The Formula 1 silly season has largely died out in recent years with the top drives often being decided some years in advance. However, the economic climate has led to some shortening of contracts as teams do not want to be committed to pay vast sums when the market has shifted. Ferrari has been busy in recent years paying off Kimi Raikkonen’s deal from a few years ago and while it has signed Fernando Alonso for a new longterm contract, the choice of the second driver for 2012 has yet to be made. The team has an option on Felipe Massa for next year, but this does not mean that it will be taken up. It was significant that Alonso’s new deal was announced without Massa being included in the same announcement.
Mark Webber’s future has been much-discussed of late and while it is logical for Red Bull Racing to retain the Australian as a strong team-mate (but recently not an equal) to Sebastian Vettel, there is one scenario that ought perhaps to be considered. Ferrari has not been entirely happy with the performances of Massa for the last 18 months. Some have speculated that this is because of the head injury he suffered back in 2009, while others have concluded that this had no effect at all and the problem is that he is now up against Alonso – and he is tough for anyone to beat. Ferrari wants two drivers who can push one another and if Massa is not the answer one has to ask who would be the best option to replace him. What is needed in such a situation is a solid team performer who does not have ups and downs. Webber may be just such a driver. He is old enough and wise enough to know that his F1 career has a limited term and that there is no point in going beyond that. He is still very competitive and like most drivers would love to be a Ferrari driver. Webber says that he will decide what he wants to do in a while, but it may be that the much-publicised visit of Flavio Briatore to Maranello a while back was more to do with Webber, who is managed by Briatore, than the daft idea that Briatore might be a potential replacement for Luca di Montezemolo.
Ferrari might choose to bring on a youngster, such as a Kamui Kobayashi or a Sergio Perez, but it is too much to suggest that it would pick an unproven youngster such as Jules Bianchi, as his career path is much more likely to be to a team like Sauber to gain some experience. In the interim Ferrari needs someone who will keep Alonso on the move, without worrying the Spaniard too much, as he has not been very good at handling a competitive team mate in the past.
One needs also to consider the case of Lewis Hamilton and his recent chats with Red Bull Racing. There is, as Hamilton has said, no real reason why he would want to leave McLaren if the team has a competitive car, but for a while now Lewis has been struggling with his machinery and has watched as Red Bull Racing has dominated the sport. It is entirely logical that he would want to consider a switch to Red Bull, just as it is entirely logical that Red Bull would be interested in Hamilton, both as a driver and as a marketing exercise. That might not fit in with the desires of Sebastian Vettel and his supporters within the Red Bull empire but a Hamilton-Vettel combination would be a fine marketing ploy. In order for that to happen, however, Webber needs to move on…
Joe, two things…
First, I think Mark Webber has as many ups and downs during a regular season as Felipe.
Second, you say that Ferrari needs someone who can push Alonso and, at the same time, not trouble him too much. Having that said, isn’t Felipe just the right name?
I cannot really understand your point there. To me, Massa/Alonso is the best pairing Ferrari can have at the moment. There is no point in bringing someone new if one “cannot” trouble Fernando.
Nevertheless, I still believe Felipe is upping his game and later this season we will see some more convincing performances. The problem in 2010 wasn’t just Alonso, but the Bridgestone’s hard compounds, which never suited Felipe’s style.
Let’s see what happens.
After 4 years of defending Lewis, and after his meltdown at Monaco, I’m officially off the Hamilton bandwagon (even more so now, after his stunts in Montreal) – That said, I think Lewis will get sacked at McLaren, and is a logical choice to replace Weber… eventually. But if the Hamilton/Alonso ‘battle’ wasn’t bad enough before… just wait for the fireworks once Vettel and Hamilton are on the same team! – Can you hear Lewis saying; “Not bad for a Number 2 driver”? …. Naw, neither can I… So I doubt that’d be a viable fit… Shame Lewis mucked things up with Alonso during the McLaren days, for (to me) the next logical step would indeed be to Ferrari – Time will tell.
If Lewis should leave (or get the boot) – I think Rosberg would be an ideal replacement, and has earned a proper drive and seat there. Despite the whole ‘Brawn thing’ – I’m actually becoming more and more a fan of Button, and think Nico would make a great addition to the McLaren team and be an awesome teammate to JB.
