Fernando Alonso

[glazbagun]

I am at least curious to see if Alonso will make Ocon look like another Vandoorne or himself like another Schumacher.

[HTP99]

glazbagun said:

I am at least curious to see if Alonso will make Ocon look like another Vandoorne or himself like another Schumacher.

TBF Ocon is doing a good job already, without Alonso there!

[Mr Tidy]

WickerBill said:

Schermerhorn said:

Mentally, Alonso is very strong and knows how to self motivate himself and also get people onto his side.

Hard to beat someone like that.

Well apart from his mental breakdown against hamilton, inability to get 1st gen mclaren on side, bribing the team, falling out with honda in both F1 and Indycar and inability to get ferrari on his side....

.....but yeh, other than that hes utterly brilliant at at it

He certainly comes with some baggage - I can't see it going well TBH!

[Schermerhorn]

WickerBill said:

Schermerhorn said:

Mentally, Alonso is very strong and knows how to self motivate himself and also get people onto his side.

Hard to beat someone like that.

Well apart from his mental breakdown against hamilton, inability to get 1st gen mclaren on side, bribing the team, falling out with honda in both F1 and Indycar and inability to get ferrari on his side....

.....but yeh, other than that hes utterly brilliant at at it

There's always an unpleasant aftertaste with some people isn't there?

If Alonso was as inept you suggest the guy wouldnt have commanded $40,000,000 annual salaries at Mclaren and Ferrari would he? He brings his A-game to every team, despite the drama and theatrics.

[Catatafish]

The ominous message from Merc was that they stopped developing this year's car ages ago hence all the other teams look pretty good at this stage.

Merc will likely continue on form with a big advantage in the first half of next season, which will prompt the usual moaning from Alonso. Let's hope there's some dramatic and unexpected shake up.

[rev-erend]

He is a good racer but he is also a moaning minnie if the car is not competitive.

Not the best way to motivate a team with very public outbursts.

Must say I'm looking forward to his return to F1.

Edited by rev-erend on Monday 19th October 11:40

[Deesee]

He be a hell of a barometer for the upper midfield... & we could get a Seb/Fred/Dani R/Lando battle over the odd podium or two..

[carinaman]

Schermerhorn said:

WickerBill said:

Schermerhorn said:

Mentally, Alonso is very strong and knows how to self motivate himself and also get people onto his side.

Hard to beat someone like that.

Well apart from his mental breakdown against hamilton, inability to get 1st gen mclaren on side, bribing the team, falling out with honda in both F1 and Indycar and inability to get ferrari on his side....

.....but yeh, other than that hes utterly brilliant at at it

There's always an unpleasant aftertaste with some people isn't there?

'People may not remember what you said, but they'll remember how you made them feel'?

F2 power etc.

[Exige77]

Schermerhorn said:

WickerBill said:

Schermerhorn said:

Mentally, Alonso is very strong and knows how to self motivate himself and also get people onto his side.

Hard to beat someone like that.

Well apart from his mental breakdown against hamilton, inability to get 1st gen mclaren on side, bribing the team, falling out with honda in both F1 and Indycar and inability to get ferrari on his side....

.....but yeh, other than that hes utterly brilliant at at it

There's always an unpleasant aftertaste with some people isn't there?

If Alonso was as inept you suggest the guy wouldnt have commanded $40,000,000 annual salaries at Mclaren and Ferrari would he? He brings his A-game to every team, despite the drama and theatrics.

At Ferrari he was living off his former glories. He did OK but didn’t win any WDCs.

At Mclaren, Honda wanted a big name to kickstart their campaign. They paid what ever it took to get the ageing Rock Star into a high risk new Co-operation. That didn’t end well did it.

Hopefully Alonso will earn his fee at Renault and provide us with some midfield entertainment.

[cuprabob]

Exige77 said:

At Ferrari he was living off his former glories. He did OK but didn’t win any WDCs.

I think that's a bit harsh as he was runner up 3 out of the 5 years he was at Ferrari.

