Silly Season 2013/14

[JimClarkFan]

It's funny how everyone's moving Alonso as if anyone who offers a contract could immediately hire him, first RB now McLaren. Is "evil" Alonso still selling among F1's journo/audience mob? It would be funny to see Ferrari left with the other "top driver" and some nr 2 in 2015, if that's the reason speculations like that sell.

Why would he even be worried about McLaren 2015 now, before biggest change in history of F1 with unknown consequences? So the assumption is that McLaren-Honda will be the car to have in 2015, based on what? I see three problems: McLaren, Honda and McLaren+Honda - season behind the competition. Even if they are great in 2014 it would be no guarantee for 2015.

OK, for 2015 - Alonso to McLaren, "disgruntled" Hamilton to Ferrari after losing a chance for 2014 championship through reliability and Mercedes refusing to treat him as clear nr 1. Eddie Jordan from the future told me that .

The talk is of Alonso being there in 2014, with a Mercedes engine, not just 2015.

Haha, no chance. McLaren would never accept Alonso back after he threw his toys out the pram.

You need to read the articles I posted, Whitmarsh has said he absolutely WOULD accept him back.

[SectorOne]

The question is....will Ron accept him back?

[Juzh]

The question is....will Ron accept him back?

Ron is no longer in charge of those decisions imo. He's been relieved of his executive position by major share holders as long as I know.

[ScottB]

Would be hilarious if Alonso goes to Mclaren next year, Button retires and in 2015 Mclaren promote one of their 2 rookies who then goes on to beat Alonso...

[adrianjordan]

Button and Alonso have history of working together back when Button was driving for Renault - Alonso was their test driver...who then got promoted to a race seat at the expense of Button!!

I could actually see Button and Alonso working very well together. I think Alonso would be faster than Button by the same sort of margin as Hamilton was (Alonso knows first-hand how fast Hamilton is, so I doubt he'd be too worried about Button). Plus the way I read 2007 was not that Alonso thought he should be given preference over Hamilton, but it was that he felt Hamilton was being preference OVER HIM...though it's been 6 years so my mind might be a little foggy - might go rewatch the 2007 season review DVD tonight...

I think Alonso in a McLaren would be a fantastic deal right now...

[Sevach]

The question is....will Ron accept him back?

I'd say "beggars can't be choosers", they don't have Hamilton anymore...

[Joie de vivre]

Like I said, Alonso for McLaren-Honda.

[dren]

Alonso said he's not interested in a return to Mclaren.

[rich1701]

If I was Alonso I wouldn't be too worried about Raikkonen. Raikkonen isn't interested in politics he just wants to drive the car and leave. He will consider Raikkonen's past performances against Massa in his prime. Alonso must feel over the course of the season he will come out in top whilst probably being out qualified a few times.

More importantly next year should be stronger for Ferrari, Rory Byrne is back with his wealth of experience incorporating a turbo engine into the chassis. And a number of highly regarded technical people have joined the team lately. The momentum to be competitive is surely with Ferrari for next year. I think Alonso would be mad to make a decision this year to end his contract early.

[astracrazy]

If I was Alonso I wouldn't be too worried about Raikkonen. Raikkonen isn't interested in politics he just wants to drive the car and leave. He will consider Raikkonen's past performances against Massa in his prime. Alonso must feel over the course of the season he will come out in top whilst probably being out qualified a few times.

More importantly next year should be stronger for Ferrari, Rory Byrne is back with his wealth of experience incorporating a turbo engine into the chassis. And a number of highly regarded technical people have joined the team lately. The momentum to be competitive is surely with Ferrari for next year. I think Alonso would be mad to make a decision this year to end his contract early.

If i was Alonso, i would be concerned. The fact Kimi doesn't care means he no longer has a driver who will move out of his way at his demand. He won't have a driver taking a gearbox penalty just so he can start on the correct side of the grid. What Alonso has in 2014 is a match and the last time that happened he couldn't stand it (2007)

Remember all the noises at the moment are that the ferrari engine isn't up there yet.

[langwadt]

If I was Alonso I wouldn't be too worried about Raikkonen. Raikkonen isn't interested in politics he just wants to drive the car and leave. He will consider Raikkonen's past performances against Massa in his prime. Alonso must feel over the course of the season he will come out in top whilst probably being out qualified a few times.

More importantly next year should be stronger for Ferrari, Rory Byrne is back with his wealth of experience incorporating a turbo engine into the chassis. And a number of highly regarded technical people have joined the team lately. The momentum to be competitive is surely with Ferrari for next year. I think Alonso would be mad to make a decision this year to end his contract early.

If i was Alonso, i would be concerned. The fact Kimi doesn't care means he no longer has a driver who will move out of his way at his demand. He won't have a driver taking a gearbox penalty just so he can start on the correct side of the grid. What Alonso has in 2014 is a match and the last time that happened he couldn't stand it (2007)

Remember all the noises at the moment are that the ferrari engine isn't up there yet.

If you team mate has a shot at the WDC and you don't why wouldn't you take the gearbox penalty if they team
thinks that will up the chance of winning the championship? they pay your salary

imagine a footballer losing the game by refusing to make the pass to the guy with the chance to score

[henra]

If you team mate has a shot at the WDC and you don't why wouldn't you take the gearbox penalty if they team
thinks that will up the chance of winning the championship? they pay your salary

Could you imagine Webber giving away his grid position to Vettel during any single one of the last 4 seasons?
In all seriousness: No other driver has had the same level of support from his team mate that Alonso has enjoyed at Ferrari during the last couple of years.
They have a history with Michael Schumacher in that regard, though.

[CHT]

imagine a footballer losing the game by refusing to make the pass to the guy with the chance to score

this happens all the time.

[beelsebob]

[quote="JimClarkFan"The talk is of Alonso being there in 2014, with a Mercedes engine, not just 2015.

Haha, no chance. McLaren would never accept Alonso back after he threw his toys out the pram.

You need to read the articles I posted, Whitmarsh has said he absolutely WOULD accept him back.[/quote]
Sure, and with the complete context of my comment, I actually think Alonso is the bigger issue here. The only reason he would leave Ferrari is because he is no longer "number 1 driver", and he's got a cast iron guarantee that he wouldn't be number 1 driver at McLaren either. They put him up against a complete rookie, and said "look, if you can't beat him, that's on you", if they didn't give him number 1 status against Hamilton, they won't against Checko (assuming Button retiring is what allows him to go to McLaren).

[djos]

Any top team would be insane to turn Alonso down based on 1 difficult year - Alonso, Vettel and Hamilton are the 3 best drivers in F1 and if you want to be a top team, you need one of those three in your car!