The Official F1 2023 silly season *contains speculation*
Discussion
stemll said:
Deesee said:
Oh and let’s be fair..
I had bucket loads of grief a couple of months ago for suggesting that PH fav Alonso was not in favour at Alpine, and Dani Ricc for not doing the numbers at Mc Merc..
This is the silly season discussion thread.. btw..
Except that Alonso was offered a new contract at Alpine, he just chose to go to AM instead but I'd wager he wasn't doing that until SV retired.I had bucket loads of grief a couple of months ago for suggesting that PH fav Alonso was not in favour at Alpine, and Dani Ricc for not doing the numbers at Mc Merc..
This is the silly season discussion thread.. btw..
Doesn't mean he "wasn't in favour"
Fred has not really performed to his potential in the car, but to be fair Enstone have not held their part of any bargain by sacking most senior members of the team and generally trying to get to a Hass type level of performance. However definitely not ‘in favour’.
Smollet said:
I guess we’ll have to disagree. Talented yes but that was all. He certainly shone in the early days but a bit of a show pony imgo
I think the realisation of how badly he screwed up by walking away from the dominant Williams probably messed his head up and he was a very emotionally driven character. But as I said he didn't have a car anywhere near the pace from 1991-3. If we look at 1994 and 1995 which are the only two seasons he had competitive machinery he was not bad at all, if obviously not on the same level as Schumacher and Hill.Otmar pretty annoyed then -
https://racingnews365.com/szafnauer-criticises-pia...
His lawyers seem to think this is not over perhaps, but you'd think the FIA would have read his existing contract carefully before saying the Mac one was pukka.
https://racingnews365.com/szafnauer-criticises-pia...
His lawyers seem to think this is not over perhaps, but you'd think the FIA would have read his existing contract carefully before saying the Mac one was pukka.
TDK-C60 said:
Otmar pretty annoyed then -
https://racingnews365.com/szafnauer-criticises-pia...
His lawyers seem to think this is not over perhaps, but you'd think the FIA would have read his existing contract carefully before saying the Mac one was pukka.
pasty has a face like a smug slapped arse .https://racingnews365.com/szafnauer-criticises-pia...
His lawyers seem to think this is not over perhaps, but you'd think the FIA would have read his existing contract carefully before saying the Mac one was pukka.
not even in F1 and acting like a prima donna , if i was in Alpines position , and he ended up in an Alpine ...... I think Ocons car would magically be more reliable , have better pit stops and faster .............. a mediocre year as a rookie with an attitude can make a world of difference
cgt2 said:
Smollet said:
I guess we’ll have to disagree. Talented yes but that was all. He certainly shone in the early days but a bit of a show pony imgo
I think the realisation of how badly he screwed up by walking away from the dominant Williams probably messed his head up and he was a very emotionally driven character. But as I said he didn't have a car anywhere near the pace from 1991-3. If we look at 1994 and 1995 which are the only two seasons he had competitive machinery he was not bad at all, if obviously not on the same level as Schumacher and Hill.He seemed to be a bit of a Villeneuve type character, always driving the wheels off what he had and spectacular to watch but with a hot headed temperament, maybe if he'd been able to dial things back a notch and manage tyres etc he'd have improved but I think it was a classic case of right place wrong time. Had he gone to Williams I think we'd be talking about retired world champion Jean Alesi.
DanielSan said:
Gtom said:
Wasn’t Pascal Wehrlein highly rated as well?
I never understood why anyone rated him that highly to be honest? Or know if anyone ever actually did and it wasn't just something planted into the media. His reputation stopped him getting drives elsewhere too. In a sport where toxic personalities seem to be acceptable he must have been particularly bad for nobody to be willing to take him on.
patmahe said:
He seemed to be a bit of a Villeneuve type character, always driving the wheels off what he had and spectacular to watch but with a hot headed temperament, maybe if he'd been able to dial things back a notch and manage tyres etc he'd have improved but I think it was a classic case of right place wrong time. Had he gone to Williams I think we'd be talking about retired world champion Jean Alesi.
