2014/15 Silly Season

[acosmichippo]

He'd be a moron to take a break in my opinion. Why not join a very hungry Mclaren and see how things go. It's the same gamble Lewis took and it has paid off. Let's say he takes a break and then hamilton takes a pay cut in addition to getting the job done. He's --- then. He'd have to negotiate at even worse terms than now.

Problem is McLaren would want to sign him to 3 years. Alonso probably wouldn't want to commit to them for that long, effectively the rest of his career.

[Writinglife]

nice to see I get a downvote for expressing a polite opinion. Apparently i'm a fanboy for having a preferred team lineup.

[marcush.]

What was Horners stance when Vettel asked for a release from his contract? we cannot force someone to drive for us if he does not want to ....
Alonso can sign any contract with any conditions ...if MclarenHonda is not competitive alonso could simply walk away ,two or three year contract who cares.
Maybe Fred is still hoping for the Mercedes clash with Rosberg bagging the title and Hamilton storming out of the house ...


Interestingly Bernie has mentioned it would be a possibility the big teams using the bankrupt /insolvent ones to field the third cars next year...teams like Sauber could do quite well campaigning and developping a customer Ferrari ....

[djos]

Problem is McLaren would want to sign him to 3 years. Alonso probably wouldn't want to commit to them for that long, effectively the rest of his career.

It's only a problem of the Honda pu is junk and this seems unlikely imo.

We all know how good a well financed McLaren team can be, it stands to reason that with Honda confined to supplying pu's and money they will be at the very least competitive.

[acosmichippo]

What was Horners stance when Vettel asked for a release from his contract? we cannot force someone to drive for us if he does not want to ....

That was Horner's comment, who has Ricciardo (driving better than Vettel) as well as a huge stock of young drivers lined up behind him. So this does not at all mean McLaren would act in the same fashion.

Alonso can sign any contract with any conditions ...if MclarenHonda is not competitive alonso could simply walk away ,two or three year contract who cares.

He could walk away *if* there was a clause in his contract that allowed him to do so. This could very well be a point of contention in negotiations.

[Aesto]

We all know how good a well financed McLaren team can be, it stands to reason that with Honda confined to supplying pu's and money they will be at the very least competitive.

You would think so, but for some crazy reason McLaren is not just behind Mercedes this year, but also RB, Ferrari and Williams. They have a much better engine than the former two and loads more cash than the latter. F1 works out weird sometimes

[djos]

I was under the impression that McLaren were seriously light on sponsors this year?

[CjC]

I was under the impression that McLaren were seriously light on sponsors this year?

Ron Dennis said at the beginning of the season that this years budget is the biggest it's ever been.
Rumour has it Honda have already sent some money across.
Ron said that the shareholders didn't take a profit for their shares.
Who would you believe, Ron? The rumours? Or me? I have no idea either!

[djos]

Ok cool but where is the money being spent? On next year's car?

[Richard]

Is Dennis including Honda's cost of R&D for the new engine as part of his comment about the budget?

[Alexgtt]

Is Dennis including Honda's cost of R&D for the new engine as part of his comment about the budget?

I would have thought so but also surprised in one way. Wouldn't Honda insist it's finance went 100% into the new car for 2015 going forward? There might have been an arrangement to get them through this year learning as much as possible about the Merc PU for research and direction on the new PU. That's the only way I can see Honda financing anything towards the current year outside of a hybrid car for testing and the 2015 car.

However, back on topic. I really hope the driver line-up for McLaren is Alonso Button. I think that's a great combo for speed and development and Buttons ties with Honda go way back. Button might just up his game if the cars good and being able to measure himself next to Alonso. He didn't shy away from the challenge with Hamilton after all.

[marcush.]

What was Horners stance when Vettel asked for a release from his contract? we cannot force someone to drive for us if he does not want to ....

