The greatest drivers in Formula 1 are able to achieve great things with cars that are deemed to be uncompetitive. They understand the problems and adapt to them. Admittedly, it is not possible these days for a great driver to win in a bad car. The car must be at least vaguely competitive. And this is where one must take off one’s hat to Fernando Alonso. He is already considered by many to be the best driver in F1, but this year he is adding to that reputation. He pedals the Ferrari F14T with verve and ability. He never gives up, rarely makes mistakes and he has scored in every race this year, an achievement that only Nico Hulkenberg can match.
Fernando’s best finish is third, his worst ninth and his average around fifth. If you asked people to rate the three best cars in F1 this year (thus the cars that should fill the top six finishing positions) I have no doubt that the Mercedes would top the list and that Williams and Red Bull would be next, with the challengers behind them being McLaren, Ferrari and Force India. This being the case, how it is that Alonso is fourth in the standings with an average finish of fifth and a points total of 97?
By the same token why is Kimi Raikkonen languishing in 12th with just 19 points, despite having had only one retirement? It’s not pretty when you look closely at the results. So what is the problem with Raikkonen? Does he get the same equipment as Alonso? Is he lacking confidence in the car? Is he simply past his best and not really interested? The official argument is that the car does not suit his driving style and that he is working to make it better and when he does that and feels confident then he will fly again.
Some say that Alonso has the emotional support of the team and that makes it tough for Kimi to do well. That is not very convincing when one considers Kimi’s apparently impervious nature. Is he secretly a little flower that needs to be loved and nurtured? Other more cynical folk argue that Kimi came back to F1 and found himself in an exceptional F1 car in the Lotus and was thus able to produce some astonishing results, which revived his career. The car also allowed Romain Grosjean to get close to victories, so perhaps this flattered Kimi somewhat.
I don’t claim to know the answer to this question, but Ferrari boss Marco Mattiacci says that Kimi is the driver that Ferrari needs. Quite how he knows this after 12 minutes in the sport is an interesting question. How does he know that Raikkonen is doing a better job than Nico Hulkenberg or Jenson Button would do in the same car, or Felipe Massa come to that? The word is that the choice of Raikkonen was made by Luca Montezemolo at a moment last year when he thought that Alonso was going to leave and Ferrari needed a star name. The big guns behind Ferrari would not be satisfied with a Nico Hulkenberg or a Jules Bianchi. So Kimi it was…
The big question now is what happens next? Ferrari has not managed to give Alonso a title in five seasons of trying and the Spaniard is frustrated. He will be 33 next week and it is fairly clear that his next career decision will probably be his last in F1 terms. He is also in demand. Ferrari wants to keep him. McLaren wants to sign him. Williams would love to have him. Fernando can pretty much name his price at the moment and, as I hear it, last weekend in Germany was pretty significant as Fernando’s contract has a clause in it that says that he is free to leave his team if it is not in the top three in the Constructors’ Championship. In Hockenheim Williams overtook Ferrari for third place… What we do not know is the date at which this proviso kicks in, but normally these things must be decided by September 1 and announced at the Italian GP.
Thus, Ferrari is now exposed and Fernando can make his own arrangements without needing to worry about contracts. The question for Alonso is really very simple: what engine does he think will be the best one next season? If the answer is not Ferrari then there is no point in staying on in Maranello. If the answer is Mercedes, he has only one choice if he is serious about winning. With Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton locked in at Mercedes AMG Petronas, the best available seat for Fernando would have to be one of the two Williams drives. Niki Lauda remarked the other day that he was happy that Alonso was not in a Williams, an indication that the old charger has spotted that possibility. Sir Frank Williams, who has been around the F1 block more times than Lauda, has almost certainly spotted that as well.
If Alonso’s answer is Honda, or he feels that Honda can win the title in the course of the next three years, then he should go to Woking. The past is irrelevant.
McLaren and Honda can afford Fernando, Williams cannot, but there is little doubt that if he did do a deal to go to Grove, then Santander would probably follow as soon as it possibly could. Martini could be convinced to double, treble or quadruple its sponsorship of Williams in such a circumstance, but that’s not very likely. It was a cheap deal and is giving the firm fabulous return on its investment. However, if Williams had a competitive car and Alonso, money would arrive.
Ferrari understands that it must now fight for his services. It can give him as much money as it likes. It is a rich team, but Fernando is so wealthy these days that he lives in Spain and does not care about having to pay tax. The key question is whether or not he is hungry enough to risk a move, or would rather settle for a big Ferrari cheque and hope that the arrival of some of his old muckers from Lotus will turn the team around. That is a big gamble. Ferrari has often been a battleground between the Italians and imported helpers. The only time when this stopped was when Jean Todt ring-fenced the team against all interference and ran things as he felt was necessary. That worked. Could Mattiacci do the same or would Luca Montezemolo still call a crisis meeting every six weeks and try to run the team from on high?
The decision that Alonso makes will start the market moving, or freeze it. If he stays at Ferrari perhaps Raikkonen would be paid off. Perhaps the team would hire a youngster to build up into a star so that they have a star when Alonso does eventually go. If that happens then a Hulkenberg or a Bianchi is worth a flutter. If Alonso goes then things will get lively in Maranello. The need for a star name and the underperformance of Raikkonen would create a problem. The team could change both drivers but who would you hire? Jenson Button might stay at McLaren alongside Alonso, creating a nice super team for Honda. That would move the spotlight to Sebastian Vettel, who is not having an enjoyable time at Red Bull. The Milton Keynes team has a conveyor belt of talent in waiting with Daniil Kvyat ready to jump up if required and Carlos Sainz Jr ready to leap into Toro Rosso.
If Alonso is not available for McLaren, Jenson Button would be likely be secure and logically the team would keep Kevin Magnussen for another year. If it was a choice between Button and Magnussen as Alonso’s team-mate, the folk in Woking would probably go for Jenson… at least at the moment. If Kevin becomes more consistent he will strengthen his position.
If Alonso were to take a risk and head off to Williams, a move that would allow him to revive his relationship with Pat Symonds, with whom he won the titles at Renault back in 2005 and 2006, would the team choose Felipe Massa, who knows how to work with Alonso, or would it go for Valtteri Bottas? Perhaps Team Willy would look at selling its Finnish rising star to another well-heeled team, thus raising cash to pay for Fernando…
That’s possible too…
joeblogsf1 
Joe I’ve heard murmurings that Alex Lynn may be in line for the Torro Rosso instead of Sainz, or even the Caterham before year’s end. Personally I think he’d do better with another year of junior formulae (GP2, World Series) even if he wins GP3 but how high have you heard that Red Bull rate him?
Step by step…
Fernando in a Williams? I’m not sure I could cope with that much excitement, Joe. A driver of that level of ability being stuck in hopeless red cars for year after year is an utter travesty. But can Williams keep up this level of competitiveness over the next few years?
According to Sky F1, Massa has a three year deal with Team Willy (apparently he told them this himself at Goodwood). But Bottas is a far better prospect, long term. People know what would happen if Massa and Alonso reunited: Alonso would beat Massa convincingly. As much as I like Massa, he’s been a bit disappointing this year. He could have avoided the crash with Perez in Canada and could have been more circumspect last weekend.
Interesting point about Massa. A lot of people hither and yon talking about his “bad luck” this year, but where does luck end and poor judgement mixed with fading reaction times begin?
Could Vettel and Alonso do a swap?
Now that sounds interesting!
No chance Red Bull was heavily criticized 2013 for not hiring Kimi and
others they thought are more deserving for a RB seat.
Red Bull decided for the guys out of the Young Driver programme and both Daniel and Danii did not disappoint them.So I doubt that any RedBull seat
will be available to anyone in the next 5 years
Interesting supposition Joe. The conundrum is perhaps more intriguing this year than it has been for a while and I would put that down to Ferrari’s continued shortcomings, Red Bull’s frustrating dependance on Renault and Williams having wiped the slate clean, restarted with Mercedes power and having produced a great car, which is getting better and better.
What I find most interesting in your piece though, is that Vettel is almost an afterthought. Who’d have thought? Well, Alonso thought and said ‘let’s see how he does when he’s driving an uncompetitive car’. (I paraphrase). Well, the answer is in already. Only half way through the season and it’s; ‘not that well’. Totally out-performed by his junior team mate. On the other hand, I do recall him driving astonishingly well to win his first grand prix in a Torro Rosso, in the wet! So there is clearly talent there, but perhaps not four world championships worth. Much like Schumacher, who was perhaps worth two (in my view … and there was no shortage of questions about old Briatore’s honesty in those early ones either.)
Keep up the good work.
Good point! Schumacher raced in an era where not only was his car superior, but there was a lack of drivers of the calibre of Alonso, Hamilton or Rosberg (particularly from 1995 to 2002) in competitive cars.
I don’t agree. I think Mika Hakkinen was a match for Michael in similar cars.
Raikonen
Villeneuve
Montoya
Hakkinen
…………..
Reliability
Tires
If Schumacher in his 40s could on his day match Rosberg and on some days beat him, I have a suspicion that in his late 20s and early 30s he may have been rather fast. Did he have any good races at this time in his life?!
If Alonso can pretty much name his terms, surely the safest thing to do would be a one-year deal with Williams – if that goes well, stay, if McLaren-Honda, Red Bull improve, or Mercedes has a vacancy, move there for 2016. Possibly a bit mercenary on Alonso’s part, but he’s not got a lot out of Ferrari by being loyal and patient (apart from a bit of cash, obviously).
That might make sense for Alonso but I doubt it would make sense for Williams. They’d have to lose the stability (and Brazilian money) of Massa or talent of Bottas and could be left with nothing.
If McLaren-Honda shoots then most likely there would be no vacancy for 2016, just like in Mercedes for 2015.
Williams would be crazy to let Bottas go unless it involved a VERY big pile of cash. The reason is for the day Alonso walks away and calls it quits. If they let Bottas go to simply make room for Alonso I say he will appear next at McLaren. Ron Dennis would be nuts to let that opportunity go! He looks this year like the next Alonso and he acts like someone Ron would love.
The silly season of driver movement can be almost as much fun as the racing itself. Should be very interesting to see where it all shakes out.
