What are the odds of Alonso losing it?

[jdlive]

It's like Vettel said, "Massa can be faster than Fernando". I wouldn't be surprised if on many occasions, they deliberately set up Massa's car worse or command him to drive slower than he could, only to make Alonso appear to be better than he really is. There's a lot of fishy stuff going on when Alonso is involved.

[raymondu999]

Nah I don't think so. They manage Massa, probably, telling him to slow down, but they won't hinder his setup. Otherwise when a race like Spa/Suzuka comes along, he can't take points off rivals.

Massa has always been quick (pre-2010). His strength, to memory, was how deep he could brake into corners, and the speed he'd carry through the apex.

[jdlive]

"You're coming too close to Fernando"

"Fernando is starting to push"

I was actually waiting for:

"Felipe, park the car, you're going to overtake Fernando, still want a job next year?"

Pathetic

[mzivtins]

Everyone seems so concerned about the strategy at Ferrari.

Its almost like people have only started watching F1 this race, or understand very little about the issues ferrari have faced.

Massa was plagued with a very bad start to the season, his seat at Ferrari was in danger. The championship then started to go the way of Alonso, and in the press Alonso, and Massa both commented that Massa is a STRONG driver, and that he can give Ferrari the team play that no other driver can.

4-5 races ago, Massa knew he needed a boost in performance and to be there for his team mate, that was required from him from the top, why is this news to people now?

And we are still discussing this point even with this:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103449

Yet people like to ignore what teams themselves have to say. Massa is very relieved and happy! he did a fking GREAT job, and proves again, there is no better man to have as your team mate on the grid.

I feel extremely happy for Massa, and feel Ferrari have really made a good choice here... that contract for Massa will feel much better than a 3rd place podium today in Korea.

Of course this is just my Opinion, but juts ask yourself's... how happy must Massa be at the moment

[jdlive]

He can't possibly be happy being forced to drive slower than he could. No way. There's no honour whatsoever in being an obedient "good teammate". I'm surprised he doesn't say --- it himself. Has to be terribly humiliating. Especially seeing as neither Webber, nor Button/Hamilton have to do this.

Of course the official message is always going to be positive, this is F1.

[sknguy]

Massa's always been a quick driver and I'd hoped that he'd find his mojo this season. Although... he seems quite finicky about how his emotions motivate him.

"You're coming too close to Fernando"

"Fernando is starting to push"

I was actually waiting for:

"Felipe, park the car, you're going to overtake Fernando, still want a job next year?"

Pathetic

It was pretty odd having Massa catch Alonso one minute, then Alonso catching Webber the next, then Alonso backing off in the end. You have to admit that if Massa were closer in the standings I think they'd have let the quicker one have a go at Webber. The TV commentators, at about lap 45, were suggesting that Ferrari could release Massa so he could harass (if not pass) Webber to allow Alonso to catch up to both. Had Massa been further up in the standings I think that would have been a decent gamble.

BTW: Massa's actually the one I'd root for most in any race.

[Stradivarius]

I really don't see why Ferrari didn't allow Massa to pass Alonso and have a go at Webber. It wouldn't even have been a gamble, as teamorders are allowed and Massa could stop just before the finish line if that was necessary. Massa could maybe have challenged Webber and forced him to drive defensive lines, and maybe even wear out his tyres. This could only have been good for Alonso and Ferrari, without any risk of loosing points to Alonso. If I remember correctly, Irvine and Schumacher did something similar against Villeneuve at Suzuka in 1997; Schumacher let Irvine past so that Irvine could challenge Villeneueve, who was deliberately driving slowly to block Schumacher, as Villeneuve was racing under appeal and was expecting to be disqualified after the race.

[WhiteBlue]

I think that letting Massa by would have been an ego and image problem for Alonso and he simply will not stand that. Alonso is practically running that team to his liking. There is also the little problem of the disrespect rule. Blatantly obvious team tactics can lead to a punishment for making a mockery of the sport. I don't think that Massa could have made a difference to the outcome of Korea although it would have been nice if he had been allowed to try. Hence Alonso's chances of loosing the title race were probably not affected.

