he had that black cloud hanging over him in the form of an upstart young driver at McLaren, he clearly appeared a tad frayed around the edges on more than one occasion.

Guilty or not, there must be additional pressure on him which could easily affect the way he drives in future races.

We shall see.

Again I'm looking forward to the next race in this remarkable season particularly on track although off track events following last season's on track alleged crookedness have added an interesting off track diversion .... I wonder if we'll ever know the whole truth and nothing but ...

Oink-oink, flap flap...

[mchammer89]

I can't see how it would affect him, it's a large possibility that he had nothing to do with nor any knowledge of Piquet's crash.

[StevenJJ]

Business as usual equipment permitting.

[flemke]

StevenJJ said:

Business as usual equipment permitting.

Those were the traction control days. Nonetheless, that clip is deeply impressive.

[Jungles]

I don't see why there should be any additional pressure. He says he didn't know, the FIA is satisfied he didn't know. Hamilton was two years ago, and hardly a concern for Alonso now (I think any driver would have faltered in Alonso's position back then). The only people who actually care about the 2007 fiasco and the Stepney-gate thing seem to be British, McLaren, and/or Hamilton fans.

None of that is an issue at the moment, and certainly not in the future.

The only thing which will affect Alonso is the absence of Pat Symonds. He is and was a good technical director, and I think the car may suffer as a result. Alonso has many fans in the F1 paddock and beyond (no less than Brawn, Whitmarsh, Montezemolo, and Ecclestone), so obtaining future race seats will not be a problem.

Edited by Jungles on Sunday 20th September 00:25

[MrKipling43]

Jungles said:

Obtaining future race seats will not be a problem.

Absolutely. When it comes down to it, he's a world champion. No one in their right mind would turn their nose up at the idea of signing Alonso. Unless Lewis was in the same team...

[spend]

Well if he moaned at McLaren not focusing on a driver for the WDC, WTF is going to happen in Maranelo if KR or FM give him a run for his money. Yet again he will be in a situation where he is not the 'favoured son' IMHO, and the st will really hit the fan if Luca gets his way and there are 3 red cars.

I'm quite looking forward to some fun, games and fireworks TBH It would certainly be great to see how he can perform with a couple of decent team mates in equivalent machinery.

[Jungles]

spend said:

Well if he moaned at McLaren not focusing on a driver for the WDC, WTF is going to happen in Maranelo if KR or FM give him a run for his money. Yet again he will be in a situation where he is not the 'favoured son' IMHO, and the st will really hit the fan if Luca gets his way and there are 3 red cars.

His problem at McLaren was that Ron Dennis had (in his point of view) signed him on as #1, but did not accord the appropriate treatment. Had he known full well that no such favouritism would be forth-coming, it wouldn't have been an issue. He also felt as though McLaren were biased toward Hamilton, a perception which I think was not without merit. What people perceive has a powerful effect on how they react to a situation, even if it may be wrong.

If he signs into Ferrari with a clear condition that he will be on the same pedestal as KR or FM, I doubt he would make any fuss if they end up out-performing him.

Martin Whitmarsh certainly seems to feel that Alonso was a bit hard done by the team.

Edited by Jungles on Sunday 20th September 07:48

[Project 644]

Alonso recently stated in an interview that he would like to be in a team with Hamilton again. It was the management within McLaren that he felt reneged against his contract and that is where the problems started.

[hairyben]

Jungles said:

spend said:

Well if he moaned at McLaren not focusing on a driver for the WDC, WTF is going to happen in Maranelo if KR or FM give him a run for his money. Yet again he will be in a situation where he is not the 'favoured son' IMHO, and the st will really hit the fan if Luca gets his way and there are 3 red cars.

His problem at McLaren was that Ron Dennis had (in his point of view) signed him on as #1, but did not accord the appropriate treatment. Had he known full well that no such favouritism would be forth-coming, it wouldn't have been an issue. He also felt as though McLaren were biased toward Hamilton, a perception which I think was not without merit. What people perceive has a powerful effect on how they react to a situation, even if it may be wrong.

If he signs into Ferrari with a clear condition that he will be on the same pedestal as KR or FM, I doubt he would make any fuss if they end up out-performing him.

Martin Whitmarsh certainly seems to feel that Alonso was a bit hard done by the team.

Edited by Jungles on Sunday 20th September 07:48

Wasn't kimi @ macca when fred signed? This was before his signed for ferrari as I recall.