Joe,
Räikkönen is surely fed up with being spanked by Alonso, and doing laps in a mid-field car he hates … he’s already going, don’t you think?
Has it become any clearer with time how close Hülkenberg was to having a red car this season?
I think Williams would keep Bottas. Massa has clearly reached the end of his shelf life and was never top quality, in my opinion, anyway. Even if you think he was a great driver you can’t deny the poor guy is just plain unlucky and that has pretty much followed him throughout his career.
Hard to see it as unlucky when he keeps turning right….right into the car coming alongside that is……stupid does it.
Agree, and the funny thing with Massa, it’s never his fault even though he claimed after Canada that he always owned up to his mistakes. Average driver who almost got lucky in 2008.
Yup, and though I think Bottas looks like he could be worth, in time, maybe not much time, enough to pay for Alonso, I don’t think it’s worth having Alonso unless you keep Bottas. There’s no price on that kind of promise I know of. Or more pragmatically, you want to keep who was able to push the car, for development reasons. Equally, I cannot imagine Alonso back at McLaren, just he’s a man to move on. So what price one or two more WDCs? In terms of taking a pay cut. I suddenly thought, “I hope he was smart enough to negotiate a whopping severance, in the event the red car can’t deliver.”, because Ferrari might just have allowed him terms like that, in over confidence. Oh, please let Christmas come in October. However I think this will drag on. How does ALO drive, pre and post deal? I’m not sure he’ll be affected, he seems too dialed in proving it all to himself, he’s a man machine battle on a track no one ought to dare interfere with. Too much of a deck to shuffle, and unlike Joe, I do not believe Santander will follow ALO. They’ve said as much, and of course that’s only talk, but I don’t see them making another move for a good while. Where’s Telefónica now? A simple performance contract ought to be fairly safe.
“I don’t claim to know the answer to this question, but Ferrari boss Marco Mattiacci says that Kimi is the driver that Ferrari needs”
I think Kimi knew about Fred’s out with the CC placing, so is doing his part as a good team mate to provide him with every opportunity to succeed (elsewhere) in F1. 😛
Raikkonen looks tired and he looks like he’d probably rather be doing something else. The world is not fair …
Kimi is certainly not tired just grumpy and also he was never famous for his healthy lifestyle. And I am sure Mattiacci is totally CORRECT when he says that Kimi is the right man for Ferrari now.Alonso got used to the BAD bites of the car and only looks at the gap to the front runner.Kimi is even questioning
the BASICS like that F14T does not even go straight on a straight.
So I am sure he assumes that Ferrari will end up building better cars with him.
Not to speak that KIMI is still the preferred teammate for Vettel if he goes to
Ferrari.And a 4 time champion is a good investment business wise particularly
when he is still young in 2016 ( maybe even 2015 )
I was reading some stats the other night. They showed, of the champions racing now, Alonso and Button were the only two who’s finishing place average was higher then there starting place, over the life of there careers. Hamilton, Vettel and Raikkonen on average finish behind there starting position. Alonso was quite a bit better than Button.
It’s very difficult to finish higher than first when you start first on the grid. drivers who qualify high on the grid are never going to fair well in those type of statistics.
Ha ha ha (and true). And Brent, it’s ‘their’.
Why, yes it is.
If you start first and finish first it won’t adversely affect you stats. Other than Vettel I don’t know which drivers you think might fit into the “qualify high on the grid” category.
What I believe the stats show, is it doesn’t matter what car you put Alonso in he will move it forward
Brett: “If you start and finish first it won’t adversely affect your stats.”
Err, yes it will for such as your examples of Button or Alonso. It can’t tip their qualification-to-finish improvement from a positive to negative value, but it will bring it closer to zero.
This situation may already be pretty advanced.
My sister just returned from a three week stay in Spain. She reports that many of the Ferrari shops there appear to be closing, with little Alonzo merchandise available.
That is ‘significant’.
So her holiday was spent surveying Ferrari shops . . ?
Hi Joe and others reading this,
do you think Williams would be a title contender in the next years? First of all, they must build another great car for next year, unlike after the 2012 with a win when the 2013 season was a major disappointment. Can Williams finally leave the midfield and join the top teams on a constant basis?
Another thing I’m wondering is if being a customer team is a disadvantage for Williams. Right now it’s obviously better to be a Mercedes customer than a Renault/Ferrari works team but if those others could catch Merc and Honda be on level, then being a customer team might be a disadvantage. And even if Merc remained as the best engine, how committed would Merc be giving 100% support to Williams if they were racing against the works team for titles?
Respectfully,
August
Hi August,
I don’t know if Williams have some benefit from their wider experience with hybrid cars, the flywheel tech they sold off, that may assist them getting the powertrain balance right, which Ferrari has messed up with underpowered combustion, and others seem to have problems with this year including Mercedes customers. Renault customers need gearbox and other bits from Red Bull. That’s interesting, to me at least, because Williams got shot of Renault quickly, thank goodness. For Williams to develop their flywheel tech, they did a lot of work on transmissions, transmission readers (as used in HGV) and so on. I think that may be a important area of expertise, one which may have moved them to ditch Renault the quicker, and understand the MB PU the better, also.
Whichever way, they seem to be consistently improving their current contender, the FW36. Which looks very promising for next year.
If they are learning well, and learning forward, I mean learning what can be applied to next year, consider this: many teams are on their 4th set of engine equipment, and five is the limit this year. Five whole PU systems was a affordance for the new engine regulations. Next year, it is back to 4 powertrains only.
So consider if everyone at the top were currently on their *last* MGU-H. MGU-K, gearbox, clutch etc. In other words, about three races to go before 10 place starting penalties, that can carry over..
How much of a advantage would it be to really know your transmission now, and be able to be designing now, for next year? Components can be modified for safety and reliability.
I’d say, therefore, Williams have a real hope of challenging for titles next year. Give them deals now, for money and, I cross my fingers, a certain Spaniard, to enthuse and invigorate them, and I believe they can get enough edge.
Meanwhile, the sharp end of the grid does look like it will generally close up, meaning by that there is much more of a chance of other cars being able to interfere with Mercedes Benz drivers’ positions, if they drop back. I am not saying, however, that MB’s two second advantage (as it often appears) will evaporate. I am saying that if that advantage is closed, there is a chance of BUT or HAM being held up for real. If MB are able to keep a hypothetical 2s/lap advantage, and their reliability consistent, the best I can then imagine is coming runner up in the WDC. But that would not be shabby at all.
Typo, sorry: not transmission “readers” but readers, last but two lines in my first paragraph.
R-e-t-a-r-d-e-r-s !
See also, auto correction, on tablet keyboards 😦
Well, turn the damned thing off…
Sorry, RShack, et.al. I’m tied into the experience on a gig to customize a Skype interface that can only be done for the new touch, and so am immersed deliberately, and just got enough custom vocab stored… the real issue is that IE11 mucks with the soft keyboard layout, esp when input to the address bar, used for search mainly, the space bar gets crushed and you too easily hit a slash.. little hiccups that cause interruption which I thought the auto correct would bring back speed to. If this is a driver thing, magically fixed in the Pro 3, which I can’t get yet, i’ll be expecting a exchange or return. Pro 3 however not faster, gets throttled on long runs for battery on account high density screen. But no place else to get a 4:3 screen for normal work, these days. No review can do well for pen input quality compared with trying it. Totally buy direct, if considering, as they have no questions returns. I love the device, however. Not on anything else i know of I otherwise load f.lux or the Gretag, to profile the screen to not mess with my brains diurnal rythym.. Bright blue glow at night disturbs sleep. IE11 still reloads far too often dozens of tabs I diligently closed before shutdown, and hangs the onscreen keyboard and scroll input when more than just a few tabs open. Not good at all, needs to be fixed. Ridiculous, really, twice ridiculous considering mobile data..
Anyhow, my immersion experience shall soon be over. Ī doubt i’ll take another gig like this, the UI paradigms are, err, book length comment. So much could have been done so easily, to change that. It’s more a frustration how close to a real winner they could have, than are the quirks. Microsoft are so dim sometimes: try this, the Pro 2, 64GB model, now not bad at all at £560… but no 128GB model offered, and 512GB model is a whopping £1400. Foot, both barrels, discharged.
My apologies for the whole off topic warble.. but as usual a slightly on topic point, or meta point…
The only thing of value there is if you spend a lot of time in front of a screen, please please do tour brain a favor and try getting tour screen calibrated to a warmer color temperature. The effect is so significant for me, that when I read my tablet up close, filling my field of vision and becoming the dominant light source, if I set the color warmth to dusk tones, I actually start drifting off. The effect and it’s converse, of bright blue screens glaring and disrupting sleep, because we associate cold blue bright light with morning, will even affect you companion in bed. Not everyone is that sensitive, but it is our biological programming. F.lux which I use by default, as it runs a timer, and will turn off for critical work, is free. I did not, so sorry, realize, it will work on iPad and iPhone, but they apparently have to be jailbroken, which I think is a sad restriction by Apple. If you use a iDevice, it appears, I just looked this up by way of apology, you can do it without jail breaking, but you need a Datacolor Spyder sensor puck, and those do cost a few pennies. They have native iPad apps but no iPhone app, thwarted again, depending. (those Spiders are plenty good enough for professional use, but you don’t need all the bells and whistles, just the most basic package)
But hey, if you spend your quality time reading GP+, and like to curl up on those sacred nights, with your tablet, I’m just telling you how you can drift off to sleep perfectly the contented F1, and now amateur color science geek 🙂
I meant to correct myself, the new surface tablet has a 3:2 aspect ratio, almost exactly 10 by 7 inches in size, meaning the landscape GP+ will be the most readable of any tablet, for scale and resolution. I also happened across some first calibrated response charts, and it’s about as good as it gets for sRGB. Rich man’s racing reader, maybe, but there you go. I just wish there were more people shouting back at Microsoft for their glaring little bugs, as above.
John, I’m not sure that the fact a car might be on its 5th PU component means the previous units are done. I can see where a team may pull a unit after a specific time and use another unit, only to replace the original. I am also unsure of what sort of maintenance is allowed on a component. Does anyone out there know? Can, for example, bearings in a turbo be replaced, or is the unit totally sealed? I know that parts of the gearbox (gears, specifically) may be replaced with a like gear without causing a penalty; is this true with other parts?