Mark could never cut it at Ferrari IMO – Think he’ll end up at Renault… Lewis to RB – but just watch for the fireworks (could work though?) – and Nico to McLaren… Think Ferrari will keep Massa one more year…. That’s my ‘silly season’ predictions
Nice, but I would like to know what do you thik about possible return of Robert Kubica to the sport. Daniele Morelli was in Warsaw yesterday. He told that Renault seat is not the only one choice for him and that Pole might move to other team next year despite he was announced for 2 years with advance.
One of the bravest things Button ever did was to leave Brawn as world champion and go head to head with Hamilton. We should also credit Hamilton with the fact that he’s coped pretty well with Button’s arrival, at least better than Alonso and Vettel seem to cope with strong team mates. He called Button ‘the complete package’ as a team mate.
Button is rarely quicker than Hamilton over 1 lap but can and does beat him over a race distance from time to time.
Perhaps Hamilton is beginning to think that he won’t be a ‘complete package’ and will be viewed as second best to Vettel unles he races and beats him with equal equipment.
Just maybe Hamilton is going to follow Button’s strategy, and move to his biggest rival’s team.
Hi Joe,
Interesting point about Webber going to Ferrari but what about a Webber / Hamilton switch, Hamilton only has a year left on his contract, Webber doesn’t have a contract for next year yet? Who knows could be Vettel / Hamilton and Button / Webber for 2012
I think a a move to Red Bull now for Hamilton would be akin to buying a share at the top of the market.
RB might be at the top now but there is only one way they can go.
Another point to remember is Senna’s veto of Warwick at Lotus. Can RB supply 2 properly built cars to the grid? The evidence this year with so many last minute rebuilds and system failures is they can only do it for one car.
A very nice post. I personally would like to see Lewis join Red Bull as it is the dominating car, although I’d wait to see the season post-Silverstone and check if the RB car remains the fastest.
I’d love to see Kamui Kobayashi drive a car capable of winning races but as Alonso’s teammate I fear he will be held back.
What about Kubica and Ferrari Joe? The rumour has always being that Kubica had a pre-contract for 2012, of course then the accident happened but recent statements from Kubica’s manager and Luca di Montezemolo makes me suspect this is still on the cards (this is assuming Kubica is fit, but he seems to be progressing well enough to actually be back in the play for the 2012 seat).
Which leaves a berth at McLaren. For whom? Paul di Resta is British, Mercedes backed and has proven himself effective so far this season?
Gavyn,
No, I think di Resta will replace Schumacher, unless Mercedes GP really has taken leave of its senses.
Kamui Kobayashi would be a fantastic choice, but I don’t suppose there’s much of a market for Ferrari road cars in Japan, and that must weigh somehow on their second driver.
Since we’re playing this game, I also hear that Kubica’s now probable return to F1 may not be with Renault.
Jakub,
Glad to hear that, but I am not sure that anyone is saying that Robert will be able to return. That will not be known for months yet.
I would imagine the other great variable in silly circus will Kubica. If he comes back to F1 and can still perform I imagine he would still be Ferrari’s number one target (and a choice Alonso would be happy with).
Hi Joe, great blog as ever.
What do you think about Kobayashi’s chances of landing a top drive? He’s the only driver outside RBR, Ferrari and Macca to have scored points at every race this season but I don’t hear much about him when top drives are discussed. How do people in the paddock rate him?
DylanT,
I think he deserves a chance
Webber at Ferrari would be interesting, plus he and Alonso are good friends apparently. But after his experiences at RBR as a ‘no 2 driver’ would he want to join the team that is most notorious for this practice?
But then again, the idea of finishing his career at Ferrari must be pretty tempting regardless.
Joe, what about Rosberg to Ferrari. A couple of months ago the were some news about a possible move to Ferrari.
John Q,
Doesn’t sound very likely to me.
Joe, with all due respect, do you really think Helmut Marko would even consider allowing Hamilton into the same team as his golden boy SebVet and risk Hammy doing to Seb what he did to Alonso at McLaren? Never. As for Webber becoming the new #2 whipping boy at Ferrari….I was unaware that he was Brazilian.
Lon,
Some racing teams think about what happens on the race track, rather more than what the people in the pits think. They are usually more successful that way.
