Current Fernando Alonso

Suprised there's no thread (although I had one for his blogs), so i'll start off:

A double world championship vs Raikkonen and then Schumacher in 2005 and 2006 respectively elevated Alonso's status but, apparently, no one told his rookie teammate at his brand new team of a theoretical 'pecking order' the following season ... and the Spaniard was 'seen off' by the young Englishman, Hamilton, into two years of Wilderness while both Hamilton and an even younger Vettel began to make their mark through '08 and '09.

Arguably, Alonso was in the Top 3 of all the Formula One 'Aces' in the 2000s following Hakkinen's retirement - up there with either Schumacher/Raikkonen and, then, Raikkonen/Hamilton - and remains so in the early 2010s along with Hamilton/Vettel...with only Kubica knocking on the door until the Pole's horrible Rallying accident.

A question mark initially over 2004 during which Trulli lead him in the standing until the Italian fell out with ex-manager and team boss Flavio Briatore (Alonso's then business manager) under dubious circumstances after the French Grand Prix.

Another question mark is...Who has progressed more since the end of 2007: Hamilton or Alonso?

A fan. Then came the unfortunate blackmail allegations against McLaren boss Ron Dennis on the morning of the 2007 Hungarian GP which came to light at the highly costly FIA 'Spy-Gate' hearings before Spa...followed by the odour of the deliberate crashing of the Number 2 Renault car at Singapore in 2008 which lead to Alonso finishing 1st in the event and ended in the banning of Briatore and Pat Symmonds a year later.

2009 was a poor year with 'Nando's' mind likely on the prospect of Santander paving the way to better prospects at Maranello one year earlier.

2010 was a fresh start at Ferrari (who no longer had Schumacher walking through the premises regularly) but first half season mistakes ultimately cost him a title inspite of being infamously aided by a Team Orders switch w Massa at Hockenheim (which lead to more world-wide criticism).

Relatively fast, relatively consistent but prone to mistakes and a possible insecurity complex (*) based on wanting sole focus from a team and being only happy with a Number 2 in the other car running behind him. Anything else and it seemingly rattles him.

(*) This is my own personal opinion.

..and so to 2011...

He's underperformed only at Malaysia (hit Hamilton) and China (invisible while Massa challenged McLarens and Red Bulls) and, arguably, Canada...but has maximized his chances in the other 6 races culminating in the British GP win.

He said in his post-Monaco blog that 'Silverstone would be the WDC cut-off'...and so, after some major upgrades, the Ferrari looks a winner again. It might be too late for 2011 given Vettel's finishing rate...but the 2012 regs means they should keep the hammer down at Maranello.

He's signed on through to 2016...So hopes are high of a WDC at some juncture...but not yet.

 

[cider_and_toast]

After Senna left Ron seemed to just lose the plot. Crap engines that blew up for fun, with the exception of Mika, some average or at the very least, most unlike McLaren drivers in Brundle (who was in a fight with Phillippe Alliot for the seat if I remember correctly), Blundell and Mansell. (Though we've got Ecclestone to thank for getting Ron to take Mansell on and I guess as a result of that Blundell only got the drive because he was the test driver at the time).

Once Mercedes got up to speed though it was situation normal again.

So, with all that said, clearly if Ron opts for KMag then he must think he's a potential race winner alongside Alonso.

 

[Mephistopheles]

And what if Kmag does something to Alonso that he couldn't do to Button i.e beat him, that would put several cartons of ripe eggs on Ron's face

 

[cider_and_toast]

And there's no saying he can't. Who gave Button a hope in hell when he joined McLaren ?? Who thought Ricciardo would show Vettel a clean pair of heels at Red Bull.

To quote Saint Murray of Walker, anything can happen in F1 and it usually does.

 

[Il_leone]

Bill Boddy Alonso and Piquet Jnr

Personally never rated Nelsinho because his dad tried to fund him into F1 by running his own team. His dad kept trying to press Flavio to drop Heikki and give his boy a run

When Alonso returned to Renault in 2008 it was obvious what the team set up would be especially as Flavio was close to Alonso so Piquet jnr was always going to be No 2

I do blame Flavio for bad driver management but that has been his nature against no 2 drivers especially when no 1 driver is from his stable and history shows this weigh back to the 90s

I also put some blame on Nelsinho and his dad for really taking on a poison chalice given what happened to Alonso at Mclaren- the warning signs were there if he felt he would get a fair chance which is never going to be the case

 

[FB]

There was also the fact that Piquet jnr had about 20% of the talent of Alonso which tended to drive the team decisions that way.

 

[Kewee]

Did I just read a posting suggesting Magnussen might beat Alonso.

 

[Il_leone]

cider_and_toast

Ron's philosophy at Mclaren was to have the world's best drivers. During his long association with Marlboro - he had De Cesaris in his car who famously junked a lot of chassis and got the drive because his dad was on the board of Phillip Morris. Afterwards the only way to please Marlboro was to ensure hiring world class drivers ie proven World champions which was the case for team each year until 1994.