Hi Steve, interesting questions. Now, it maybe just me, but having thought through your comment, it made me wonder that if you are a regular fan and don’t know the answers to questions regarding intrinsic parts of that sport, ( and I don’t know either ! ), how does that sit with Joe Public who casually turns on the tv and finds F1 there? Does your comment not underline that the formula rules are now so complex that they could be interpreted as a turn off for Mr Public??
I’m not sure, either, Steve. Will have another read over the weekend. My face contorted, just now, thinking this is another grey area we will see as a matter of contention. Only this could be very serious contention. Ugh.
I can’t be the only person thinking that this season is somewhat of an outlier in Williams’ recent history, and that in all probability they won’t be the 2nd or 3rd best team next year – they *could* be, but let’s face it: they’ve got an advantage in the Merc engine. I’m sure it was Niki Lauda who said a few days ago that Ferrari are expected to have sorted out any engine under-power for next year, so that could see a large chunk of Williams’ advantage taken away.
Alonso certainly faces a difficult choice.
They have Pat Symonds – do not underestimate his ability to move a team forward…
thank you… I was overjoyed when I heard that Symonds joined Williams. A brilliant brain!
Of all the non-driver characters in the paddock, he is my favorite. I would love to hear a couple of hours of Symonds and Rosberg discussing an F1 car for the layman.
They have Pat Symonds – do not underestimate his ability to move a team forward.
Very interesting post Joe.
Do you think that Williams would have won a race by now this season with Alonso in the car? Not to take away from the current drivers especially Bottas who has been very impressive, but team have seemed a bit overly conservative and happy to pick up good points and podiums rather than challenging for the win (Austria). Maybe whats needed is a bull by the horns driver like Fernando to push them upwards?
Given Alonso finishing only 16 seconds behind the race winner at Austria, and directly behind pole-sitter Massa, we can assume that Alonso/Williams would have grabbed the lead, and held on to it like a man possessed. A slightly more aggressive strategy to hold the lead would have helped, too.
Time for Fernando to go to another team.
Bottas drove faultlessly to hold Hamilton off, never moving off line to block which would have set up a pass for Hamilton. Very cool under fire; he may be what Williams needs, actually. Alonso and Bottas would be a great combination – let’s hope it happens. Massa sort of turned into a cry baby this last weekend and didn’t endear himself to fans at all; maybe it’s time for him to go.
Fascinating! Speculation – but fun when it comes from someone who knows what he’s about. And can write 🙂
I wouldn’t pretend to know the first thing about the machinations going on behind the scenes, or even begin to try and predict what will happen. But I am deeply heartened to hear Alonso’s name mentioned, seriously, in the same sentence as the Williams team. It is proof of how much Williams have improved, yes a lot of it down to the engine, but you still need a pretty good chassis to stick it in. I just hope beyond hope the team can keep the momentum going into next season and beyond. They have not got as many points as they should have done so far this season, but they are starting to string the results together, and you get the impressions that morale is on the up and up. Still utterly baffled at Massa pointing the finger at Magnussen on Sunday though……………..
I seem to recall Fernando was hired because “he can develop the car”. That was four seasons ago!
How does Mattiacci know ..”that Kimi is the driver that Ferrari needs.”
Well, he is the team principal. He is in charge of the team. It is his job to know, and I dare say he knows more about Ferrari and its requirements than outsiders.
But besides, he knows, as does anyone who has followed F1 since the Schumacher years that Raikkonen has already proven himself one of the best drivers of this generation. His credentials should not really be up for discussion.
He is struggling, and so are the team, and they will both find the solutions together. If he was past it, as Joe hints, he would be the first to realise this and would walk away. Why would he stay? Does he need the money? No.
Alonso gets the F14T working well…. it is his kind of drive. It’s too slow and that is what he doesn’t like.
Kimi has always driven cars that give him precision in steering and he prefers an over-steering front, unlike Alonso.
Off Track; Marco Mattiacci may be the team principal, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he knows what he’s doing. I have it from an insider at Ferrari North America that MM has his current job because he is being groomed to replace (eventually) L di M as Chairman – and to do that one must have run the F1 team. That makes his appointment (surprise surprise) a political decision.
Domenicali was a Race Director at Mugello, and has been involved with MotoGP and DTM before being named Team manager at ferrari, Sporting Director in 2002 and then Team Principal in 2008…
MM? He’s trained as an economist and has run the Road Car division in NA as well as filling management roles in the road car division in Asia. So, I think that one can rightly question his bona fides for the job, and to question whether or not he has the requisite knowledge to be successful.
Alonso gets the F14T working well? Absolutely – but I don’t think that you should confuse that with the idea that he somehow “loves” the car. Remember last year at Hungary? “What do you want for your birthday, Fernando” (Answer) “A Red Bull”. The only thing that has changed is that I’m sure he’d rather have a Mercedes now.
I’m positive that FA has no real interest in flogging a mediocre car within an inch of it’s life to 5th place…given the chance, he will go – and Ferrari will be in dire straights if he does because I suspect that Kimi’s usage of the car is a better indicator of it’s worth.
Hi Bruce
Notwithstanding what your friend has told you, is it wise to assume Mattiacci is a fool on no evidence?
I suspect what he [MM] is trying to say politely is Kimi has triumphed for this team before. He has delivered the titles, and he is the only Ferrari world champion they have. That is the elephant in the corner of the cosy room painted here.
So sorry, but I hold exactly the opposite view to your last paragraph. Next Scuderia title will be Raikkonen’s, and a bottle of Krug 1972 will wing over to you if I’m wrong!
Thanks for the response Off Track…
I don’t for a second think that MM is a “fool” – one doesn’t advance as he has if one is. I do, however, wonder if he is the right guy at the right time for the job. It is, of course, too early to tell.
If there is another elephant in the room, it might be that Kimi’s WDC was achieved under Stefano Domenicali… what has Marco Mattiacci achieved in racing? This is not to say he can’t… but the choice of MM strikes me as slightly capricious… (or overtly political).
As to MM’s comment – I think he was simply doing the right thing – supporting a driver who is going through a bit of a rough patch.
If, as Joe suggests, Alonso leaves, I think that this will be bad news for MM… as this would be perceived as a reflection on his management… which would make it critically important for him to deliver a highly competitive car for next season for Kimi and whoever else would be driving it – and if Alonso IS gone, you’d likely be right, if the car was competitive enough, Kimi would have a chance…
In spite of really liking Raikkonen, I am now actively hoping that someone – ANYone will beat him to being the next Ferrari WDC… I could use the bottle of Krug… 😉 🙂
MM’s comment seemed to drift off, as if his mind wandered. I’d say that, before I thought he meant to faintly praise.
Bruce, you are forgetting Jean Todt ! How could you.
Regards
Off
Er – sorry Off – How am I forgetting Jean Todt?
Don’t worry…he’s very forgettable.
Also in Mattiacci’s favour (and which hasn’t really been recognised in many of the comments here) is the fact that that no professional team boss is going to say his highly-paid, contracted, World-Championship-winning drivers are useless. Whatever his private thoughts, and whatever machinations are going on behind the scenes, so far as the media and outside world are concerned, Mattiacci is going to keep saying “Kimi is wonderful” until such point as they appear together, holding hands, and say “Kimi has decided to spend more time with his family of rubber dolphins, we’re so sad to see him go but wish him luck with the next phase of his life”. This is assuming, of course, that Mattiacci is indeed a professional team boss – unlike the Ferrari bosses who fired Prost, for instance…
Kimi, to my mind is the simplest driver to understand – he doesn’t try to make points in emotional ways, or subtle gestures, or by dropping hints to selected members of the media. He made a statement to all and sundry at Silverstone to the effect that he intends to drive for Ferrari in 2015 and then retire from F1 – I don’t think that’s anything other than exactly what he plans to do. Whether Ferrari are in agreement is a different matter, but I suspect Kimi and his advisers were too canny to give Ferrari an opportunity to terminate the agreement early without it costing a shedload of money – especially if, as Joe implies, di Montezemolo signed him in a moment of panic when he thought Alonso was off.
I wouldn’t bet on Williams producing a better car than Ferrari next year. Allison will produce something good and the engine will be better. I would think Alonso should wait one more year and see how the new Honda fares. I’m not really a fan, but have to admit he seems like a grown man racing a bunch of boys sometimes.
Seems to be a sensible idea to wait just one more year at the Scuderia. He’s waited all along – just a year more won’t hurt. He could see if Allison and the other new recruits have made a difference, while observing how the Honda is fairing in the McLaren. It would help him make an informed decision, and as you and others have suggested, there’s no guarantee Williams will have as good a car next year too…though it’s entirely possible.
Next year he is 35
Recently, he was talking about Le Mans and Ferrari… is it possible he has already accepted his time left in F1 and is looking at a ‘post-F1’ Le Mans shot? It’s been 40 years since the last F1 Driver’s Champion won the Le Mans 24 hrs..
I wonder if Kimi is as fit as he should be.
Excellent and economical analysis. The one consistent thing in FA’s career, other than his excellence at the wheel, has been how bad the management decisions have been. He never was a McLaren type and should not go back.
Then Red Bull were rejected in favour of back to Renault. Ferrari should have worked but didn’t because of the reasons Joe describes. Things will only get worse with the new marketing clown (cone hat and clarinet, etc).
KR actually only scored points in the last 2 years. He occasionally showed spirit, but definitely the car flattered the driver. All in all, par for his course.
So where does FA go? Maybe into racing history as the best 2 time champ ever. I often think about the masterclass he gave in Monaco 2007 and the rot which started there.
Alonso – Williams option would be GREAT news for all of them and would help to keep the old team on track – IF he is trully commited… Let´s remember he apparently wasn´t at Renault in 2008/9… Do you agree?
I don’t think you can ignore the negative Briatore factor in ‘8 and ‘9. Not by a long fancy.
Interesting you’re not mentioning Vergne to be in line for a Red Bull seat. Do you think his F1 career is on a dead track? Kvyat is making a really good impression for a rookie driver, guess that’s hurting Vergne’s chances.
Fernando will give a try to Allison’s first red car being designed right now. If in 2015 Ferrari remains a truck or gets reliability issues, Fernando will go. But options would be probably different by that time.