This problem of who to put next to Fernando, keeps coming up doesn’t it? Basically Ferrari need a driver who is quick enough to beat the other drivers, but not quite quick enough to beat Alonso. Any candidate must be strong technically, able to integrate with the team, not make mistakes on track and be able to develop the car, oh and he has to not mind being told to get out of Fernando’s way, if the situation ever arises.
The problem Ferrari have is getting someone who ticks all those boxes, a young driver wouldnt mind playing the team game and would be unlikely to trouble Fernando for pace, he would however be weak at development and likely to bin it now and again. Older established drivers wouldn’t want to bow down to Fernando and might struggle to be quick enough to beat the Red Bulls and McLarens, when possible. Superstar drivers wouldn’t go untill Fernando leaves, a difficult decision then.
Maybe Liuzzi? Quick, Italian, desperate?
Brentik
Do you really think McLaren will sack Lewis? Why? Lewis nearly won the WDC in his first year, did win it in his second year, won two races in 09 (in a terrible McLaren) and was in contention for the title till the last race of 2010 (in at best the second quickest car). I don’t think thats a bad record and I don’t think he had a “meltdown” in Monaco either. The guy makes mistakes but gives everything he has whenever he is in the car, teams love that, they also love it when they give a driver a car that is the second or third quickest car on the grid and he wins the race in it anyway. Lewis is one of very few drivers capable of that, and I assure you McLaren will be doing everything in their power to keep him, not sacking him!
Well, one thing is for certain.
Ron Dennis will not be parting with that nice orange McLaren F1-GTR for Lewis Hamilton in the foreseeable future.
Congrats to you JOE!!! Have been doing a super job! Keep it up as always!
As the topic requires, i guess that:
Macca aswell as Ferrari will remain with the same drivers;
Kimi Raikkonen will join RBR;
Webber will move to Enstone based team, to be headed by Briatore under Saab/Spyker name (in partnership with Bernie) supposing GenII n Proton will not survive in F1 due to lack of $$$;
Caterham Team Lotus will have Kova + B.Senna with Alex Rossi as 3rd driver;
More thoughts to come….
Red Bull could be struggling next year with diffuser and floor blowing banned, so they may not be the team to be with. This affects several front teams who have to start from scratch on aero/body flow concept. Who knows who will be successful!
Kubica may not be the driver he was before, so he may not be asked stay with Renault (assuming he comes back this year to show what he can do) Will Renault still be there next year anyway?
Virgin have a new tech/engine deal with McLaren (it has been writ) will they leap forward to midfield? Do they/will they have drivers capable of using the new advantage?
Will Luca leave Ferrari next year? For pastures complex?
Will Tony turn out to be the new owner of FOM?
Will the Cylons capture Bablyon5?
Will HMRC ever get my tax codes correct?
Is Jenson eyeing Mark’s place at RB ? He’s not committing yet and has proved how good he is at surviving in the lion’s den.
When the music stops, I really hope there are places for the Hulk and Ricciardo.
I don’t see Webber in Ferrari, a team which likes to control drivers PR. They won’t consider him for the trouble his mouth might bring to the team. Besides, who says he’s quicker than Massa. Ferrari problem is the car not the drivers.
I don’t see Hamilton joining RBR either. He has much more to loose than to gain. If a young driver beats him, he looses everything : his financial value, his aura and his place in the sports history.
Hamilton only aim is to pressure McLaren 1st to deliver and 2nd to have a much better contract which grants him both more money and more control on his image and the sponsors he can sign.
RBR isn’t a long term guarantee of success as it doesn’t have a tradition of success, but Hamilton might argue that McLaren had only 1 WDC and 0 WCC in the last decade.
I hope Lewis is thinking very clearly before he makes a move to Red Bull. I remember IMG going to great lengths to move Coulthard to McLaren because it was his and their financial interest but took him away from the team that would win the next two championships into one that was struggling and cost him the chance of ever being champion. I hope he has learned from that and from Alonso’s move to McLaren.
It is all very well going to Red Bull and the best driver on the grid but Helmut Marko is protective of his boy and the team seem incapable of producing two equal cars. Lewis has to ask himself what happens if he moves to Red Bull and suffers like Alonso did at McLaren. Where would he go then? Ferrari would not be an option and McLaren will someone (Rosberg.diResta?) signed to a multi-year contract. If a move to Red Bull went wrong Lewis could find himself in an uncompetitive car for two years as Alonso did on parting company with McLaren. Does Lewis really want to take that risk and hand McLaren on a plate to Jenson?
