Discussion
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World champion Fernando Alonso thinks he deserved to have been treated better by McLaren this season, as he angrily hit back at criticism from team boss Ron Dennis ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.
Having already conceded that his championship hopes were finally all but over, and clearly feeling his chances will not be compromised by attacking the team, Alonso launched an extraordinary outburst against his treatment by McLaren when speaking to Spanish reporters after qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix.
"I was expecting a lot more, we all were," Alonso said. "From the outside, the team had a different image: serious, but very professional. And I arrived here after two titles; I improved the car as much as I could.
"Last year they were fighting to make it into Q3 and this year they are going to win the championship, and the truth is that the treatment has not been very good."
When asked if the treatment he received was that deserved by a two-time champion, Alonso said: "Not a double champion, but a normal person."
Alonso was also clearly unimpressed by claims from Dennis from earlier in the weekend, when the McLaren boss said he was disappointed by the Spaniard's failure to defend the team against suggestions of favouritism.
"It's better to be silent than to lie, that's for sure," said Alonso about Dennis' remarks. "And that's something he should do more often and I think the team would do better. Many of the scandals McLaren have been involved in off the track this year have been created by his things.
World champion Fernando Alonso thinks he deserved to have been treated better by McLaren this season, as he angrily hit back at criticism from team boss Ron Dennis ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.
Having already conceded that his championship hopes were finally all but over, and clearly feeling his chances will not be compromised by attacking the team, Alonso launched an extraordinary outburst against his treatment by McLaren when speaking to Spanish reporters after qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix.
"I was expecting a lot more, we all were," Alonso said. "From the outside, the team had a different image: serious, but very professional. And I arrived here after two titles; I improved the car as much as I could.
"Last year they were fighting to make it into Q3 and this year they are going to win the championship, and the truth is that the treatment has not been very good."
When asked if the treatment he received was that deserved by a two-time champion, Alonso said: "Not a double champion, but a normal person."
Alonso was also clearly unimpressed by claims from Dennis from earlier in the weekend, when the McLaren boss said he was disappointed by the Spaniard's failure to defend the team against suggestions of favouritism.
"It's better to be silent than to lie, that's for sure," said Alonso about Dennis' remarks. "And that's something he should do more often and I think the team would do better. Many of the scandals McLaren have been involved in off the track this year have been created by his things.
I can totally appreciate Alonso's position.
He has come straight from beating a 7-times champion, twice on the trot, and was expecting to get another WDC with McLaren at the same time as helping a newbie to learn the ropes. A nice little job for him.
But it all went a bit Pete Tong when the aforementioned newbie turned out to have already learnt the ropes. Now that Alonso is on the ropes (see what I did there
), he's showing the mental weakness he has displayed plenty of times before when the chips were down. Although previously his on-track ability managed to pulled him through.
You can't deny Alonso's ability - he is damn quick on track - but he is now completely rattled. In fact I would say he's utterly shocked. But then so are most people; some reacting vitriolically and others heaping praise on the unprecedented show that Hamilton has put on this year.
I honestly believed that Alonso would win this year, due the his WDC-winning experience and raw pace. In fact I almost hope he does win so that I can feel comfortable that I can still trust my gut instincts! But secretly I have always wanted Hamilton to win, even though I thought it wouldn't happen, as not only am I always an underdog-backer, but also it would be a great way to be proven wrong.
He has come straight from beating a 7-times champion, twice on the trot, and was expecting to get another WDC with McLaren at the same time as helping a newbie to learn the ropes. A nice little job for him.
But it all went a bit Pete Tong when the aforementioned newbie turned out to have already learnt the ropes. Now that Alonso is on the ropes (see what I did there
), he's showing the mental weakness he has displayed plenty of times before when the chips were down. Although previously his on-track ability managed to pulled him through.You can't deny Alonso's ability - he is damn quick on track - but he is now completely rattled. In fact I would say he's utterly shocked. But then so are most people; some reacting vitriolically and others heaping praise on the unprecedented show that Hamilton has put on this year.
I honestly believed that Alonso would win this year, due the his WDC-winning experience and raw pace. In fact I almost hope he does win so that I can feel comfortable that I can still trust my gut instincts! But secretly I have always wanted Hamilton to win, even though I thought it wouldn't happen, as not only am I always an underdog-backer, but also it would be a great way to be proven wrong.
jacobyte said:
I can totally appreciate Alonso's position.
He has come straight from beating a 7-times champion, twice on the trot, and was expecting to get another WDC with McLaren at the same time as helping a newbie to learn the ropes. A nice little job for him.
But it all went a bit Pete Tong when the aforementioned newbie turned out to have already learnt the ropes. Now that Alonso is on the ropes (see what I did there), he's showing the mental weakness he has displayed plenty of times before when the chips were down. Although previously his on-track ability managed to pulled him through.
You can't deny Alonso's ability - he is damn quick on track - but he is now completely rattled. In fact I would say he's utterly shocked. But then so are most people; some reacting vitriolically and others heaping praise on the unprecedented show that Hamilton has put on this year.
I honestly believed that Alonso would win this year, due the his WDC-winning experience and raw pace. In fact I almost hope he does win so that I can feel comfortable that I can still trust my gut instincts! But secretly I have always wanted Hamilton to win, even though I thought it wouldn't happen, as not only am I always an underdog-backer, but also it would be a great way to be proven wrong.
You've neatly summed my take on this too. I assume Alonsos wage packet (negotiated at the start of his contract) reflects the contribution to the team his experience has brought as double champion.He has come straight from beating a 7-times champion, twice on the trot, and was expecting to get another WDC with McLaren at the same time as helping a newbie to learn the ropes. A nice little job for him.
But it all went a bit Pete Tong when the aforementioned newbie turned out to have already learnt the ropes. Now that Alonso is on the ropes (see what I did there
), he's showing the mental weakness he has displayed plenty of times before when the chips were down. Although previously his on-track ability managed to pulled him through.You can't deny Alonso's ability - he is damn quick on track - but he is now completely rattled. In fact I would say he's utterly shocked. But then so are most people; some reacting vitriolically and others heaping praise on the unprecedented show that Hamilton has put on this year.
I honestly believed that Alonso would win this year, due the his WDC-winning experience and raw pace. In fact I almost hope he does win so that I can feel comfortable that I can still trust my gut instincts! But secretly I have always wanted Hamilton to win, even though I thought it wouldn't happen, as not only am I always an underdog-backer, but also it would be a great way to be proven wrong.
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