So I guess he will end up being labelled as a two time World Champion who never lived up to his real promise. I have faith in Allison but I have seen Ferrari like this before and it needs a stronger hand on the tiller than it has right now.
he should have stayed at mclaren, or rather, he shouldn’t have let relations deteriorate to a point where there was no other option but to leave mclaren.. if he could drag a ferrari to almost winning a wdc twice, imagine what he could have done with the 2012 mclaren. if you consider that lewis 2011 season mainly suffered from his lack of consistency, fernando could have won that year as well. not to mention 2008. but then again, mclaren are the kings of shooting themselves in the foot, so we might look at his mclaren career the same way we’re looking at his years in a ferrari.
Yes, his meltdown at McLaren gets even weirder the more time passes. A double world champion lost it because a rookie got several podiums and more attention than him? How fragile was his ego at that time? I don’t think he’s that driver now, but he really only thrives when he’s dominant in a team. He must be massively relieved Kimi is all at sea.
It could just be he really wasn’t good, then, at managing the change of situation, within himself. But, yes, it looks pretty strange. Maybe only because he’s so strong willed and focused now, you can look back and the only thought, in my head, is a loud “WTF?”.
Is it he only thrives with a weaker teammate? Or just he got off on the wrong foot at McLaren and never got it right for himself in any way? To me, it seemed as if nothing was right for him at all. McLaren seemed to be a host body immune system rejecting a transplant. Not malevolently or deliberately, just, wow, it all seemed wrong and at best, uncomfortable. We’ve not otherwise seen him matched well enough, so I won’t extrapolate from those years at McLaren. Give him Bottas, who will have something to impart, as well as I would expect a desire to learn, and we’ll see, I hope!
There is little doubt in my mind that the Alonso-Hamilton contretemps got waaaay out of hand due to Ron’s mismanagement of the situation.
He showed little support to the 2 time WDC and was keen to see his rookie protege do well. In the end instead of a WDC he had 2 drivers tied for second place in the points.
I agree with you John, as an old McLaren fan I was thrilled when Alonso first came, befuddled at the struggles, and can only hope he returns again. And I do think his added maturity will play a more positive role if he returns, in particular with his dealings with Bottas. I fear Jenson would become the odd man out.
Hi George,
I can easily imagine Ron not being aware of his focus on the younger Hamilton, and even taking offense if taken to task over favor within the team. And Ron, taking personal affront, is the last thing you need.
I find it strange, how this has largely been spun into a story of Alonso’s arrogance. But such was the animus, of the time, and such is the lingering atmosphere when Ron takes umbrage at a issue, for he casts a very wide penumbra.
None of this should detract at all. On a level, there’s little to fault either’s ability to see things square.
I’d be happy to see FA at Woking, and Ron grasping the possibility firmly as only he can do. But instead, I think Alonso learned in general a lot, from his time with McLaren, and will be disinclined to take two, if only because the possibility of a even slightly misjudged reconciliation might blight by memory. It depends how he was affected at the time. I think Alonso was quite deeply affected, and you can see that in his loyalty and determination to get that red rust bucket finishing respectably. Therefore I don’t think he will risk disturbances to mental focus.
I’m biased by feeling Grove needs more of a boost, and how much a Alonso — Bottas lineup could do for the racing, next year. Oh, and Bottas this year, wow, really, wow. That and hope their development keeps following. I’ve not given enough thought to McLaren for next year; must put thinking cap on.
~j
Gotta say – I actually got goosebumps reading this excellent article as the image of a resurgent Williams with Alonso driving it in 2015 developed in my mind…
Ditto. Ditto and a then some, as i’d been mulling the thought for a fair while, and only when I put it in a comment, did I realize how much I wanted this to happen, and how much sense it could make…. so getting a sanity check come back positive from Joe, well, made my day!
(I’m not at liberty to disclose the prescription slip that came back with the sanity check, though, lol 😉 )
Hungry? Sensational… plonk
You’ve not mentioned aero Joe. The engines will all quickly become similar and aero will again be the differentiator. And who’s got the best aero man in the sport? No, not Red Bull, that guy’s retired. Surely it’s Peter Prodromou at McLaren? That’s where I’d go.
Engines will remain key next year
Cattelani + Prodromou
would Luca Montezemolo still call a crisis meeting every six weeks and try to run the team from on high?
You think that might be the problem? I bleed Rossa Red, but I am convinced that LDM is a huge part of the problem.
I suspect that Fernando was less than impressed with the appointment of MM – iirc, he even made some comment about not expecting real progress on the car in view of the change in Team Principal. Alonso must be tired of ferrari’s failure to deliver him a championship-worthy car, and I expect that the change in team management may have tipped the balance away from him staying.
I like Ferrari, but I hope he leaves and gets into a decent car. I have the very bad feeling that Ferrari are moving backward. For preference, I’d like to see him in the Williams… even if it’s a riskier bet.
Fernando is in the position of being able to criticize all he wants, because he’s impeccable on track. I think it’s clear he cares, more so that it is clear to me he plays mind games or politics. If you are unhappy with team support, when the team is given to politicization, it is hard not to have your words viewed in isolation.
I can’t disagree with you, I would rather see Alonso in a Williams, now.
To all those who think Kimi will be leaving Ferrari or Ferrari will pay him off…forget about it!. Mattiacci clearly said that Kimi will be there and Italian reporter Leo Turrini, who is VERY close to Ferrari said that its completely certain that Kimi is staying there. Also where do these ” Kimi is fed up, he doesn’t want to continue” comments come from? Kimi has clearly said that he has contract for next year, and despite the negative results he is confident that they can overcome the difficulties eventually. Yes Kimi also said that his Ferrari contract will be his last, that Ferrari will be his last team, but again Kimi said nothing about 2015 or any other particular time for his retirement.
So overall all those who expect Kimi to be replaced or him to retire after this season, you are all wrong. No matter what you think, Kimi WILL be with Ferrari next year.
Given his performance so far this year, is this good news or bad news for the Scuderia? 😉
thats an interesting analysis of the situation based only on alonso feelings and needs to win a third title. But what about Vettel’s feeling at redBull nowadays? and the fact that Domenicali told him that we would retire from Ferrari…? And what about the situation of Bianchi. Can FDA let him stay an other year in a Marussia?
As soon as I read the title I thought….Williams! Wouldn’t that be lovely if Alonso could complete the revival of the Williams team!! 🙂
on another note Joe, can I conclude from your analysis that LdM is the real problem at Ferrari?
Alonso will like to hedge his future. On the one hand Alison and the rest could conceivably produce a WC car in 2015, while it it wise to first see what a combo of Mclaren and Honda can do. My money is on a 2015/16 move as I agree with Joe that Ferrari needs better management, structure and vision and not just very good engineers
I enjoyed both this article and the comments Joe … but you know how naughty you are encouraging the Silly Season before the August break!
Good insight there. Very interesting!!! I hope he ends up with a good car soon! Him and the hulk would be a very very tight ship.
I do think the Honda millions, need for a big sponsor (O2 / Telefonica or Santander) and need for a marquee signing will undoubtedly lead to Alonso signing for McLaren.
We then have a choice between Kev and Jens to partner him.
I think Massa is a spent force and given the availability of Jenson, money from finishing 2nd in the championship (given their straight line speed Williams have got to be in the fight to won at Monza and be strong at Spa) Button could join Williams leaving The Hulk and possibly Bianchi to fight for the Ferrari seat.
If Massa stays put, then Jenson could still be the second key mover and swap over to Ferrari.
If I could offer another theory…..
With the lack of testing, Honda NEEDS more engines pounding around gathering data. McLaren have a strong line up of development drivers.
What chance Marussia gets out of the Ferrari contract and runs some Free Honda engines with Magnusson & Vandoorne at the wheel?
I did wonder if this was the plan at Caterham but they’d never have made the managerial appointments they have of that was the plan.
No chance at all.
Adam, I do hope you’re wrong in Alonso going to McLaren.
I like McLaren and never underestimate them, but they have the best engine in F1 NOW, and their results have been underwhelming. So – you’re looking at an untested Honda engine going into a chassis that already sits at or near the bottom of the Mercedes food chain. What chance success?
Better he take a year’s contract at Williams to “dip his toe”…
Things will change at McLaren. Just watch.
As stated – I never underestimate McLaren, But I do wonder about Honda…
When was the last time an new (or returning) engine manufacturer came into F1 with a truly competitive engine out of the box? Usually it takes at least a couple of years for the engine supplier to become competitive…
Joe, yes, this is Ron’s (re) installation year. Next year, timed lap.
But I can see things change at $_Team any year, and just “watch” 😉
(dollar sign means “string” then variable name, in pseudo code, not a reference to money)
If these comment threads were to go by, there seems a lot of willing for Alonso to be driving a Williams. Interesting. Not often seen such a wide range of opinions in concert.
I think the answer here JoJ, is that fans love Frank and his Team, they are the raciest of racers in F1, and we would like to see him and Team Willy, win some races again, and if possible, another WCD/WCC. Alonso & Merc engines could possibly achieve such an aim. Damn it would be good to see!
