ringo wrote:Alonso is staying with Honda. His contract is air tight. 3 years locked in.
why on earth do people still hang on to this nonsense?
there are already sources out that mention Alonso has a buy-out clause of 23 million pounds.
Is that air tight? no it isn't, it is open for money.
Then, nobody here knows whether Alonso has signed a contract which has a clause that by the end
of the 2nd year the car is not capable of winning, he is free to leave. I am thoroughly sure that clause exists.
Which means that buy-out issue doesnt even need to be 'exploited'.
pre-finally, Mercedes themselves have claimed Alonso is an option. If it was air-tight, there would be no discussion.
finally, and this really is the nail in the coffin,
There was serious discussion of Alonso going to Mercedes before the Rosberg events of late.
Even more; Mercedes literally stated that if either Lewis' or Rosberg' contract discussions came to a halt,
rather; they couldn't work things out - then they would go for Alonso.
which utterly means, that Alonso IS an option, IS available and does NOT have an air-tight contract.
And again, even IF the buyout clause would be existant and neccesary, then Mercedes would pay that amount
and still get proper money back from PR alone. They'd make a buck that Nico could never get them, and a guaranteed
driver that will get you as many WCC points as the car is capable of.
Do i want Alonso in there above anybody else? Hell yeah!
Is Alonso not an option? hell no - he's their very best option to choose from right now.
The ONLY thing possibly preventing Mercedes from engaging into a partnership with Alonso, is the direction and possibilities for the long-term future.
THAT's where a driver like Bottas has more potential - theoretically that is.
Alonso would home in fantastic results and perhaps even a very own WDC for 2 years give or take. After that, i can see Alonso losing interest and simply get 'too much of a veteran' to really continue, whereas Bottas surely has about 4-5 years tops to be accomodated, and 'shaped' into the angle they want him to - making him a handy nr2 driver to Lewis, and by the time Lewis calls it quits with Mercedes, he'll be ready for either a more professional role, or to help their next 'star driver'.
The problem again with Bottas however, is that i don't think bottas fancies or sees himself as a Nr.2 driver.
So if we look at that little pickle again, then you simply once again return for the best solution right now:
Alonso.
Not a single doubt in my mind. Mercedes would have to be crazy not to sign him. It really is their only 'solution' to the really big problem Rosberg has left them with.
(at least the ones who repeat the same inaccurate arguments.) Also, to the people that say it's impossible, don't forget that he almost joined them in 2014 but there was no place.