Red Bull may be the top team now but a team rarely stays at the top long in F1. Realitstically Red Bull will be knocked off their perch in the next year or two and that will be by either McLaren or Ferrari.
All things considered I think Lewis is better staying where he is now and helping to make McLaren better. I have no doubt he would be better than Vettel in equal equipment but while McLaren can produce two equal cars there is no evidence Red Bull can.
@TimW – I very well could be mistaken, and your points are valid – but – Alonso was WC – Kimi too… yet they had no problem letting those 2 go… I think (IMO) we’re starting to see the beginning of the end for LH… *unless* he grows up and matures in how he handles things. Even after Monaco, he remained defiant and said “I’m not going to change my driving style”… Will McLaren do everything to hang on to Lewis? Let’s see how the 2011 season plays out… If it ends up with a Alonso/Kimi-like meltdown and him blaming the team, I think they’ll gladly show him the door. Then again, they may do as you say, and beg him to stay – I happen to like things the way they are today!
Including RB and Ferrari et al – We’re all just bantering around our silly season thoughts… those were mine
Just to point out, Webber has been a bit more off Vettel’s pace than Massa from Alonso this season! Also last year the difference in qualifying wasn’t exactly small. This season I just can’t think of a single reason why they would be searching to replace Massa with Webber. If they want to replace Massa with a faster driver, they will first have to make their car much faster to attract the other top drivers. May be Nico is an option, but I’m pretty sure that Haug will do everything $$$ to make him stay there and Nico knows it’s going to be his team, not Fernando’s.
It’s more likely that Massa is going to be replaced by someone from their stable. FDA is taken very seriously inside Ferrari and unlike Red Bull and other programs, they do try to help their drivers in the hard moments of their careers. It’s a very different approach, not Red Bull’s shut up and drive, and may be it’s going to produce some truly fantastic drivers in the future. It’s actually what they did with Felipe himself in F1. But for now he should be watching if Sergio Perez manages to outpace convincingly Kamui and how Bianchi is developing.
What about kova for ferrari?
Joe – I thought that last years events (and this years too, for that matter) had firmly established that Helmut Marko was the defacto Red Bull team leader and proxy for Mr. Mateschitz’s wishes to have Vettel be sole #1. I simply can’t imagine either of those guys allowing the nearly perfect chemistry they have in the team now (at least from Vettel’s perspective) to be destroyed by the possible pressure from a driver of Hamilton’s caliber. Just my totally uninformed opinion, and I could be totally wrong. No wait……I’m not. Never gonna happen.
Q. for either RobbieMeister or for Joe to answer, but what exactly was meant by the part “Senna’s veto of Warwick at Lotus”? SImply put, I’m not too familiar with the story behind this so can you elaborate a bit on this bit of F1 history. Thanks
Sometimes using logic in conjunction with F1 is akin to trying to hold water in a paper bag. That said, let us look at this logically anyway.
If Massa is no longer the answer for Ferrari, who then? Webber here is the odds on favorite if you’re a betting man. I think Joe presents the case quite well.
McLaren is Hamilton and Button until their contracts run out. This is without question, regardless of Lewis’ recent blowups and mishaps. Why mess with this tandem. Button is Mr. Consistency and quite often, very fast in a race. His only problem is qualifying. If you view Button as an artist, which I do, 1 lap is a mere pencil outline or sketch. Jenson needs a whole race to create his masterpiece painting. That is how you judge him. Sometimes I feel Jenson was born too late. If this were the 1980s and early 1990s, I think he gives Senna, Prost and Mansel an absolute run for their money.
Lewis still needs maturing. This is surprising because he is a 5 year veteran. He is still too tempestuous. If he could somehow keep his wits about him for a full race, and be more Jenson-like, I think he’d be unbeatable, given a top flight car (which I think the McLaren will be very, very soon…its already 2nd best…if not already 1b to RB’s 1a.)
As for some saying Kubica to Ferrari…I don’t see it happening right now, if ever. Reason being, after his horrific accident, who’d take a chance on him? If Ferrari feel Massa’s injury has effected his performance (which I don’t believe, as he has been pretty quick, it’s just that Alonso is indeed other worldly when it comes to driving an F1 car) then there is zero chance they stuff Kubica in a cockpit of a Ferrari without seeing him comeback at Renault and see his recovery and his pace over the course of a full calendar season. That cannot happen until at least 2013.
