Alonso Missing Monaco to do Indy 500
Discussion
Vocal Minority said:
Simes205 said:
P1GTR at LM next year??
No class for it unfortunatelyAudi, who've won it countless times, didn't have a much of a good time last time out and we all know the heart ache for what happened to Toyota in the 23rd hour and 59th minute.
Otispunkmeyer said:
Some Gump said:
Why do peopl think of Monaco as the jewel in F's crown? Bling aside, it's a s
t event. Boring as hell every year, unless it rains enough that everyone but a Tyrell crashes (and these days they'd just run it under safety car instead).
Its total turd isn't it. And the cars are wider this year so it'll be even harder to make a move. t event. Boring as hell every year, unless it rains enough that everyone but a Tyrell crashes (and these days they'd just run it under safety car instead).I realise why its on the calendar but they should do something else with it. Make it a non-championship race (perhaps chance to try some new ideas?) or something. Or maybe do it as an exhibition type event, like Goodwood. Everyone gets a few goes round the track at full pelt, on fumes. Best aggregate of times wins. Rest of the event is like a motor show... people can go down into the paddock and get up close etc, go see yachts, generally have a good time.
aeropilot said:
FourWheelDrift said:
Jenson's message - https://twitter.com/JensonButton/status/8521962706...
I love the comment from someone pointing out that Monaco is the same weekend as the WRX at Lydden Hill, and to tell JB to come and have some fun rather than be in Monaco 
Have to agree with that, would rather see JB in a guest drive at Lydden than driving that old nail around the principality....
768 said:
Really hope we get to see JB back even if he just drifts it round at the back and parks it in a wall.
Quite something that they've let Alonso do this, won't it affect the battle for the championship?
Well it might if Fernando managed to finish a race, but that isn't looking likely just now is it?Quite something that they've let Alonso do this, won't it affect the battle for the championship?
suffolk009 said:
Brilliant idea, all around.
And all the people posting about how Alonso has stuffed it to McLaren/got them over a barrel - have you actually read the McLaren press release? He is driving an Andretti-Honda. It will be branded a McLaren for the race. This is a McLaren and Honda plan. I suspect this is Zak Brown and the McLaren/Honda team thinking about McLaren's motorsport future beyond just F1.
As for who will drive at Monaco, I'd be amazed if it wasn't JB.
I don't believe the press release is an accurate representation of the facts. If McLaren want to get a good result at Indy then there are better drivers to do it with, putting Fernando in it is a gamble - he could be great but he might not have the last 10th of speed and come home in 24th place. If they want a big PR coup then I'm sure Jenson could have been talked into driving the car and would have generated at least as many column inches. However, they are going to miss their superstar driver at the track where their power deficit is least painful, and the track where arguably the driver can make the biggest difference.And all the people posting about how Alonso has stuffed it to McLaren/got them over a barrel - have you actually read the McLaren press release? He is driving an Andretti-Honda. It will be branded a McLaren for the race. This is a McLaren and Honda plan. I suspect this is Zak Brown and the McLaren/Honda team thinking about McLaren's motorsport future beyond just F1.
As for who will drive at Monaco, I'd be amazed if it wasn't JB.
Also, Honda's F1 programme is run out of Japan, and Indy is in the USA with different management so I very much doubt Honda have anything at all to do with this. Fernando is hardly a celebrity in the USA either.
jamiebae said:
I don't believe the press release is an accurate representation of the facts. If McLaren want to get a good result at Indy then there are better drivers to do it with, putting Fernando in it is a gamble - he could be great but he might not have the last 10th of speed and come home in 24th place. If they want a big PR coup then I'm sure Jenson could have been talked into driving the car and would have generated at least as many column inches. However, they are going to miss their superstar driver at the track where their power deficit is least painful, and the track where arguably the driver can make the biggest difference.
Also, Honda's F1 programme is run out of Japan, and Indy is in the USA with different management so I very much doubt Honda have anything at all to do with this. Fernando is hardly a celebrity in the USA either.
I think that's the most cynical post I've read in a while and I've been through a lot on this site. Also, Honda's F1 programme is run out of Japan, and Indy is in the USA with different management so I very much doubt Honda have anything at all to do with this. Fernando is hardly a celebrity in the USA either.
Vaud said:
jamiebae said:
I don't believe the press release is an accurate representation of the facts. If McLaren want to get a good result at Indy then there are better drivers to do it with, putting Fernando in it is a gamble - he could be great but he might not have the last 10th of speed and come home in 24th place. If they want a big PR coup then I'm sure Jenson could have been talked into driving the car and would have generated at least as many column inches. However, they are going to miss their superstar driver at the track where their power deficit is least painful, and the track where arguably the driver can make the biggest difference.
Also, Honda's F1 programme is run out of Japan, and Indy is in the USA with different management so I very much doubt Honda have anything at all to do with this. Fernando is hardly a celebrity in the USA either.
I think that's the most cynical post I've read in a while and I've been through a lot on this site. Also, Honda's F1 programme is run out of Japan, and Indy is in the USA with different management so I very much doubt Honda have anything at all to do with this. Fernando is hardly a celebrity in the USA either.
I have a small amount of experience of motorsport marketing and how it all works, and to me this just doesn't add up. I suspect it may have been Zak's idea to do Indy, but only because he needed to find something to stop Fernando walking out and joining Porsche to do LMP1 or similar.