With the comment from M Marco that kimi is just what they need, you know that some people just don’t wash their dirty linen in public, unlike good old ron
I don’t think Ferrari will ever sign a driver who has not won races and is not an established driver, no matter how much talent that X driver may have. That is for Red Bull or even McLaren to do; i mean to nurture a driver through their academy programmes, hone their skills and give them thier break at the big stage to prove themselves, but that is not Ferrari in my opinion. They want a proven race winner and a known quantity, that is the reason, probably why, last year, they went for Raikkonen -their last world champion-instead of Hulkenberg, who is admittedly been .overlooked far more than he deserves. As for the current Ferrari line-up, neither Fernando nor Kimi will leave or will have a better and safer option and destination to go to. McLaren supplied by Honda is an attractive prospect and a risk worth taking but not for Fernando at this deep stage in his carrer; it is not a risk he would be willing to take considering he is 33 years old by next week. He cannot do ‘a Renault’ stop gap comeback he did when he bitterly parted ways with McLaren having had his fair share of internal issues with Ron Dennis in particular. Kimi, contrary to popular belief, is a sensible characeter, a bit like his driving style so to speak. In the same sense that he requires a responsive, front end to make his car work, he needs to be embraced for who he is. A fact that Ferrari underestimated the first time around when they first brought him to Maranello back in 2007, when they thought of him as Micheal’s successor, which in theory he was but Kimi is a different animal altogether, not only from Schumacher but from the rest of grid as well. OK, s a competitive person he wants to win but that is where the similarity between him and his peers ends. Perfomance-wise, while still it is a shock to me to see Kimi lagging so far behind his ever consistent teammate, i think Alonso has the luxury of having the team tryly built around him, so much so that he can almost claim it his own. Mind you, he earned that in many ways, he speaks Italian, which for a patriotic and proud Italian self proclaimed mythical team, is a big lure for them. Plus, Fernando’s driving has been absolutely flawless so he backs up his high demands and fully justifies his wages with big results, overachieving even, making the team ever his and his only. However, in my humble opiinion, Alonso’s teams will never have two drivers operating at the same level or being closely matched, for the reason that, as a team leader he earned, Alonso likes an understeery car; a rare driving style that no driver in the paddock has developed. That is exacerbated when you bring someone as sensitive and allergitic to nervous front ends on f1 cars as Kimo, hence the big, large margins between the two Ferrari teammate woth the embarrassing but favourable score of 10:0 to Kimi’s shock but to Alonso’s delight. The future, i mean starting next season, Kimi might be back to his old, usual electric quick self. Especially that the highly-rated James Allison will have his first car under his input bulit and ready roll. If the Lotus stint is of any indication or of any bearing, then chances are that next year’s Ferrari will play more to Kimi’s strengths to allow him to make his tricks work.
Ferrari does not sign drives who have not won races? Barrichello, Irvine, Alesi, Capelli, Johansson, Gilles Villeneuve, Lauda… need I go on?
I got that wrong with my comment, as i was not specific enough. But, the trend has been going on of late that Ferrari is not showing the willingness to take up a promising talent and give them one of their two cars to race. Instead they loan them elsewhere in the hope they win races by the looks of things. I mean, hasn’t Bianchi done enough to be given a chance? Why wasn’t Hulkenberg signed to their team last year? Not to mention Sergio Perez. They certainly don’t need a driver with sponsorship backing behind them! Ferrari are like Real Madrid in that sense, that they sign star players instead of taking a gamble with a potential star. I hope i’m making some sense. Thanks for your reply, Joe.
My article explained that Hulkenberg was not signed last year because they needed a star name to keep sponsors/bosses happy
Does that mean the Ferrari team won’t fire Kimi, for the same reason?
Abdellah, did you not mean, I hope I get this clearly, that Ferrari are not inclined to hire drivers who have not shown remarkable *existing* talent?
In that way, your comment makes better sense, for Joe’s examples are hardly terrible drivers!
You do clarify, yourself, when you say they don’t do driver development in the way Red Bull, McLaren do, e.g. So I got your meaning.
It’s annoyingly hard, in my view, to make quickly good comments in these wordpress blog comment boxes, especially with no preview. I’ve been called out countless times for making a mess of what I write. The problem is when the format is meant for very rapid comment, and yet you have a lot to say. So then, you get trapped into wondering whether you must edit like a essay, or make points paragraph by paragraph. Try the paragraph by paragraph, point by point. Then it’s easy to spot “inconsistencies” which are actually details you missed to say directly. It’s tricky, but give it some thought: I enjoyed your comment, and it’s a good point you make about the car styles. Don’t get lost in the formatting!
All best,
~j
Duly noted! Thank you! I will try and do better next time.
My pleasure, Abdellah. I’m always in my own need of trying harder for next time, myself. I think Joe quite misunderstood you, but your meaning made sense to me. You’re doing fine, otherwise.
Hey, the last criticism I received was at hacknernews, where someone asked me if I was a “bot”. Actually when they explained themselves, I was at a loss to understand that they did not have contorted grammatical understanding of English e.g..then I remembered, “oh, programmers..” (and, likely no classical language formal study) . Or I had a blind spot to my mistake, but I spent quite some time failing to understand my error.
I’ve been accused of not speaking English altogether, and been apologized for by others as probably having English as my second language. Not terribly far from truth.
But I fear the hegemony of the net has forced on us a very failed level of language education, where English is not taught classically. I’m afraid America is a big culprit here, but the UK is hardly far behind.
I rather see English is a polymorphic language, which you understand better by knowing other languages, at least in some way. It’s the Kitchen Sink language, with everything thrown in, and to be elegant, I think it must be voiced as a non “native”, to appreciate the range possible. Consider the notable novelists whom of past almost universally were studied in languages broadly. My dearest and long departed friend, reveled in “nonsense poetry”, because he understood the Old English and, e.g. the Celt etymologies and Finno Uguric roots of pronunciations that persist without spelling (and some grammar remains ghostlike as “correct” usage, without being in any books), but he loved the Persian and related languages also. If only we all sought solace in the beauty of language (and the silliness, also), I think we’d make real steps in bringing about a more pleasant human order.
That said, a bit too often, just generally, people don’t take the time to actually read comments on the web. I lay blame firmly at poor typography and layout, for a good deal of that. All I can say, is that when you make the effort, people do notice, and equally people do choke sometimes, but all about as often as I seem to utterly fail, so it’s never discouraging. Keep trying!
I think both ALO and RAI will stay at Ferrari for at least 1 more year.
It’s no secret that the MERC engine is superior because of the split turbo configuration. SF already fired their top engine guy and I think is gearing up for a new layout for 2015.
Let’s not forget Ross Braun, if he comes back to SF then all the pieces will be there for a race winning championship. ALO would be stupid not to work with Ross Braun.
Finally, remember MSC? he was at SF for 4 seasons before his first championship. These things take time. But yes, SF sucks right now.
You cannot change everything on the engine. There are rules. I don’t see Brawn going back to Ferrari.
Yes, MSC was there for 4 years before a world championship, but it was a very different team then – all the right people were in the right places and building it all up. Ferrari now resembles the shambles of Ferrari past – completely different scenario.
Alonzo has certainly done his part… it’s Ferrari who haven’t upheld their end of the stick.
If I think about Williams, the idea of Alonzo there is wonderful. But if I think about Massa, it’s certainly not. (Although he did recently behave badly for the first time I can remember when he blasted his victim for the accident he caused in Germany… surprisingly poor form from an otherwise exceptionally respectable man.)
Not sure why Woking would prefer Jensen to the new kid. I wouldn’t. Although I do like JB just fine, his teammate certainly makes him look as if he’s very near his sell date. Not sure why The Kid’s few rough edges would make him the lesser choice… he’ll learn quickly enough.
The one I am most eager to see get a good drive is the Other Nico… but I imagine we have to watch them play musical chair for a while before we get any clue about that… similar thing with K-Fiat who is driving a lot more like Vettel than Vettel…
Speaking of which, I wish someone would explain to me exactly what about Vettel allowed him drive like a superstar as long as he had a blown diffuser but now makes him drive like a #2 when he’s without a blown diffuser. Is there any (valid) suspicion that he’s been revealed to be a 1-trick pony? Or is his teammate really a superstar that we just somehow didn’t notice much before? Or what? The whole thing mystifies me, I don’t have a clue. Has anyone who really knows about drivers and driving provided a sound explanation for all of this? If so, who? And where can I find it?
@RShack
The greater mystery for me is what happened to Mark Webber’s form after his string of victories in 2010 which made him a title contender. He could have won the title in 2010 but was surprisingly in poor form at the Abu Dhabi race. From that year on, Webber had never been on the level of Vettel. Just what happened behind closed doors?
As for Vettel’s current form, it is something many suspected even during his 4-time title winning years. He had the dominant car that was perfect in every way and he exploited it, and the patronage he received over Webber in the team. Good! Now the car is not to his liking, it requires a much different driving style and the power-plant isn’t strong. It’s affected him. So is he a great driver? Yes, but not an exceptional one which is what the likes of Alonso and Hamilton are…but he still has time to prove me wrong.
I’m not bashing Hamilton, but isn’t it a stretch to call him exceptional ? Agree with regards to Alonso, but Hamilton is (imo) too inconsistent.
The blown diffuser gradually came in, which Vettel could get more pace out of.. while Webber was driving with a fractured shoulder in the last few races of 2010.
1. Re: Webber… as the trend of Webber getting less competitive continued, I heard much talk about how Newey was tailoring the car to Seb… which somehow translated into him tailoring the car to be not suited to Webber… I have no idea if making the car Seb-friendly also meant it was Mark-unfriendly, but that’s what folks were saying… let’s pretend it was true… how would a car-trait that would let Seb go faster not help Mark as well? I don’t know.
2. Similar issue with the new engines’, er, um, powerplants’ attribute of instant torque… it obviously suits Ricciardo better than Seb… but exactly why is this? One could say that Seb doesn’t know how to put down his right foot tenderly enough, but didn’t we first notice him win when he driving an un-good car in the rain? He didn’t succeed then by wearing concrete boots… so, did his 4-years of driving cars tailored-by-Newey somehow cause him to forget what he once knew? And might the same car-trait that helps Ricciardo also have helped Webber if he was still there?
I don’t know enough about the subtleties of driving fast to know the answers to any of this. I wish someone would ask Sir Jackie to please sit down and explain these two things for us (with a camera recording the answer). Or if not him, who?
RShack you forget when considering driver styles, the classic example of Ronnie Peterson, who rarely, if ever, got anything out of a car without someone else developing it for him! Emmo did an excellent job on the Lotus 72, to make Ronnie the fastest car out there, but when left to his own devices, Mad Ronald struggled, until Mario sorted Lotus out, and when Ronnie went back there, who was faster?
Ronnie, so I’ve read many times, would have things changed and adjusted by his engineer, who would then ask him what difference it had made, and mostly Ronnie would say, it just feels fine! Even when a car was all over the place, Ronnie would just adjust his driving and still make it quick!
This is the prime example of how one driver can be very very different than another.
Hi RShack,
As I understand it, the blown diffuser gave considerable downforce into corners.
If you have a system that actually controls the exhaust by different fuel burn rates, controlled by mapping, as you relax input to the throttle and brake… simply this was all programmed by pedal input mapping.