That was Horner's comment, who has Ricciardo (driving better than Vettel) as well as a huge stock of young drivers lined up behind him. So this does not at all mean McLaren would act in the same fashion.

Alonso can sign any contract with any conditions ...if MclarenHonda is not competitive alonso could simply walk away ,two or three year contract who cares.

He could walk away *if* there was a clause in his contract that allowed him to do so. This could very well be a point of contention in negotiations.

If you are serious about hiring Alonso you are sure you can compete on a very high level .Consequently there is no reason to not give Alaonso the right to leave if there is a lack of competitiveness.

[acosmichippo]

Why do you assume that? McLaren may have a good 3-year plan which requires stable driver personnel, but don't want to make any guarantees for next year. With the rumors of delays coming from Honda, that's perfectly understandable.

[Manoah2u]

from other thread;

I said this in the Torro Rosso thread dated 29th August! I will be a genius if it happens haha

Post Fri Aug 29, 2014 8:27 pm

I have a theory why Redbull/ Toro Rosso signed MAX Verstappen. his major sponsor you ask currently is...... Other then RedBull. Drum roll please......... VW group!!

2016 we will see redbull and Toro Rosso with either Audi branded Engines or VW. Porsche Maybe but I say VW has a bigger chance. Mark my words people

Audi are in Lemans with Porsche which is why I'm saying VW has a bigger chance of being the "brand"

Also Dr Marko hinted at the VW group not long ago when he was complaining about the Renault Engine

Now this is a interesting thought.

Alonso stated he won't be driving Merc engines, this could still be either Ferrari, Honda, or Renault.
There will be no audi engines in 2015, i'd say it'd be hard having one for 2016 but surely not impossible, especially since RedBull technologies has some input in the Renault plants, BUT, either Alonso opts for a 'sabattical' in 2015, or he'll land at Toro Rosso in 2015.
That sounds quite weird to be honest, from Ferrari to Toro Rosso. But RedBull quickly appointed Kvyat @ RedBull 'main' team. Verstappen was already signed,

Interestingly, there has been zero confirmation about the second Toro Rosso seat and quite frankly, it's like anybody could be there.

Toro Rosso being the 'feeder' of the entire RedBull young driver programme to the RedBull team has been more or less destroyed after Verstappen was signed, whom had zero connection to the RedBull young driver programme and entered F1 straight from Karting/F3. Vergne obviously was going to get the boot anyway, and it's strange he hasn't been given another year or whether there is a signing of one of the young driver programma participators.

The only realistic conclusion would be; the young driver programme isn't part of Toro Rosso any longer - and that must have a reason. I like the idea of Verstappen's sponsor VW being a part in this - and part in the actual signing of the youngster. Now the 'sensational' if you may story that runs around is that Audi is being attracted to F1 through a RedBull connection - since Toro Rosso still is RedBull property, that's where your link may be.

So perhaps indeed there may be the insane possibility Alonso is going to race a Toro Rosso alongside Verstappen next year- the fact Alonso only wants to commit for a year is a tell-tale sign something odd is up.

Because I just don't see why Alonso wouldn't sign a 3-year deal with Mclaren Honda.
He might just stay at Ferrari another year, that could be so, but it could very well be Ferrari said 'arrividerci' when they told him they signed Vettel and then some words crossed.

It would however mean Alonso is weighing in his 'options' (exactly his words), on what to do in 2015, if he's got his mind totally set for 2016. Will I drive with Toro Rosso in 2015, with less flair, and a Renault engine, essentially lose a year, at the mid of the field ? - Will I be able to persuade Mclaren for a 2015-only deal hoping to run at the front? - Will i race at Le Mans already in 2015 for a year at the front?

hmmm.......

the freedom of imagination

[George-Jung]

@Manoah,

Could you imagine; Alonso destroying half of the field with a Torro Rosso next year.. and get some podiums as well..
That would really be the proof he is the best.

Nevertheless I doubt it will ever happen, but just thinking about it makes me laugh