Alonso isn't as money-motivated as some so he would have been a higher risk of walking away from his contract than most - he moved back to Spain from Monaco a few years ago in spite of the fact it knocks 25-50% of his take-home pay in tax, and if an interesting drive was available with no sign of improvement from Honda then I'm sure he'd be off like a shot.
jamiebae said:
I have a small amount of experience of motorsport marketing and how it all works, and to me this just doesn't add up. I suspect it may have been Zak's idea to do Indy, but only because he needed to find something to stop Fernando walking out and joining Porsche to do LMP1 or similar.
Alonso isn't as money-motivated as some so he would have been a higher risk of walking away from his contract than most - he moved back to Spain from Monaco a few years ago in spite of the fact it knocks 25-50% of his take-home pay in tax, and if an interesting drive was available with no sign of improvement from Honda then I'm sure he'd be off like a shot.
From a PR buildup to the 500, I don't see the downside.
> 2x F1 WDC Alonso struggles, US press go mad that their loopy drivers are the best
> 2x F1 WDC Alonso does well, US press go mad that F1 rockstar is in town, more F1 drivers needed
Would be good to see F1 work to reschedule Monaco or the 500 to allow more drivers to make guest races.
Vaud said:
I agree it is an odd move, but apparently (Autosport) the idea was from Fernando on the back of a casual conversation (around doing the triple) and then got rapidly accelerated and agreed in 2 days.
From a PR buildup to the 500, I don't see the downside.
> 2x F1 WDC Alonso struggles, US press go mad that their loopy drivers are the best
> 2x F1 WDC Alonso does well, US press go mad that F1 rockstar is in town, more F1 drivers needed
Would be good to see F1 work to reschedule Monaco or the 500 to allow more drivers to make guest races.
And with the struggles that McLaren are having in F1, a decent result for a McLaren (liveried car) at Indy wouldn't do sales and marketing in the US any harm.From a PR buildup to the 500, I don't see the downside.
> 2x F1 WDC Alonso struggles, US press go mad that their loopy drivers are the best
> 2x F1 WDC Alonso does well, US press go mad that F1 rockstar is in town, more F1 drivers needed
Would be good to see F1 work to reschedule Monaco or the 500 to allow more drivers to make guest races.
VladD said:
Vaud said:
I agree it is an odd move, but apparently (Autosport) the idea was from Fernando on the back of a casual conversation (around doing the triple) and then got rapidly accelerated and agreed in 2 days.
From a PR buildup to the 500, I don't see the downside.
> 2x F1 WDC Alonso struggles, US press go mad that their loopy drivers are the best
> 2x F1 WDC Alonso does well, US press go mad that F1 rockstar is in town, more F1 drivers needed
Would be good to see F1 work to reschedule Monaco or the 500 to allow more drivers to make guest races.
And with the struggles that McLaren are having in F1, a decent result for a McLaren (liveried car) at Indy wouldn't do sales and marketing in the US any harm.From a PR buildup to the 500, I don't see the downside.
> 2x F1 WDC Alonso struggles, US press go mad that their loopy drivers are the best
> 2x F1 WDC Alonso does well, US press go mad that F1 rockstar is in town, more F1 drivers needed
Would be good to see F1 work to reschedule Monaco or the 500 to allow more drivers to make guest races.
And to the person who thinks Fred doesn't have a big profile in the USA, I spend time and a couple of very USA based forums and this is BIG news, and seen as a bit of a coup for Indy racing, and my ex-pat mate who lives in California has also said this is a big talking point in past few days. Don't forget the huge percentage of Spanish speaking population in the USA.
I'm hardly a Fred fan, but I've got a lot of respect for the guy wanting to prove himself in an area beyond F1...hope he does well.
I think the best PR coup would be for McLaren to put Montoya in the car for Monaco. Great for Liberty and for raising F1's profile in the US. I'm sure the issue of a Superlicence coull be navigated around.
This is smart thinking by Brown. They want to keep Alonso for 2019 and beyond; by allowing him more freedom at a time when they don't have a winning car is no big issue for them. And no doubt in return for this concession, Alonso's mood ought to improve and Brown might have been able to extract a commitment from Alonso form a contractual perspective. Although there's no doubt Alonso will not lock himself into anything until the music stops in trh contractual merry-go-round at the end of this year.
This is smart thinking by Brown. They want to keep Alonso for 2019 and beyond; by allowing him more freedom at a time when they don't have a winning car is no big issue for them. And no doubt in return for this concession, Alonso's mood ought to improve and Brown might have been able to extract a commitment from Alonso form a contractual perspective. Although there's no doubt Alonso will not lock himself into anything until the music stops in trh contractual merry-go-round at the end of this year.
London424 said:
rubystone said:
I think the best PR coup would be for McLaren to put Montoya in the car for Monaco. Great for Liberty and for raising F1's profile in the US. I'm sure the issue of a Superlicence coull be navigated around.
He wouldn't even fit in the car!CraigyMc said:
London424 said:
rubystone said:
I think the best PR coup would be for McLaren to put Montoya in the car for Monaco. Great for Liberty and for raising F1's profile in the US. I'm sure the issue of a Superlicence coull be navigated around.
He wouldn't even fit in the car!London424 said:
rubystone said:
I think the best PR coup would be for McLaren to put Montoya in the car for Monaco. Great for Liberty and for raising F1's profile in the US. I'm sure the issue of a Superlicence coull be navigated around.
He wouldn't even fit in the car!Do Absolute Taste even do hamburgers?
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