Take that away, and if that is how you “grew up” knowing a car, suddenly you have to relearn how to use the pedals, and relearn also how they map to engine control, against a background of the engine now doing the opposite of what it used to effect, being torque heavy and essentially slippery now, just when you could almost put it to the floor.
Vettel’s vociferous comments about the cars, to my view reflected his inability to understand the mechanical change required of his body actions. I loved the tractor comments that abounded season start, because driving a tractor, at least before the big reds and big greens came to be $400,000 mega auto cabins, took some real skill. That was one of my two favorite ironies of the criticism: first that loudness is good, when for almost all history, normal drivers praised a quieter ride; second, that tractors are a blunt instrument with no finesse. Go keep a Massey on a level elevation track on a steep muddy hill, before you could get a Trimble Navigation GPS unit to input to your steering. (yup, they can dial steering that way, long time now..)
So basically, Vettel has to learn or relearn some basic race skills, and atop that, there are not many people he can get advice from, how the current beasties work. Maybe that’s why his current form is so atrocious.
Just a shot at it!
All best ~ j
Hi J(oJ),
See my response to PT, above.
If it’s a matter of (re)learning how to accelerate more gingerly, shouldn’t he have grasped it before too long? I know the rules (idiotically) prohibit a driver from practicing his craft, but don’t they have simulators for this kind of thing?
And does it all come down to his right ankle having forgotten something it once knew? Or what?
Beats me… which is not surprising… but given all the attention F1 gets, I’d have thought somebody would have been asking these questions to somebody who actually knows about going fast. Jackie? Mario? Niki?
Surely there are experts who are happy to be quoted… do those who are in a position to ask not wonder about this? I expect I’m not the only one who wants to understand this better…
Hi RShack,
Well, the pedal input is software interpreted, so there may have been a lot going on to make life easier, not simply requiring a light foot. There must be some other interaction going on I can’t figure out. Wheel input also must matter. If you could control the downforce as much as is fabled the blown diffuser of the Renault could, blowing individual chambers with different mixtures and cam timings to shove out the appropriate exhaust… all I can think of is that there is something he got very very used to, that either accentuated a quirk in his input style, or maybe masked a deficiency.
In five years and four WDCs, things were going so absolutely right for him, I wonder if he has been able to fully unravel his technical style. I mean it could be simply subconscious, or motor memory, that he can’t logically access just yet.
Also, not so randomly, the brain remembers learning in very different ways when under differing stimuli. I linked the latest papers here a couple seasons back, and can’t quite remember enough to find them quickly, but it is almost as if, were you to learn to drive intoxicated, you would not be good to drive sober. They were strong findings that corroborated a few thoughts of mine, dating back to when we had a very soft Biology master, and we’d sneak a pint in at first lesson break… I sat papers having nearly missed the exam, on account of forgetting and indulging a few brews.. raced in to the long written exam sloshed and darn well did something right, thought i’d failed for sure, so let rip, next I knew biology department was all over me to go further with them, apparently i’d aced the thing. Fluke, or whatever, was the first time I wondered about the effect of learning and alcohol. Winning is a different state of brain chemistry, also.
When you are frustrated, diving into minutiae is hard. I’m sure we’ll see Sebastian back on form, but it may be a while. Personally, this sort of thing is why I think learning under varied conditions, under duress and with emphasis on failure analysis, is so useful. Not a uncommon observation, but there’s at least a decent essay in me somewhere, on how snatching defeat from the jaws of victory can be the result of too much destructive analysis in self governed learning. As a kid, I got up in my school at tennis, not by playing against the better players more, but by playing against those my level, and below me, but playing not always for the winning shots. By extending the game play, I got better play, more varied play, and some great friends. But I can still picture my ten year old self, at third deuce, cussing quietly, “but you have to remember to play the winner, this time, John!” because i’d get locked out of the winning mentality… I was never great at tennis, I assure you, but these ideas came from a wonderful book I am still secretive about, forwarded by no less than Jack Kramer, who wrote, “even the careerists who play tournaments year round can pick up some new and valuable ideas”. I guess I should have a occasional blog for myself, to review such gems. It’s also the only book I ever read on tennis that properly dissects the California hard court style, which meant a lot for cheap club courts were concrete about where I grew up…
Of course, psychology always plays a part, but brain chemistry, motor learning, all combine to make it a fascinating man machine interaction. Did not Schumi have blood tests taken all through the weekend? He was looking for something, and I imagine he was very interested in these sorts of things. Adrenaline, for one thing, is so toxic. It’s not merely fitness.
My apologies, not any closer to a answer, but I shall see if I can read anything on the current RBR’s handling that may give away a hint.
All best ~ j
Joe, do your colleagues in the media center have a betting pool on Kimi becoming the first driver that Ferrari will pay many millions to NOT drive for them TWICE?
Nope
Matchett said that somebody at McLaren (I forget who) said that Checo’s driving is great but he needs a new personality. This comment was followed by much mumble-mumble about how he whines too much to the press. Now, if there’s something to the original comment, I’m guessing it’s much more about his relations within the team than about the tenor of his soundbites.
Joe, can you say anything about anything related to this?
He’s inconsistent on the race track, and grumpy off it. He’s fast but look at Sergio v Hulk stats.
Indeed, if Maldonado and Perez always drove at their ‘podium peak form’, we would have two very formidable racers…. at the end of the day, consistency is a big part of what makes the top drivers stand-out, like Alonso or Hulkenberg.
Personally, I’m convinced that Maldonado’s Good Day was actually a mass-hallucination. Stop and think about it: If not for umpteen million witnesses on that one-and-only day, is there any evidence that it actually happened?
There are some blokes at Williams with some scars
Alonso wants world titles not cash, at this stage of his career. He’s watched Vettel a very good, but not a great driver pick up four titles at Red Bull. He must take a gamble now because he’s running out of time.Button took a chance when he moved to Brawn, and that worked out pretty well!. I’d love to see Alonso and Button at Williams,and Hulkenberg and Bianchi at Ferrari.
Fernando and you had a heart-to-heart about his career, I imagine.
heh heh
Button didn’t move to Brawn. He’d been at ‘that’ team since 2003 (BAR-Honda-Brawn). But I agree, it may be time for Fernando to roll the dice – but only he knows what’s going on internally at Ferrari, and what state their 2015 is in…
Button didn’t take risk with Brawn… he freely admitted that he was out of job until Brawn created a team from Honda’s ashes…
Button didn’t gamble and “move” to BrawnGP. He was already driving for Honda and simply stayed with the team when it was renamed after Honda pulled out.
How did Button take a gamble on Brawn? He was looking at oblivion post-Honda withdrawal, with no options. It worked out amazingy well, to general disbelief.
Has there every been a more frustrating time to be an Alonso fan? Such a great driver, such crap machinery. Ferrari would now look like a bigger laughing stock than they are without Alonso driving the lights out of their shitboxes for the last 5 years.
Sadly I think there are no good seats out there without many pitfalls in each.
Williams, love it…oh wait, Mercedes will not be beaten by there own power unit would they. Pat Symonds is an astounding engineer, hmm maybe but is it worth your last contract to take a chance. Maybe if you could get a one year and driver option. Oh and that Bottas fella might just be a real fly in the ointment.
McLaren, really!!!! $100,000,000.00 fine says not a chance.
Red Bull, same problem as Ferrari, power unit sucks and Red Bull has less chance than Ferrari to get better as they don’t do the power.
What ever the outcome I feel sad to think Alonso is not going to see another championship sadly.
You do not understand pragmatism.
McLaren beat Mercedes in 2010, 2011 and 2012 fair & square with the same engines… Why would Mercedes now start to “sabotage” their partners?
Superb article, thanks
Is there any truth to the rumor that Williams is getting a better power package from Toto than McLaren and Force India?
I doubt it
But to rephrase this, Joe have you not already said that McLaren is not getting the absolute latest units from Mercedes as it’s only 9 months until a Honda is in the back of the car?
I have questioned whether this is the case. I have not stated any facts on that subject as they are no facts to be stated.
Joe, thank you, as always, for your insightful perspective on the sport. You have the ability to see through the smoke, and past the mirrors, to present real issues. Again, thanks.
I’d be amused if Ferrari paid Kimi not to race, AGAIN!
But I am a lifelong Ferrari fan & Im happy with the current lineup.
Would love Bianchi to get a drive – I know Ferrari prefer experience, but Jules did a great job at the Silverstone test, has more than proved himself in the Marussia, and K-Mag & Kvyat prove that youngsters can do well nowadays, as they have been supported coming through the ranks and arent completely green.
I would be gutted if we lost Alonso, tho. Didnt know about the top 3 clause in his contract. It is always disappointing to see Ferrari doing badly, but losing Alonso would be catastrophic. I hope he stays, builds everything around himself, & turns it around.
As to Bianchi, and I know this is light years from Joe’s OT, we might all be surprised what Max could do in a decent car, just like Bianchi showed.
Considering that Ferrari now acknowledge they need to take more risks in car and engine design, you could say the same for drivers.. if the telemetry shows Bianchi would be a better no.2 for Alonso, then why not hire him when ready? There’s no doubt that he would be a perfect team player as well, like Massa was after they trained him up (and he had some Italian roots as well).
i think Button has had his warning shot from Big Ron…..Alonso could be in that seat if he doesn’t pick his game up
If Honda are paying driver salaries they will want Alonso/Button – I’m afraid it’s K-Mags untimely elevation to the team (not the initial move into force India that was planned) that is at risk.
Alonso isn’t going anywhere simply because there is no where to go and he knows that Ferrari’s best days will be in the near future.
I am sure he felt the same way five years ago
Why is no one thinking of alonso to merc and Hamilton to ferrari?
Because Lewis is not stupif
Ouch!!!!!
I’d love to see Alonso in at team Willy. I know they can’t afford to pay him what he’s worth, but as has already been stated, Alonso is a wealthy man who we presume places more importance on winning another WDC than on further padding his retirement fund – put simply, if there is a genuine desire from both sides to do a deal, then a deal can always be done.
If Alonso moved from Ferrari, there would be a period of restructuring to take place that would result in them being unlikely to be in a position to challenge next year.
Mclaren also are in a period of transition, and next year there is a new engine to add into the mix as well. If he were to go there it is unlikely that with a new engine supplier and a new driver line up that Mclaren would be able to make a challenge in the first year, especially considering their current position.