Mercedes is Rosberg and Schumacher. I do believe Schumi will ride out his contract and why not? Look at how he’s been lately. The man has still got it, the car is just not there. Every race I’ve seen an improvement in Schumacher since his comeback. Being out of an F1 car for 3 years makes you lose all of the fine motor skills, brain processing neurons, fitness for G forces and heat, etc. That stuff doesn’t come back to you overnight, especially for someone 40 and over. But my gosh….Schumacher is slowly but surely regaining those necessary refinements to his mind and body that he once had and what is needed to be a fast F1 driver.
So who does that leave out there for Ferrari if they want to replace Massa? I don’t know, but I tell you who deserves a shot, provided it’s on equal footing…Kamui Kobayashi. He’s got that it factor going for him….you can just see it on display in his driving. He’s got the mental toughness and awareness, the skill and most importantly, the stones to be an extremely fast driver. I’d love to see it happen…I really would.
@Brawley Senna realised that Lotus didn’t have the resources to support two topline drivers/cars when he was there. They were going to sign Derek Warwick in the other car in 1986 but supposedly he vetoed this as he didn’t want their focus to be diluted. Instead they went for Johnny Dumfries aka John Colum Crichton-Stuart, 7th Marquess of Bute (really).
I don’t remember this coming up in the film, though there were one or two other glosses as well that the hardcore fan would pick up on.
Cynic,
The filmmakers did not have the room to put everything in. A lot of stuff had to be chopped out.
@rpaco. Answer is yes to all of your questions – apart from the last one, which is unfortunately no.
I really hope for a full recovery and Robert coming back as strong as he was before. It strikes me that he might be the key in an awful lot of these moves. So as such, will there be a lot of very late announcements for next season?
Brentik.
Lewis wasn’t the only person saying he shouldn’t change his driving style. Martin Whitmarsh has said it too after Montreal. I don’t think you’ll find many front running drivers that would be prepared to change the way they race to be honest
At the end of the day its good for a team to have a driver who is capable of making overtakes (if you look at career rather than just last 2 races), especially when you’re being heavily dominated in qualifying by Red Bull (and sometimes questionable team strategy).
Brentik
Ok fair enough, you have your “silly season thoughts” and I have mine, I just don’t think McLaren are anywhere near thinking about sacking Lewis, and I think they would be mad to let a driver of that calibre go. Anything can happen between now and the end of season of course, and it is possible that Lewis might go into meltdown and blame the team etc, but I haven’t seen any sign of that happening and don’t see why it would.
Your points about Ferrari letting Kimi go and McLaren doing the same to Alonso aren’t really comparable, Kimi wasn’t delivering and Ferrari wanted Alonso (and his sponsorship), the McLaren Alonso debacle was of course a highly unusual set of circumstances, and unlikely to be repeated.
If Kobayashi does end up at Ferrari I hope he doesn’t turn into the second coming of Jean Alesi, a winning driver in a non-winning car. But anyway, with Alonso there until 2036 I wouldn’t think they’d put anyone who Alonso might see as challenging him in the second seat.
If Lewis does end up at RBR — which has a certain logic to it, as, as Lewis’s target fan base of young, hip persons are more likely to guzzle Red Bull, go wakeboarding, and wear dodgy toques than they are to aspire one day to own an MP4-12C — if Lewis does end up at RBR, then Kobayashi and Jenson could be a powerful pairing at McLaren. They have complementary driving styles, and each with their own strong Japanese fan bases they would likely attract sponsorship from that part of the world, as well as (possibly more importantly) the potential of a technical tie-up with a Japanese manufacturer, either to provide engines if McLaren’s own isn’t ready in 2016, or input/technical assistance with the McLaren powerplant if they are running their own. And McLaren gets a ready-made succession plan, with Kobayashi coming into his prime as Jenson winds down his career.
Another alternative, of course, depending on the funds that Sauber can pry out of Japanese sponsors, is for Kobayashi to stay where he is while the team gathers strength around him. RBR have proven that an independent can win championships — with Ferrari seemingly entering a fallow period and Renault in a parlous financial state, the door is open for Sauber to step up to the top ranks if they have the money and the engineers. Maranello and Hinwil aren’t so far apart, really… I wonder if Aldo Costa is looking for new opportunities?