Correct. Not only did he have Villeneuve's 27 on his car, I clearly remember from being at circuits at the time how incredibly popular he was with fans. Apart from Spa, Hockenheim and Silverstone, by far the most support and signs in the crowd were for Alesi.TDK-C60 said:
Otmar pretty annoyed then -
https://racingnews365.com/szafnauer-criticises-pia...
His lawyers seem to think this is not over perhaps, but you'd think the FIA would have read his existing contract carefully before saying the Mac one was pukka.
Pretty rich of himhttps://racingnews365.com/szafnauer-criticises-pia...
His lawyers seem to think this is not over perhaps, but you'd think the FIA would have read his existing contract carefully before saying the Mac one was pukka.
All we can do is conjecture, but the more he doth protest...
Its the usual story we see in the general workplace. While relying on the vast experience and skill of older workers firms generally run them down for being old. In this instance Alonso took the best option for feeling valued.
Workers at Alpine are no doubt delighted as they can return to a steady mediocrity hiding in the shadows of the midfield with jobs for life as they budget cap and solid F1 entry protects them. Ocon will have his big grin and so will the other (not sour faced piastri lol) driver regardless.
Nobody likes a pushy employee or boss unless they want to win something. Stroll Sr and Alonso will try but you need a vast team of top people, so lets see.
Workers at Alpine are no doubt delighted as they can return to a steady mediocrity hiding in the shadows of the midfield with jobs for life as they budget cap and solid F1 entry protects them. Ocon will have his big grin and so will the other (not sour faced piastri lol) driver regardless.
Nobody likes a pushy employee or boss unless they want to win something. Stroll Sr and Alonso will try but you need a vast team of top people, so lets see.
patmahe said:
I read somewhere that he was talented but had a very bad attitude and rubbed up team personnel the wrong way.
Pascal Wehrlein continuing to win friends and influence people https://the-race.com/formula-e/buemi-wehrlein-invo...liner33 said:
Always knew that the Alonso/Alpine relationship would sour just like every team relationship he has in F1 , the guy is toxic imo and not what he was . They are well shot of him and AM will regret signing him I reckon
I give it a year until Alonso falls out with Stroll Sr because Stroll Jr is getting all the shiny new toys and upgrades. It's going to be Macca 2007 all over again except this time he doesn't have a very fast and highly talented team mate.Why teams sign this clown Alonso is beyond me....
paulguitar said:
vaud said:
Deesee said:
George, will be gone year after next, not the full package for what Merc need, I hope I’m proved wrong.
On what evidence?Likes Fast Cars said:
I give it a year until Alonso falls out with Stroll Sr because Stroll Jr is getting all the shiny new toys and upgrades. It's going to be Macca 2007 all over again except this time he doesn't have a very fast and highly talented team mate.
Why teams sign this clown Alonso is beyond me....
Sponsors want a name. Alonso fits the bill, I doubt he’s that expensive and he can still pedal a car better than most. Why teams sign this clown Alonso is beyond me....
patmahe said:
DanielSan said:
Gtom said:
Wasn’t Pascal Wehrlein highly rated as well?
I never understood why anyone rated him that highly to be honest? Or know if anyone ever actually did and it wasn't just something planted into the media. His reputation stopped him getting drives elsewhere too. In a sport where toxic personalities seem to be acceptable he must have been particularly bad for nobody to be willing to take him on.
Wehrlein did himself no favours by publicly criticising Force India for choosing Ocon over him and there were indeed stories of less than harmonious relationships between him and his teams. All of those things though can be forgotten or put to one side if you're quick enough and whilst he showed some promise at Sauber and was seen as a good driver, Mercedes were looking at (and Wolff managing) drivers like Ocon and Russel who they considered to be better. His one shot would have been when Roseberg retired but Wolff considered him not ready and went for Bottas.
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff