Silly Season 2013/14

[munudeges]

anybody who would say few years ago that chief of Mclaren would say that Alonso is the best driver and that they have free seat for him and wishing him to come back if he feels to do so, would be considered to had taken leave of any sense they might have had left.

I don't see how the two are comparable in any way.

Yes, I do remember Martin Whitmarsh saying "He's the best driver" but it's absolutely amazing what a team can say about a driver once certain commercial interests align.

[radosav]

Anybody who believes that Alonso 'asked' for Raikkonen has taken complete leave of any sense they might have had left.

anybody who would say few years ago that chief of Mclaren would say that Alonso is the best driver and that they have free seat for him and wishing him to come back if he feels to do so, would be considered to had taken leave of any sense they might have had left.

Where did exactly Martin Whitmarsh say Alonso is the best driver? or are we using our imagination

"Let's be frank, people want to sign Fernando Alonso because he is one of the best motor-racing drivers in the world at the moment. He is an asset to any team.

Asked if he wanted Alonso, who is under contract at Maranello until the end of 2016, Whitmarsh told the BBC: "Yes – any team would. He's the best driver. I don't know his contractual situation. I assume he's under contract."

[munudeges]

For me it's pretty clear that a way is now being engineered for Alonso to leave for McLaren next year. The fact that Perez and Button aren't signed only reinforces the suspicion. Ferrari and Alonso aren't going to hang around for another year when they know he's moving to McLaren with Honda anyway.

For starters it means that Raikkonen already has a big advantage when he moves there, and that's not down to Raikkonen being a much better driver. It simply means that the weight of development, focus and new parts will filter in Raikkonen's direction because Ferrari aren't going to want to back Alonso and make him privy to anything at all he could take to McLaren.

It would be an awkward and frustrating situation for Alonso and it's not something I think Ferrari would want to have to manage. Various people at McLaren and Ferrari will currently be working on various contract and commercial considerations but I don't see how there won't be a will to make it happen on all sides.

[iotar__]

For me it's pretty clear that a way is now being engineered for Alonso to leave for McLaren next year. The fact that Perez and Button aren't signed only reinforces the suspicion. Ferrari and Alonso aren't going to hang around for another year when they know he's moving to McLaren with Honda anyway.

For starters it means that Raikkonen already has a big advantage when he moves there, and that's not down to Raikkonen being a much better driver. It simply means that the weight of development, focus and new parts will filter in Raikkonen's direction because Ferrari aren't going to want to back Alonso and make him privy to anything at all he could take to McLaren.

It would be an awkward and frustrating situation for Alonso and it's not something I think Ferrari would want to have to manage. Various people at McLaren and Ferrari will currently be working on various contract and commercial considerations but I don't see how there won't be a will to make it happen on all sides.

I wouldn't want this gem to go unnoticed. So it's as good as done, no development for Alonso in 2014, it's Lotus 2013 again , maybe half a dozen of team orders on top of that, we wouldn't want it to be too hard for our good driver . Ferrari won't care for results in 2014, this mythical WCC they hired two "top drivers" for, why would they? Seriously this is only wishful thinking, who's engineering this move, Alonso? Why? And what would he take with him to McLaren not giving him updates prevents?

It makes as much sense as him "leaving" in 2014 week ago but since anything can happen let's make a bet. If Alonso signs for McLaren in 2015 I'll have a Justin Bieber avatar for 30 days during F1 season, if he doesn't you will, deal?

[zeph]

It makes as much sense as him "leaving" in 2014 week ago but since anything can happen let's make a bet. If Alonso signs for McLaren in 2015 I'll have a Justin Bieber avatar for 30 days during F1 season, if he doesn't you will, deal?

Sounds like a fair deal, Seg!

[munudeges]

I wouldn't want this gem to go unnoticed. So it's as good as done, no development for Alonso in 2014, it's Lotus 2013 again , maybe half a dozen of team orders on top of that...

Alonso and Raikkonen are champions and very good drivers, except Alonso seems to continue to close doors on himself wherever he goes. I'm not saying what you idiotically think I'm saying there.

No team is going to be comfortable with any driver who they know is staying for one season to then move to a rival with a completely new engine supplier that is sitting there watching and learning. If Alonso stays he's going to get destroyed by a driver he can't pull political stunts on.

[iotar__]

It makes as much sense as him "leaving" in 2014 week ago but since anything can happen let's make a bet. If Alonso signs for McLaren in 2015 I'll have a Justin Bieber avatar for 30 days during F1 season, if he doesn't you will, deal?

Sounds like a fair deal, Seg!

I'm not sure what you mean, you approve conditions as fair or want to take part? If the latter - one at the time, let's not dilute it, you might all be Bieber fans and I'm the only one risking anything here.

[JimClarkFan]

Another thread on the verge of ruin because a few can't see that opinions are not fact, and cannot tolerate differences in opinion when they occur. This appears to spawn from the youtube mentality the internet has created of 'i must prove I am smarter than everyone else on the message board.'

[munudeges]

Big Ron Dennis in an interview on Alonso coming back to the team? "Anything is possible......"

Don't worry. It's all just rumours, which is what I thought this thread was about.........

[Racer X]

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/s ... hadowlands


Perez story on how he may be replaced by Maggnusen or Alonso or some one else. Who knows.

[GitanesBlondes]

McLaren would do best to get rid of Perez. He's an average driver who will show flashes on occasion, as will most drivers. But, he's not a viable long-term option for McLaren. Even if they do re-sign him for 2014, he'll likely be gone after that season. If they are insistent on trying to get Alonso back to McLaren, then there is no chance Perez would be kept over Button.

[SectorOne]

I bet Button stays, Magnussen in. Then Button retires, Magnussen now solid, Varndoorne comes in.

[langwadt]

I bet Button stays, Magnussen in. Then Button retires, Magnussen now solid, Varndoorne comes in.

oh I wish, I want to see Magnussen get the success in F1 his father never got driving that horrible Steward
Mclaren have said they want Magnussen in F1 in 2014 but he is danish small country, no big sponsors
I'm not sure merit alone is enough to get seat in one of the big teams

[henra]

I bet Button stays, Magnussen in. Then Button retires, Magnussen now solid, Varndoorne comes in.

For a top Team of McLaren's heritage and aspiration I'm not sure I would consider this a brilliant concept.
Who is going to motivate/drive their engineers to their ultimate performance?

And if they're slow they won't really know if it's the design of the car, its setup or simply the Drivers not being up to speed.
Too many variables.

[nacho]

It is a bit of a problem now that there is no testing done. New drivers aren't allowed to develop (or show) all the way even if they have talent. I feared this when the testing ban came. Otherwise McLaren would already have a new future driver as a test driver like Mika or Lewis.