No on eon the grid has more ups and downs then Webber. he can be epic at Monaco, Silverstone or basically traditional tracks of any kind. On the Tilke tracks he’s awful, particularly Valencia, Singapore and Yabbi Dabbi. he’s the worse number 2 driver on the grid for just that reason though he’s lost some pace so may be slowly turning into the number 2 RBR or maranello would want but then how bad is he going to be at his poor tracks?
Then we get to Alonso, seriously Massa is as close as Alonso is comfortable with, if Massa were any closer then Fernando is likely to throw his toys out the pram.
The truth is, all the drivers are perfect for the top three teams as they are so it makes zero sense for anyone to move. IMHO the only way anyone could “win” would be for RBR to draft in Button, he’s the perfect number 2 driver. Fast enough but slow enough and uber consistent.
I see Danny Bahar is getting into the silly season spirit as well, something about beginning an appeals process, whatever that means. Maybe he’s starting out by paying his last lot of bills. I must say, this is a strange sales tactic for a certain publication, during the advertising dry season . . .
Why is this relevant here?
Robert looked to me absolutely dispondent, in interview, the time all this Lotus whack started out, and i thought at the time he looked insulted by the stupidity of it all.
So, God willing, he will be driving again soon, what’s to say he is not on the market?
If he hasn’t lost pace or nerve, and somehow he’s not that character – for as much as i like Fillipe, my mom thinks he’s a “nice boy”, if you see what i mean – RK has much more edge, who then wouldn’t want him?
Mike in NY,
I think i’d chance on Robert, if once back in his car he’s even within shooting distance of the pace.
what i’m suggesting here, is he might be the missing piece of the jigsaw, and therefore we’ll get an unusually long silly season, this year.
My thinking is that the last thing RK will want, is to be getting back on it, in a team increasingly blighted by futile politics. Meanwhile, Renault are pretty lucky to have Vitaly, and so can be content. I almost agree that Mark filling Nick’s seat is logic, but i cannot get my head to imagine MW not calling the idea bunk, for just the same reasons i have been grouching about.
To where Mark, and to where Robert? Not only key bits of the puzzle, but about the only two moves which i genuinely care about. I still think Schumi will be around next year, just not in a Mercedes. Like Joe says, di Resta is the coming man, clearly loves being interviewed as well in a refreshing way, he’s who i’d want if i were a sponsor, but whilst MS keeps saying he’s in for three years, i believe he’s locked into that mentally, and so might swap seats. I don’t think it’s just the machinery, as Norbert et.al. like to modestly say. If it was just machinery, i don’t think Michael would be so graceful and smiling, unless he just came back to annoy Rubens . .
One reason MW simply must have a good drive next year: the grown up girls i am trying to get hooked on F1, fancy him rotten. I also like having a proper adult in the sport.
– j
Ash,
good thinking: Jensen, Kamui.
But please, please, easy on the JA overtones. Perfectly right of course, as an analogy, and a warning. The single time i broke out bubbly for a race was to toast Jean’s career, as he departed. I was staying with friends, and quite taken aback how quite a large non F1 crowd listened to anything i could remember about the man, and watched dutifully and with interest. Really big reason, to get old races available, right there.
all best fro me,
– john
Martin and Tim – I respect both of you and what you’re saying… Please do read my entire (silly) thoughts though… for as I started off saying, after 4 (really 5) years, I’ve been defending Lewis – but am now over that… I admire his aggressive driving and balls – But he lost the WDC by 1 point in China by being inpatient and beaching it… Rear-ending Kimi in the pit out at Montreal…. (and many more, just like many others! Kobi is the king of losing front wings!:) – but my point is/was… Lewis seems desperate – His drive in China was brilliant – and for the 1st time ever for me, I saw a side that seemed somewhat human, and humble, and appreciative… Little did that last after Monaco though… THAT is what flicked me off to him – Running into Massa (seemed almost GP2ish) … and then the comments after with the BBC about the stewards/being black etc. – Yeah, I know… everyone wants to focus on that – and not the race – and he was “just joking” – but as the saying goes, “behind every joke, is a bit of truth”… Either way, right then, right there, all the daggers I’d taken over the years defending him for this, that, and the other.. I finally let it go… I caved… I’d said enough… So, I do understand and respect your passion and right to defend him – I’ve done it for years when everyone was hating on him… Speaking of, I don’ hate the bloke… I just don’t like the way he carries himself – or now, the way he drives (granted, it’s always been aggressive – but seems desperate and over the line now IMHO) – so, off I go… I’ve always been a closet Nico fan … and I’m a McLaren fan till I die… So, now, after JB’s brill race in Canada, how can I not love that? One of the best races of the year… Granted the wet took out half the field… but it was still a great performance by Jenson.