[Tommy Cookers]

Massa has often shown this season that he can do a few fast laps, then need new tyres
Alonso certainly managed his tyres well right to the end, yesterday

[lebesset]

with the incredible reliability of the ferrari and the current turn of speed you can see 4 good results for alonso

but with the speed of the red bull you can see 3 wins for vettel [ webber will certainly support him now ] ...even with a DNF that would be enough even if alonso had 1 win and 3 seconds .....and it is hard to imagine him achieving that ! McLaren surely won't be as bad ALL of the remaining races

I think McLaren WILL be as bad all of the remaining races. Realistically they screwed their chances at both the WDC and WCC. What's the point continueing the work on the current car? They are better off focussing on next year's car. Yes I know they practically can take almost everything from this season to the next, but still it would be better now shifting focus to next year.

point is there is more money for finishing 2nd in the constructors championship than for finishing 3rd
in golf they say ..drive for show and putt for dough ....both championships may be out of sight but there is lots of lovely money to be made so they need to hole a few putts

[turbof1]

with the incredible reliability of the ferrari and the current turn of speed you can see 4 good results for alonso

but with the speed of the red bull you can see 3 wins for vettel [ webber will certainly support him now ] ...even with a DNF that would be enough even if alonso had 1 win and 3 seconds .....and it is hard to imagine him achieving that ! McLaren surely won't be as bad ALL of the remaining races

I think McLaren WILL be as bad all of the remaining races. Realistically they screwed their chances at both the WDC and WCC. What's the point continueing the work on the current car? They are better off focussing on next year's car. Yes I know they practically can take almost everything from this season to the next, but still it would be better now shifting focus to next year.

point is there is more money for finishing 2nd in the constructors championship than for finishing 3rd
in golf they say ..drive for show and putt for dough ....both championships may be out of sight but there is lots of lovely money to be made so they need to hole a few putts

To continue that parody: f1 has year after year changing material. What if golf had that too? Would a person in golf keep playing at the end of the season to keep racking up price money, or will he quit earlier to start practicing with the new clubs to give himself a better chance next season? It is a difficult choice in that situation.
McLaren is known as a capital rich entreprise. I am not denying they dont want that money, but for them its a perfect feasible option to sacrifice a higher position this year to give them more time for next year. One should not forget 2014 has entirely new rules: focussing now more time and resources on the 2013 car, will als give more time eventually for the 2014 car.

[Gerhard Berger]

I really don't see why Ferrari didn't allow Massa to pass Alonso and have a go at Webber. It wouldn't even have been a gamble, as teamorders are allowed and Massa could stop just before the finish line if that was necessary. Massa could maybe have challenged Webber and forced him to drive defensive lines, and maybe even wear out his tyres. This could only have been good for Alonso and Ferrari, without any risk of loosing points to Alonso. If I remember correctly, Irvine and Schumacher did something similar against Villeneuve at Suzuka in 1997; Schumacher let Irvine past so that Irvine could challenge Villeneueve, who was deliberately driving slowly to block Schumacher, as Villeneuve was racing under appeal and was expecting to be disqualified after the race.

Don't think it would look very good for Ferrari if Massa stopped by the finish line, waiting for Alonso.

The Suzuka 97 situation was quite different for reasons that you have already mentioned.

[Gerhard Berger]

"You're coming too close to Fernando"

"Fernando is starting to push"

I was actually waiting for:

"Felipe, park the car, you're going to overtake Fernando, still want a job next year?"

Pathetic

erm what did you expect them to do? Massa is out of the running of the WDC (both realistically and mathematically). No sane team would let Massa pass Alonso in that situation.

[CHT]

Alonso can now reply on LH to help him win the title.

http://en.espnf1.com/mclaren/motorsport ... 92042.html

[adam2003]

Alonso deserves it more than vettle. I like vettle but find hes only good when the car is the best i have never seen him battle though the field like Alonso. He gets pole and usally runs away never see much of the raw talent" Alonso is always fighting just something special about him, hes always their or just about