Should Alonso have dedicated his second place to Flavio?

[RDMcG]

I was surprised he thanked Briatore at the post-race press conference, (who managed him, I think). However, despite the bizarre events of recent weeks, I kind of admired him for sticking to his loyalties and expressing his appreciation to Flavio.

[RDMcG]

That is, of course, third place. Sorry.

[Airbag]

Flavio's done a lot for Alonso's career, so if he feels he's been made a scapegoat then it's fair enough I suppose.

[FourWheelDrift]

Why not, Grosjean dedicated his spin at T17 on Friday to him.

[stevesingo]

ALONSO THE CHEAT said:

Thanks Flavio for not dobbing me in. This ones for you!

I summary, NO.

Steve

[Nee_Naw]

Did anyone notice on Martin Brundle's walkabout, he referred to Fernando as 'Teflonso'?

D'you think that he wants some of these scandals to stick more to a certain Spanish driver than they currently do? Or is he just meaning that he keeps himself spotlessly clean?

[s3fella]

He just means he seems to be connected to each of these "scandals" yet seems to get away without direct punishment.

[sheps]

Not entirely sure Alonso had too much control in who pulled the strings last year?

Flav : You drive quickly, NP will crash, safety car, you win. Everybody happy.
Alons: Erm, ok, aslong as nobody find out!

Or.....
Flav : You drive quickly, NP will crash, safety car, you win. Everybody happy.
Alons: I not like this idea, i drive slowly all race, i not want to win.
Flav : You sacked.

Anywho, good on him for standing up for what he thinks. Flav may be in the bad books, but he made Alonso a double world champion, for which im sure he may want to express some thanks.

[Ecurie Ecosse]

Good on Alonso.

Certainly shows more class than Hamilton and the Mclaren crew not turning up to support Ron Dennis at that award ceremony for fear their image may be tainted by him.

[FourWheelDrift]

sheps said:

Not entirely sure Alonso had too much control in who pulled the strings last year?

Flav : You drive quickly, NP will crash, safety car, you win. Everybody happy.
Alons: Erm, ok, aslong as nobody find out!

Or.....
Flav : You drive quickly, NP will crash, safety car, you win. Everybody happy.
Alons: I not like this idea, i drive slowly all race, i not want to win.
Flav : You sacked.

Anywho, good on him for standing up for what he thinks. Flav may be in the bad books, but he made Alonso a double world champion, for which im sure he may want to express some thanks.

Or.

Teflonso: "Pat, I'm 15th on the grid. So why do I only have enough fuel for 12 laps. If I get past anyone in those laps I'll just get caught up behind them when I come back out again. It's a crazy strategy"
Pat: "Flavio says we do this"
Teflonso: "What does he know, he's just a ex-Benetton woolly jumper salesman"
Pat: "Flavio has been working on a plan"
Teflonso: "What plan"
Pat: "As an ex-woolly jumper salesman he knows all about spinning, lets leave it at that"

[Jungles]

Occam's razor. You have to remember that Alonso has a very good relationship with Flavio and Pat. He most probably trusts them both to a very high degree.

The most likely goings-on was...


Flavio: You drive quick. There will be a safety car most likely. You could win.
Alonso: OK.

... some time during race ...

Pat: Fernando, you need to come in now.
Alonso: But I'm fuelled for two more laps.
Pat: Don't worry, we have this worked out. You need to come in now and get away from Nakajima.
Alonso: Well, you're the boss. But this is a mistake, for sure.

... after race ...

Flavio: Well done, Fernando! See, I told you there would be a safety car.
Alonso: Yes, very lucky.
Pat: What did I tell you? We had it all worked out.
Alonso: K THX GUYZ!

[1]

Fair play to Alonso for standing up for the someone who has helped him in his career. Loyalty seems to be thin on the ground amongst today's F1 drivers.

Did anyone else notice that Alonso left the top of his overalls unzipped in the drivers interview, covering the main ING logo on the top of his overalls? Perhaps it was just hot but I cant remember the last time I saw an F1 driver do this??? A little odd considering ING have dropped Renualt but kept their deal with Alonso. Perhaps another subtle way of showing support for Flav.

[Derek Smith]

Is it fair play to Alonso for refusing to answer questions on Crashgate from the press? It seems he wants to vet them now.

Rather pointedly he said if they carried on he'd answer question in Spanish only - which is, I believe, against the FIA's rules - showing that there is one country that supports him.

With regards to Teflonso, Brundle has to be vary careful what he says. Mosley had a concentrated effort to ban him from working for television and the press on F1 matters and even threatened to sue him personally. So that comment will be picked over carefully. I bet there is some vetting of what he can say and ask.

Edited by Derek Smith on Monday 28th September 07:44

[CampDavid]

The only "valid" argument for Alonso being involved with crashgate is that he's "a cheating spanish cock"

Can we please change the record. At least give Pat and Flavio some credit, how moronic would it be to tell Alonso, given his ability to keep his mouth shut over the spying at McLaren.

Was it right that he dedicated the 3rd place to Flav. Maybe not, The Times seems to think it was bad PR and Flavio cares not for 3rd places. On the other hand Flav really built that team and his career.

[VladD]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

Good on Alonso.

Certainly shows more class than Hamilton and the Mclaren crew not turning up to support Ron Dennis at that award ceremony for fear their image may be tainted by him.

Is that why they didn't turn up? What is your source?

[Derek Smith]

VladD said:

Ecurie Ecosse said:

Good on Alonso.

Certainly shows more class than Hamilton and the Mclaren crew not turning up to support Ron Dennis at that award ceremony for fear their image may be tainted by him.

Is that why they didn't turn up? What is your source?

It would appear that they refused to attend for reasons which they did not put out to the press. Whilst you can criticise Alonso's loyalty - indeed he deserves it - you have to say that not turning up is one thing but not saying why just makes it worse. Inexcusable is the word that crosses my mind. Or is it lack of bottle?

As for Alonso' behaviour with regards to Briatore: Flav has insider knowledge, of that there can be no doubt. He must have the dirt on those of his drivers who have, in the past, sailed very close to the wind. Some might feel that Alonso has 'luffed' once or twice. So perhaps a show of support, costing Alonso nothing, just the reverse in fact if this forum is anything to go by, is a sensible, if rather empty, gesture. It was, after all, only third place.

If things are fraught between FA and FB then the comment would be a slap in the face for Flav.

I would point out that if Alonso did know of the conspiracy, and I don't know whether he did or not, but let us assume that he did, then his comment post race, to the camera and in a voice loud enough to be picked up by the mike, was a signal that he was not, in any way, going to take a fall in the matter. Knowing what is apparent to us now, Flav's shock and turn to the camera, is very telling. He did not expect Alonso to come out with that. One wonders why.

Compare his voluability with that after this year's race. Or, indeed, any race that I can remember. He is normally quietness itself.

But then I have no idea whether he was invovled in the conspiracy or not. The only evidence I have against him is circumstantial, but it is to my mind very telling. Mosley has said he wasn't. Q.E.D. to me.

[Gillet]

Alonso drove the bridal car at Briatore's wedding last year, so i get a feeling their pretty good friends. I don't think its wrong to dedicate the 3rd place, if he'd won because of a safety car is would have been close to the bone, but to dedicate a 3rd place to his mate and ex-manager, no problem.