Redbull already have sebastian under contract, he won’t leave unless he feels there are better opportunities elsewhere and if that were the case then Alonso would be pursing those opportunities too. I also feel that the car is beginning to work better for seb and I think he’ll want to spend some time re asserting his dominance over his own teammate.
Mercedes have the strongest chassis, aero and engine package at the moment, however there is tension building between their drivers and by the end of this season, where only one of them can win, there maybe open warfare between the two of them. Since neither driver would leave a team with such a dominant car, maybe next years car will suffer from the lack of cooperation between the waring drivers.
Lotus, has lost too much money and therefore too many good people to be in a position to challenge for a championship next year. Ditto for a number of other teams such as Sauber, Force India, Etc. and the remainder are simply out of the question.
Wich leaves Williams – They have already been through their period of restructuring. Although not flush like Ferrari, they are now on a much better financial footing than they were, they have attracted a lot of talented people and they have a structure in place that is allowing them the freedom to work together creatively. It could well be the case that if Williams can keep their current momentum moving forward that Alonso can see a window, maybe only of one season, where he and Williams working together could steal the crown whilst the other teams falter.
Fernando must be kicking himself for not going to Honda/Brawn when Ross have him an offer back in 2008. Title #3 would have been his in 2009, and He would probably be driving the Merecedes right now.
That Said, if i was him, i would give James Allison a real crack at finally putting his fingerprints on a Ferrari design before bolting….
Finally, remember MSC? he was at SF for 4 seasons before his first championship. These things take time. But yes, SF sucks right now.
True, but it took Todt, Brawn et al years to build that team structure and workflows etc. It’s been five years already for Alonso and they are still talking about going back to the drawing board and starting over again.
As Joe says, if Alonso wants to win a championship SOON, he’ll need to be either convinced that Ferrari have something really special planned, or find another team that has more to offer.
Yes, but Michael had a superb set of people around him – Todt, Brawn, Byrne, etc – with a pedigree of winning championships. They were bound to get there eventually, and Michael was up against a peerless FW16 in 1996, almost won in 1997, a competitor almost as good as he was in 1998 (Mika) and a broken leg in 1999.
Other than James Allison, who has Fernando got? The same people who have failed to give him a car worthy of has talent for the last four years, a hugely inexperienced team boss (his “interview” with Ted Kravitz on Sky was embarrassing) and a company chief who interferes constantly when he’s not complaining about how awful he thinks 2014-era F1 is.
Well, Alonso is 33 but given the fact that he truly loves racing, I think he will continue in F1 till the age of 38,39 or may be even 40. That means he has good 5,6 years still left in him and with that also the chance to experiment with 2,3 teams and I believe he will do that. Having said that, I also believe that Ferrari line-up will remain unchanged next year and I expect some sort of resurgence too.
I hope that your dreams come true
I don’t. I cannot stand those arrogant ‘so and so’s’ at Maranello.
I can see Alonso as the last of his generation (outlasting Raikkonen, Button and Massa), followed by Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel, then lastly Grosjean or Hulkenberg, if they can get into a top car.
Re Magnussen and strengthening his position at McLaren: it’s interesting that they decided yesterday to go public with the fact that the stewards only investigated Massa’s part in the accident – Magnussen’s driving was not the issue, rightly in my view. Interesting also that journalist’s seemed far happier to broadcast Massa’s moaning and bitching.
I man sure that you know better than all the journalists in F1, but you need to think a bit about the timings. Journalists do not get to sit in the Stewards’ Room. The details of what happened there emerged on Tuesday. On Sunday the journos only had Massa’s quotes. And, of course, you forget that deadlines are tight on Sunday nights after a race and so the full story does not always emerge immediately.
I don’t think for a moment that I know better than the real F1 journalists, Joe, and I was unaware of the timings, as you correctly point out. But I do think the broader set of writers do give a lot of space to Massa’s continual ‘I was robbed’ bleatings, and I assume it’s simply good, easy copy in a tight spot. No intent whatsoever to put down the efforts of any honest writer.
Oops – journalist’s – they must be the ones who know where apostrophes belong…
Grammar nazis. So sweet when they trip up 🙂
Alonso at Williams would create quite a dilemma for me. I’ve supported Williams since I started watching F1 in around 1980. However, I’m not so fussed on Fernando, despite his obvious talent. I would find him hard to support as a fan.
Having said that, the Williams/Alonso proposition makes a lot of sense. If it comes to pass, I think it would be farewell Felipe.
If there’s one thing I’ve noticed about Alonso…it’s that he’s smart, really smart.
He’s that crafty European guy that might look flamboyant and relaxed but he’s got a sharp mind and his decisions are dead straight.
Mercedes – Full.
Red Bull – Potential swap with Vettel.
McLaren – Potential seat after Jenson.
Williams – Potential swap with Bottas.
Lotus – Bizarre idea.
Force India – How much have you been drinking?
I would not be at all surprised if Renault had the best engine next year (they must be burning cash left, right and centre on the thing right now). So if I were Alonso, I’d be looking to swap with Vettel to get myself into the Red Bull money machine. They could even afford to pay him too.
Read the engine rules some time.
I asked you before though – the token system, does it directly measure funds spent or funds ‘applied’ to the engine?
I.e. would it be possible for Renault to spend £100m on engine development to find the best way to apply the token system whose application would only total a fraction of that?
You would have to ask Renault. I don’t know the answer to that. I have no doubt that Renault will change as much as they feel is required to get a competitive engine but they have budgetary restrictions that make things less simple.
Indeed, I thought it was rather a lack of spending which landed them in the current mess..
Hmmm, interesting times Joe, at last something to really think on, silly season is early this year, used to be from Monza in past days.
Where does one start? There are many good drivers on the way up, who merit a chance, and apart from Merc, no logical regular race winning seats. Merc is so far ahead still at this point in the season,that it is difficult to see them being beaten regularly next season either. This maybe what places Alonso elsewhere. At Ferrari the engine isn’t as good as MB but probably on a par or slightly better than Renault. The team needs a rebuild and that may likely take all of 2015 to achieve.
There are obviously only 4 teams and 8 seats that matter. Merc appears to be locked down with Lewis & Nico. Having said that, what if Lewis gets beaten by Nico? An F1 contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. As you have said Joe, it’s just a negotiating point, money counts more than the signature. Therefore, would Lewis be rattled enough, and his ego be big enough, to move to Ferrari, rather than continue in a team with Nico alongside as WCD?
I know a bit about Lewis from a friend of mine who was deeply involved with his contractual situation at Mac. Now he is a different person, not run by his Dad, but his new Management would certainly find Ferrari $ attractive. Not a likely move, but anything is possible, and money would be found to accommodate Lewis as maybe the highest paid driver of all time?
Again, Vettel might be considered as a candidate for a move, but I rather think he will stay put. He is cossetted at RBR, and his problems with the change of car this year, will be overcome in time for next year. It’s just adjusting and he is not where he wants it to be right now, but one can see he is finding it easier than early this year. Also, he has 4 titles, this must play a bit in mind, he doesn’t have to get another one this year or next, he’s young and can gain more titles. He has also said he’d like to drive for Ferrari one day, but he’s smart enough to know that this coming year is not the one to do that in, and he can wait.
So the focus is Alonso, Kimi and Mac/Williams. At Williams they need more money, Alonso would bring that in bucket fulls, he would fit again with Pat Symonds like a glove. He is the pre-eminent racer out there, along with Lewis, and so is Sir Frank, any team owner would want Alonso like Frank wanted Senna, and also Prost so much. But one question would be the engine. This year everyone got the same spec from each supplier, but what of next year? One assumes that MB will favour their own team and the others will get a “B” spec customer unit. Now, if we remember 1993, Senna had a spec of Cosworth one or two below Benetton, but still won 5 races, against Williams-Renault, so engine spec might not worry Alonso so much for 2015…maybe a seat at Team Willy followed by a move to Mac for 2016? How about that??
If Alonso went to Williams, it would not be sensible for them to hang out Bottas, more sensible would be to drop Massa, this would be sad, I like Felipe and think he is the most gentlemanly of racers, with a real sportmans outlook. But he has not performed as well since his accident with the spring in Hungary, and Frank is probably the most pragmatic team owner in F1.
Would Button move to Ferrari, if Alonso went, maybe, but would they want him, he is a solid performer, but his time is over too, he doesn’t seem fast enough compared to KMag, or to Perez, so Ferrari would be better off taking the Hulk or Bianchi for a try out. Kimi, well they have paid him to race for 2015 as well, so why pay him not to? If Alonso goes, they’d just as well keep him and team him with a younger guy, while they sort out the whole team over 2015 so they may start to perform as they should in 2016.
Finally, Alonso to McLaren. Quite the most obvious move. Ferdy is in his last years as a top driver, 3-4 left. Honda can well afford him, and his Zen qualities would be attractive. They seem to like enigmatic Latino’s. Also, they will no doubt be good,very good. If not in 2015 then 2016 on, they should be a match for Merc and would no doubt, relish beating the German team!
Big Ron won’t bother with the past, he will just sideline that totally in his march for race wins and titles, particularly WCC titles. In that respect, if Alonso goes to Mac, I would think KMag would be off to Force India for a year or two, and JB would run alongside Ferdy for 2015 and possibly 2016.
Alonso fascinates me, I was appalled at his actions at Mac, but he was younger and his temper was much more fiery and instant than appears to be the case these days. I think that working with Symonds & Williams would very much appeal to his Heart, but that the lure of Numero Uno at McLaren-Honda will appeal greater to his Mind, and that therefore he will be a McLaren driver for 2015/16/17 and then retire regardless of what happens in WCD terms from this decision. If he stays at Ferrari, another year of having to outperform his equipment looms large, and he just doesn’t look or sound like he is enamoured with that prospect.
+1
And don’t forget that whatever Renault and the rest are allowed to change/improve Mercedes can as well. You don’t think they have laid off all their engines guys with a ‘thanks for doing an outstanding job guys, we don’t need you any more’?
You are right there Damian….you see, we can actually agree sometimes, and without resorting to putdowns….. ; )..