- Apparently he never liked Lauda and was forced to hire him despite being beaten by Watson in 1982 and 1983 and Niki knew his time was up in 1985 because 1984 was very tough on him and he could sense Prost was the man at Mclaren

- Mansell was hired because he was the only world champion available to keep Marlboro despite their past where Ron did not rate him

- 1994 Mclaren tried to hire Prost but Williams were countersuing if that happened because Prost originally said he retired and walked away from a 2 year contract

- 1993 Andretti was hired because there were no world champions available as Senna was late in deciding his position

------------

Fast forward to Alonso - Ron made a big thing about hiring Alonso for 2007 before 2006 season started but that did not help Kimi or Montoya's situation. Ron was disappointed with Montoya and it lead to Juan getting sacked. Alonso's preferred Pedro as his teammate who was good but not quite amongst the top but Ron could not ignore Hamilton who was performing well at GP2 support races to make a claim

Even after opening round in Melbourne Alonso sensed Ron was more excited about Hamilton than his own debut and caused him to rethink

 

[Il_leone]

FB Flavio had already made noises that Alonso was No1 on his return saying a double world champion 's priorities ought to come first

So really Nelsinho was in a no win position

 

[Kewee]

Il_leone ...... Piquet was in a no win position because he only had a teaspoon of talent compared to Alonso. I'm also lost for words regarding your comments relating to Ron Dennis and his relationship with Lauda. Just to help you understand reality. Ron Dennis was instrumental in bringing Lauda back into F1. For Lauda's part he wanted to test himself to see whether an ex-driver could lift himself to the level required to win another championship racing against drivers young enough to feel as though they had nothing to loose. Lauda on the other hand learned at The Nurburgring that he had everything to loose including his life. He only intended to stay in the sport long enough to prove whether he was able to win again. He did stay one year longer to attempt to defend his third title before retiring permanently. To suggest Dennis didn't like Lauda is ludicrous, in fact the opposite is true. You need to read Lauda's book, "To Hell and Back". Dennis negotiated Lauda's return with McLaren as friends and when Lauda retired for the final time they parted as friends.
I don't understand why your postings include so much fantasy.

 

[Il_leone]

Kewee Lauda would have been better stopping at the end of 1984 then carrying on 1985 because he simply lost the hunger to compete against Prost and even skipped races

It would have been diffcult for Ron if Prost did not win the title that year

Alonso was not going to take any chances on Piquet Jnr beating him

 

[FB]

Just to put one thing to bed, Niki Lauda came back to F1 to keep his airline afloat.

 

[Kewee]

No mention of that in his autobiography FB, you must have read a different book than me.

Just re-read the chapter titled comeback. Lauda states in several paragraphs that he was managing Lauda Airs finances without strain and although there was room for improvement Lauda Air was fine and not in any need for a major cash injection. It was clear considering this was in the chapter titled comeback, he was saying his return to racing had nothing to do with Lauda Air.

 

[Kewee]

More fantasy Il_leone if you think Piquet had even half a chance of beating Alonso.

 

[FB]

Not something he is likely to openly admit to Kewee but all the discussion at the time of his comeback was that it was to finance his airline venture.

On the subject of KMag, who would have thought a rookie called Lewis Hamilton would give Fernando such a scare that he ran away, back to the arms of Flavio and the Renault team? This really is his last roll of the dice for Alonso, and he is taking a huge risk in a team which has made some pretty dreadful cars over the last couple of years and with a totally unproven power unit.

 

[teabagyokel]

And should Magnussen beat Alonso, it in no way proves that Alonso is worse than Button. Magnussen will improve for next season, and hopefully not get a penalty for every half-collision.

I believe Alonso is a level above Button.

 

[cider_and_toast]

I know of no evidence at all that Dennis and Lauda didn't get on. Despite the fact that Watson had finished in front of Lauda, it was Watson who was let go to make way for Prost. I agree with FB, it's been well documented that the prime motivation for Lauda to return was to fund his airline buisness.

 

[The Pits]

And should Magnussen beat Alonso, it in no way proves that Alonso is worse than Button. Magnussen will improve for next season, and hopefully not get a penalty for every half-collision.

I believe Alonso is a level above Button.

Too many intangibles to count! Magnussen may get worse! I agree with the statement, and the logic of team mate comparison over time can throw up some bizarre scenarios!

 

[teabagyokel]

The Pits - If he beats Alonso, he'll have improved...

Simple logic bomb for team-mates:

Alonso = Hamilton > Kovalainen > Trulli > Alonso = Hamilton

 

[Incubus]

Alonso beat Trulli during their time together as team-mates. They were team-mates in 2003 too weren'tthey?

 

[teabagyokel]

DON'T DIFFUSE THE LOGIC BOMB!