And yeah, can't wait to see what the tifosi make of an alonso tantrum/outburst at the red team.

[Graebob]

StevenJJ said:

Business as usual equipment permitting.

What a fantastic video! Good link

[AlexS]

hairyben said:

Jungles said:

spend said:

Well if he moaned at McLaren not focusing on a driver for the WDC, WTF is going to happen in Maranelo if KR or FM give him a run for his money. Yet again he will be in a situation where he is not the 'favoured son' IMHO, and the st will really hit the fan if Luca gets his way and there are 3 red cars.

His problem at McLaren was that Ron Dennis had (in his point of view) signed him on as #1, but did not accord the appropriate treatment. Had he known full well that no such favouritism would be forth-coming, it wouldn't have been an issue. He also felt as though McLaren were biased toward Hamilton, a perception which I think was not without merit. What people perceive has a powerful effect on how they react to a situation, even if it may be wrong.

If he signs into Ferrari with a clear condition that he will be on the same pedestal as KR or FM, I doubt he would make any fuss if they end up out-performing him.

Martin Whitmarsh certainly seems to feel that Alonso was a bit hard done by the team.

Edited by Jungles on Sunday 20th September 07:48

Wasn't kimi @ macca when fred signed? This was before his signed for ferrari as I recall.

And yeah, can't wait to see what the tifosi make of an alonso tantrum/outburst at the red team.

Yet at the time that Alonso signed for McLaren the potential team mates would have either been Montoya or Kimi, so I don't know how he would have thought he would have had No. 1 status. Lewis hadn't even started his GP2 campaign.

[rubystone]

flemke said:

Nonetheless, that clip is deeply impressive.

Deeply impressive indeed. I rate the guy as the most complete driver in F1 for some time. Someone who is capable of dragging a result from a car several notches above what that car should be capable of achieving. Did he know about Piquetgate? Judgement reserved...after all, this is the guy who is known to make his own calls in a race....wouldn't he have overruled Symonds/Briatore when told to pit several laps earlier than scheduled...or was it really blind faith?

[Jungles]

Alonso has already stated that he leaves strategy calculations to team. He most certainly would voice his ideas, but his strategy calls are just that: suggestions, not orders.

I think the notion of Alonso dictating his own strategies is bit like claiming that he develops the car. He's just a driver, albeit a very good one, and has significant input. But the final authority for development and race strategy would be Pat Symonds.

[paulrockliffe]

Good clip, but given what we know about Renault he was probably running 4 wheel drive and active yaw control that day ;-)

[rdjohn]

I guess that he will fit well at Ferrari. His problem was having a No1 sticker on his car and not being treated as No1 driver to the upstart rookie.

He now knows that tantrums got him nowhere at McLaren and having just spent two years out-of-the-chase, he will just be glad to get back to a top team and accept the need to fight with PM, and KR & LH at Maclaren.

[Pork_n_Beem]

flemke said:

StevenJJ said:

Business as usual equipment permitting.

Those were the traction control days. Nonetheless, that clip is deeply impressive.

Thats a nice car he has there. Better in every respect, he also maximised it - for sure :-)

[spunkytherabbit]

I actually doubt you will see the frayed, temper filled Alonso of 2007 much again. If at all. Comments he has said since seem to indicate he is well aware emotions got the better of everyone throughout 2007, and he pretty much acknowledged he st on his on own door step when it came to having a challenge to enjoy from a team mate pushing you all the way.

If/when he goes to Ferrari I'm pretty certain you'll see a quiet, calculatingly smiling Alonso when he gets beaten by a team mate. Older and wiser so to speak.

As for perception of him... the "what? Me?" dumb Spaniard persona he trotted out in 2007 and when this incident started seems to be bought by the FIA and those around him. I for one don't buy it one little bit, and I doubt others in the paddock do really, but with two WDC's and undoubted assurances of more with a good car, who in their right mind WOULDN'T sign him? JV is still fresh enough in peoples memories to be a good yard stick by which to measure any impact of disruptive influences in a team.

Edited by spunkytherabbit on Tuesday 22 September 08:01

[calibrax]

Seems that his Singapore 2008 winner's trophy has been replaced...

[evenflow]

]

flemke said:

StevenJJ said:

Business as usual equipment permitting.

Those were the traction control days. Nonetheless, that clip is deeply impressive.

Awe inspiring.