As for Kimi and Alonso etc. – I’d agree…. Everything is different – yet the same… Alonso didn’t go straight to the prancing stallion… Renault first right? And that just shows you can’t have “two number ones”… Ask Webber…
Will McLaren sack Lewis? No, probably not… But there are still what, 12 races left? and if Alonso and/or MB leapfrog McLaren/Lewis… He will go back to his whiny ways, and start in on the team… Rarely does he shoulder the blame…. rarely… Massa seems to be the only sane one left out there!! LOL
Anyway – I like JB, and think he’ll stick with McLaren till he retires… I think Lewis to RBR would be a great PR move… Only slot he could go really – But RB already has their #1 driver – so I just can’t see it … And then as I’ve already said – Nico to McLaren – unless he signs that insane 5 year contract with MB… Time will tell!
Brentik,
i need correcting as to this memory, as i was not paying proper attention to F1, at the time. But i somehow have stuck in my memory, Fernando going off at T3, Melbourne, in a Renault. Reason: computer controlling the engine blipped. I genuinely cannot aver my doubts as to my memory, but something shocked me at the time – the idea, whether invented by me as a false memory or not, spake to me of what was wrong in F1. I missed FA’s WDCs as a result, in entirety, compensated now by egging the guy on when he is on a charge.
You describe so accurately my hot/cold/warming/unsure appreciation of Lewis. But i think RBR would simply exaggerate his dalliances, not cure them, and so my advertising mind says “yes” but the Man From Delmonte wants to wait a bit, not pick artificially ripened fruit. It would, will, i hope, be super cool, to see Lewis mature, but maybe he doesn’t want to mature the way besuited and basically non racing PR planners want. I don’t attribute him leaving his dad behind as manager to anything but he wants to grow up on his own. No comment on his current choice. RBR’s style might be a bit too involved in capturing, and using, that attitude, if you can see what i mean. I’d think he would like a Sauber – esque hands-off, kind of environment. He’s got the time to do anything.
– j
Brentik
Like I said in my previous post, you have your thoughts,and I have mine, and of course thanks to Joe we have a way of expressing them. I have to say though as a general F1 fan rather than a fan of any individual driver or team, I really don’t know where your coming from with Lewis’ whiny ways. I really haven’t noticed him doing that or slating the team. It’s interesting you mention China 07, as I remember it was a team decision to leave Lewis out untill his tyres had worn down to the canvass, and I don’t remember Lewis slating the team then either. It was of course his debut season in F1 remember, it’s easy to forget the guy hasn’t been around that long, and is still a very young man who doesn’t react in the right way or say the right thing every time, basically I think people should just give him a break.
Anyway, enjoy Valencia!
[...] Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/a-look-at-the-silly-season-in-f1/ [...]
I am amazed anyone would suggest China 07 was somehow a sign of failure from Lewis. As has been said the team kept telling him to stay out and he was too inexperienced to know that he should over-rule them. Going into the gravel was the first mistake he made in his rookie season despite having the most high pressure rookie season anyone has ever had.
[...] Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/a-look-at-the-silly-season-in-f1/ [...]
Tim – time to stick a fork in it, as this one is well overdone… It’s time to move on mate.
John said I summed up his roller-coaster of emotions well with Lewis – the whole love/hate thing some of us have… So, at least one person ‘got it’… Either way, as you said, we see things differently… so any further commentary – I’ll leave to Joe’s expertise … as he does so well here.
Just remember, I was/am a Lewis fan that defended him, forever… till now – That is my right and prerogative… just as it’s yours to ride out the storm with him. Good luck with that.
Let’s see how the next dozen races go, and *then* revisit this, as I’m sure Joe will do after silly season closes for the year
Cheers -