And if one assumes that MB may well be able to retain a large part of their time dominance for 2015, then for Alonso the route would seem to be simple, join Big Ron & Honda.
Merc seem to have around 2 secs a lap in their pocket, so if that is reduced to 1 sec a lap next year, it will still be very hard for any team to beat them, certainly to do so regularly.
On that basis, Alonso would have nothing to lose by joining Mac as defacto No1, and everything to gain assuming Honda can equal or beat Merc….staying put makes little/no sense. He seems to have enough money, but what he says he really wants is at least one more WCD. Mac would look the best hope for him, and he would not harm Mac’s WCC chances either…
Williams would be a lovely idea, but next year one would guess that Williams will be a spec below Merc, so it is logical to say that a spec below Merc, isn’t likely to be as good as a new Honda.
I don’t remember resorting to put downs other than to fend off an accusation of narrow mindedness.
We still disagree slightly though. I don’t think Merc will go the grade A grade B engine route. No need.
There would be a need for A & B or customer spec, if Williams prove to be competitive enough to win against MB. Merc are there to dominate, they won’t have a problem with Williams doing well, until Williams are a regular race winning threat to their works cars. I expect RBR always get the best spec of Renault too, although not this year as they are all starting from a bench mark. Apart from that we need to slightly disagree about your memory too…; )
Great post… Great food for thought… You really outlined it this quite well.
-jp-
What a fascinating turn of events this season is feeding us ! Fernando in a Williams. Who’d a put a bet on that two years ago ?
Hi! Sorry my lack in english but hope you all understand me. So over the last 20 years or so here in Finland have devoloped 2 world Champions and 1 race winner or two if we count salo giving away his win to irvine. I think This is awesome result from a Nation of 5 Million. So about Alonso vs. Kimi. Alonso has superior ablity over Kimi in adaptability. Kimi’s form has been poor This season even that some Bad luck has hit him. Allthougt Kimi does not believe in good or Bad luck him self. I have noticed that most of the journalists are not fans of Kimi. That i can understand because Kimi ain’t a fan of journalists. So when Kimi is having poor season Critical mob hits hard. Lets go back TO year 2009. Ferrari had a moving pile of crap. Kimi did the job and win on spa whit that crap. So This year win is unrealistic but i’m sure that Kimi Will come back This season. Alonso and Kimi are in my opinion both in top 5drivers. Lewis, ricciardo and Vettel the other Three. I think that Alonso is more Like Prost and Kimi more Like Senna. I believe that in This current situation at Ferrari Prost would have beaten Senna 10-0. I hope You understand me and see my point.
Hi, and you did not mention how well Valtteri Bottas is driving!
Yes, a awesome nation, of 5 million, especially when it comes to drivers….
You guys also win, hands down, on wins and points scored, per words used!!!
Your English is fine… no worries there… it amazes me that others can actually learn it given how goofy it is, rule-wise…
Jo, do you not rate Grosjean then?
I do rate him but I think the car was flattering.
Several journos are beginning to say that about last season’s Lotus…
Well, his performance in this year’s Lotus is nothing to judge him by…
As for last year’s car, what’s the difference between a car being quite good and being flattering? (This is a real question, not a smart-ass question…)
I think the only thing we can definitely conclude from all this is that Ferrari is in a mess, and because of that, what they do in response to that determines what happens in the other teams in a domino effect.
Apart from that, it looks as if anything could happen.
Massa has never had the killer instinct needed to be a Champion. When he does try to be firm, he crashes. This is a fantastic opportunity for Williams and Alonso. Williams have a history of developing their machinery year on year but need a super star to complete the puzzle. Bottas would benefit from Fernanado as a team-mate in every way.
If Williams win a race this Summer, expect a Spaniard to sign his name at Grove…..
Williams will be back.
Joe, I would like to hear your perspective on Eric Boullier. I had the impression that he was instrumental to Lotus/Renault’s resurgence, making them competitive again on a lean budget. No surprise then that McLaren picked him up and with technical talent like Prodromou, I think there’s plenty of reason to believe McLaren will be competitive again next season (provided Honda delivers).
But I seem to remember Boullier saying some unflattering things about Alonso after he left Renault for Ferrari. I wonder if that could be another obstacle?
I’m happy to see Williams do well, and love the Martini-look of the car, but I am not yet convinced they will be able to maintain (or improve) their current form, or whether their current form is indeed victory/championship-level.
I think he will make a difference at McLaren
I’m personally somewhat aghast that McLaren would even consider taking Alonso back considering their previously soured relations, such as his involvement in both the spying scandal and in deliberately hampering Hamilton during the Hungary qualifying. Yes, those are years ago now and yes, fences can be mended (which has happened between Lewis and Fernando personally), but like with Ferrari taking Kimi back after paying him to leave it’s remarkable to me how strange bedfellows are willing to climb back into bed again. Before rumors started circulating about Alonso going back if you had asked me what Ron Dennis would likely say to such an idea I’d have imagined Ron saying “no way, he burned his bridges, and that’s not the McLaren way of doing things.”
I think it’s called Pragmatism, Michael. Kimi went back to Ferrari I would think, because the team thought that he might give Alonso a scare, and he has been performing well since he came back with Lotus. Kimi went to Ferrari because apart from Williams, it was the only decent seat available, and he knew Ferrari could and would pay him his yearly Euros. Also, I expect he did not think Williams would perform as well as Ferrari. Alonso will likely go to Mac, because it’s the best team available to him, and will likely have an engine to rival Merc. Also, he will be No 1, no argument, and be well paid. Ron will have him back because he is the only available WCD that has some racing years left, and he is the most fiercesome F1 driver out there, apart from possibly Hammy.And Ron needs a Good car, a Good Engine and a Great Driver, Alonso will provide the latter, all Ron needs to do is provide the other 2 components.
After seeing the way Alonso has driven his un-competitive machinery since 2007, let me assure you Mr Dennis has been slapping his face every morning when he gets out of bed and goes to brush his teeth, he looks at his reflection in his mirror and mumbles to himself “idiot!”.
Unless he has already done a deal with Ferdy, in which case Ron will be looking in the mirror each morning and chuckling away! BTW, great tag mate, but very old joke!!
MIchael
Alonso hampered Lewis during the 2007 Hungarian Gp because Hamilton had ignored team orders to let Alonso past at the beginning of the fuel burn phase, which had put the cars out of sequence for their stops.
In fact Alonso spent the last four races or so not only fighting his rivals but the entire Mclaren team who were even suspected of altering Alonsos tyre pressures so much so that the FIA had to appoint an observer in the McLaren garage at the final GP to enable fairplay.
Who can ever forget Rons infamous remark after the 2007 Chinese Grand Prix when he said “We weren’t racing Kimi, we were basically racing Fernando.
Also Hamlton and his father missed no opportunity to demonise Alonso that year.
The result of all this was Alonso and Hamilton being tied on points and losing the championship to KR by one point something that Alonso had warned Ron denis about.
Keeping all this in mind you should stop being personally somewhat aghast and should stop demonising Alonso .
.
Alonso, is the best, I’m not a Ferrari fan, the car sucks pond water. If he were in a Williams, look what he did to Massa (at Ferrari) in the same car, and Massa is a good driver. Kimi sucks, he sucked in Rally Cars and now he sucks in F1.
If Alonso was in a Mercedes this year, no one would touch him. He deserves better than what Ferrari is giving him. If Sebastian Loeb were driving a Ferrari he’d kill Kimi, no doubt about it.
What a lot of sucking. When he has beaten his Citroen WTCC team-mates Jose Maria Lopez (31) and Yvan Muller (44), I am sure that the 40-year-old Loeb will be given a Ferrari contract and can then prove your point.
Actually Joe, although Harald Harb is way off beam, Loeb is very quick on tarmac and has done well at such places as Le Mans too. As you know there was some talk about a Toro Rosso run, which never happened, another PR waste, but Loeb might well have done ok at the back/mid field in a TR.
Thinking logically if we separate the car into chassis and engine these are my observations
CHASSIS
Since the chassis can be changed as long as the designers work within the rules and since Lotus built a car which flattered KR and RG in 2012/13 it is safe to assume that James Allison will come up with a competitive chassis for Ferrari
It is also safe to assume that McLaren having learnt from their mistakes this year will also have a competitive chassis. Hence any one can have the best chassis next year but I would put my money on Red bull depending on what Adrian Neweys input would be in the design
that leaves us with the ENGINE
Since the rules don’t allow a complete engine redesign the current engine pecking order will probably remain the same, Mercedes out in front followed by Renault and Ferrari locked in a close fight
Honda on the other hand are allowed to design a full new engine and have probably repeatedly had a good look at the Mercedes unit in the back of the McLaren .
Hence Theoritically they are the only ones who can build a Mercedes challenging unit.
If you add to this mix the Ron Denis factor with his undoubted leadership skills McLaren start looking ominously good.
All they need now is Fernando Alonso
delirium …
I thought the entire delirium series was great ! 🙂
I wonder if Alonso is facing the same dilemma in staying at Ferrari or not as Chris Amon did in 1969, when Ferrari tried to persuade him to stay for 1970. Although the new flat-12 Ferrari engine was fragile in initial testing, the 1970 car with that engine became a winner in the hands of Jacky Ickx and Clay Reggazoni. Ickx came close to becoming winning the WDC in 1970. Meanwhile, Amon raced the March 701, which was a Grand Prix winner in the hands of Jackie Stewart. Amon never did win an F1 Grand Prix in his career, although not due to poor racing or driving, but apparently due to poor career decisions.
Ickx and Regazzoni were never World Champions… Why then would Alonso stay?
Your logic was impeccable, Captain …. live long and prosper
It’s rather hard to imagine Alonso at McLaren. He cost the team $100m, a gimmick Dennis will not easily have forgotten. Williams would be an option however I think that he will be best advised by staying at Ferrari and helping them to regroup. Fernando’s legacy would grow much were he able to lead the scuderia out of the doldrums in a way Schumacher did.
Remember Senna saying he would drive for the Williams for free in 93? Well the sentiments behind that were that he felt that was the only way he could land another title, same could be said for Alonso and Williams, Alonso has accrued enough wealth it’s championships he lacks. Personal sponsorship and a competitive Williams should be enough to make this mouth watering proposition somewhere near tangible…Surely Joe?