[FourWheelDrift]

It was only Vitaly Petrov at Abu Dhabi that stopped him winning the 2010 title and he lost to Vettel by only 3 points in 2012, during the Vettel Red Bull dominance years.

[anonymous-user]

He couldn't overtake, which is what killed his strategy.

It was that race which led to DRS being introduced.

[Stan the Bat]

He's a proper racer though, don't think you will hear any stuff from him similar to Albon's latest outburst.

[TheDeuce]

Stan the Bat said:

He's a proper racer though, don't think you will hear any stuff from him similar to Albon's latest outburst.

Not quite the same... Different but at least as upsetting for whoever he targets!

Anyway, I watch F1 on two levels, I like the engineering aspect and the racing, so on that basis Alonso is disruptive and I didn't wish him back. I'd be lying if I said I didn't also like the F1 drama though.... on that basis, welcome back

[Stan the Bat]

I think he'll bring some drama

[TheDeuce]

Stan the Bat said:

I think he'll bring some drama

I'm sure of it. I'm conflicted though. It's very entertaining when he causes an upset but also he's caused some very expensive damage. His comments about Honda upset a partnership and left it unworkable... And we now know how good it could have turned out from RB's time with Honda.

If he must return I'll look forward to the inevitable drama and upsets. But wouldn't 'wish it' on Renault (Alpine) or whoever else he finds a way of pissing off!

[thegreenhell]

TheDeuce said:

I'm sure of it. I'm conflicted though. It's very entertaining when he causes an upset but also he's caused some very expensive damage. His comments about Honda upset a partnership and left it unworkable... And we now know how good it could have turned out from RB's time with Honda.

Without Alonso, Honda would be leaving F1 without any wins in this era of F1. The engine just isn't good enough to win in anything less than a Red Bull, and it would never have found its way into that car without the McLaren divorce. The McLaren was no where near being up to par, and it was only after they fitted the Renault, and gave themselves a true benchmark to other teams, that they were able to steer a course towards their current recovery.

I'm not suggesting he was a positive influence, but he said what needed to be said, and he precipitated what, in hindsight, were the best possible outcomes for all parties, except perhaps himself.

[Pizzaeatingking]

cuprabob said:

Exige77 said:

At Ferrari he was living off his former glories. He did OK but didn’t win any WDCs.

I think that's a bit harsh as he was runner up 3 out of the 5 years he was at Ferrari.

I always thought he outperformed the car for most of his time at Ferrari, he shouldn't have been as close to those championships on the cars pace but dragged it up there.

I'm pleased he's coming back, I reckon he'll have some pace in him still and as much as he moans he'll get the most from the car while he's crying. I think he'll make Ocon look average tbh.

[TheDeuce]

thegreenhell said:

TheDeuce said:

I'm sure of it. I'm conflicted though. It's very entertaining when he causes an upset but also he's caused some very expensive damage. His comments about Honda upset a partnership and left it unworkable... And we now know how good it could have turned out from RB's time with Honda.

Without Alonso, Honda would be leaving F1 without any wins in this era of F1. The engine just isn't good enough to win in anything less than a Red Bull, and it would never have found its way into that car without the McLaren divorce. The McLaren was no where near being up to par, and it was only after they fitted the Renault, and gave themselves a true benchmark to other teams, that they were able to steer a course towards their current recovery.

I'm not suggesting he was a positive influence, but he said what needed to be said, and he precipitated what, in hindsight, were the best possible outcomes for all parties, except perhaps himself.

That's a different way of looking at it!!

I'm going to have to think on that view point... You 'might' be making a good point in terms of how it all sort of ended out for the best.. I'm just not convinced that's a good reason to be to warm towards a guy that does such damage in the first place. It can't be assumed it will always somehow work out well can it?

Honda could have simply packed their bags and sodded off.

[Wombat3]

He might not be quite as quick on the limit as before but I suspect he'll be just as relentless , metronomic and ruthless as ever. If the car has the potential he will win in it.