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]

oh crap, not again.

Looking to the future, an un-known engine, a driver with an interesting history desperate to win a third world title with a team that have been slipping further away from the front of the grid since he was last there. It all adds up to one massive gamble that I predict will either be a triumph or a disaster but entertaining what ever happens.

 

[Titch]

But Honda are still very keen to have him, despite his earlier rejection of them. I wonder why it has to be him.

 

[teabagyokel]

Who else?

 

[Il_leone]

Incubus he was trying to outmanouvre every other driver thinking he is the best driver on the grid and held all the cards as well as thinking he would 3x world champion at least and finishing his career at Ferrari as a swansong

Yes only Flavio's bootlicking would do for him to return to Renault knowing full well he was planning to go to Ferrari

 

[Il_leone]

cider_and_toast If Alonso wins again - great for him and relief for Ron ... if it turns into a season of mediocrity and also ran expect some stinging remarks

 

[Incubus]

Il_leone he wouldn't be the first for bad career choices though.

The most emphatic example I can think of is that of Emerson Fittipaldi, joining his bro's Copersucar team.

If that was his motivation he would have done more for Brazil winning more titles instead of wasting several years driving back-of-rhe-grid cars painted in brazilian colours.

 

[Il_leone]

Incubus I'll go even further back and say Moss made some bad career choices because Enzo Ferrari messed him around about a Ferrari drive and being the patriotic Brit he was he decided he would only drive for British teams until even the Commendore realised he was a top driver and was prepared to loan his team a Ferrari

Had Moss drove for Ferrari he probably would have been world champion at Fangio's expense

I'm afraid Alonso seems to have these moments of madness that clouds his decision making like moving to Mclaren before Renault committed although he just managed to defend his title. Then obviously Mclaren and then Ferrari so this is his last chance to leave a better legacy that he deserves

 

[Kewee]

I don't think McLaren are a gamble at all. It's still a team with immense engineering talent, their engine supplier has been very active and very successful for a decade in IRL, which have run turbo technology for years, and none of us should forget Senna's three titles were won in Honda powered McLarens. It's too early to predict but this could well be the beginning of another McLaren era.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Yes that immense engineering talent has really shone through over the last two season, almost dazzling I'd say...

 

[Kewee]

Mephistopheles .... It's unusual to see the sports two most successful teams have a downturn in their fortunes at the same time but that's exactly what we are seeing with McLaren and Ferrari. All the top teams have a slump from time to time, Red Bull have also dropped back with the new technology and how long has it taken for Williams to finally have a competitive car.
McLaren do have immense engineering talent and anyone who believes their current situation is permanent must have missed the last three decades of F1.
My previous posting was referring to the future Meph, not the last two years.

 

[Mephistopheles]

The future is unseen the past is not If I were in Alonso's shoes I would base my decision on what I know and not on what may be Ferrari's record is better then McLaren's and he was safe there, who knows what Ron will do if Alonso spits the dummy again...

 

[Kewee]

He's a very different man now than he was 8 years ago. He may well get annoyed from time to time but I don't believe he'll spit the dummy. That was the behaviour of a boy, he's grown up now. Five years at Ferrari, driving sub par cars should tell us a lot about Alonso, yes he got annoyed occasionally when he saw another seasons tile slip away from him but he never spat the dummy, though probably at times had every reason to. I honestly believe McLaren will find their way out of their slump way sooner than Ferrari. Ferrari have had so many personal changes at every level I think they'll have a hell of a job finding the continuity they need to move forward. Time will tell and we won't have long to wait.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Only time will tell Kewee..

 

[Kewee]

Mephistopheles ..... Another factor in Alonso's decision was Ferrari's statement a couple of months back when they said they weren't expecting to be competitive for another two years. By then Alonso would have been 36 years old and Ferrari understood they couldn't expect him to wait that long and was the major factor in releasing him from his contract early. Honda on the other hand have just released a statement saying they expect to win races in 2015. That's a statement Ferrari wouldn't be confident making at present.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Kewee I was just wondering, do you see any fault in Alonso at all? Or is he the perfect human being...

 

[Kewee]

My recent postings have been about the future and how it might play out for Alonso. If you've read my past postings you would know I've said Alonso's behaviour in 2007 particularly, was poor, from memory I think I said he handled the situation in 2007 badly.
The difference for me was I recognised he was immature and had no experience in handling the position he found himself in. I also recognise he has grown and is no longer a boy. I also made the comment a few postings back that I don't hero worship anyone, I admire great talent in all walks of life. For what it's worth I think Alonso and Hamilton are head and shoulders above the rest of the field but to suggest I think either one of them is perfect is ridiculous. I'm sure you know that.
One last comment Meph, I'm not in a position to judge Alonso or Hamilton off-track. All my opinions are based on their on-track performances and of course direct interviews they've done.

 

[Mephistopheles]

I think he is a great racer and that's as far as my feelings go about him, in Austin how hard did he have to fight to get past Button? And how easy was it for him to get past Kmag? On that basis which driver should he be replacing at McLaren...?

 

[cider_and_toast]

At the moment we have to say the Mercedes engine is top of the shop. We can't deny that. So that being the case, the other two differentials are the chassis and the drivers.

When contrasting Ferrari and McLaren we have to make a a couple of logical assumptions. Firstly, if we compare the drivers at Williams and McLaren, are they relatively matched with each other? I would say not that far off in terms of pace. I would suggest then that the McLaren is the third quickest chassis of the Mercedes engined cars.

Now Button is out performing KMag in points almost 2 - 1 where as Alonso is out performing Kimi almost 3 - 1. Button and Alonso are both carrying their teams this season and the real difference between these two is Buttons poor run of finishes between Bahrain and Spain. At present then, I would say the Ferrari chassis is slightly ahead of the McLaren but Alonso is having a greater affect on the results.

The big unknown for next year is the Honda engine. McLaren in real terms are having one of their poorest seasons of the last 30 years. Alonso may make a difference through driving ability but at the moment the chassis is a long way off where it needs to be.

Looking at the year before last, Mercedes chassis design was already on an upward trend with regards to their results. Where as McLarens chassis was on the slide. They need a significant improvement in performance from the chassis to increase their chances of doing well even if they have the best engine on the grid.

To that end, it's a gamble for Alonso. His first season in the car will define what follows. Will McLaren be able to build a chassis that can close a significant performance gap on their rivals? Will Honda deliver a fast, reliable engine that can at least match the Mercedes because otherwise, even if McLaren improve the chassis performance by a good percentage, The Honda engine will need to be of an order faster than the Mercedes to make the car a regular winner. Then on top of that we have Alonso's working relationship with the team. Will he fit back in? How will he cope if things don't go to plan from the off? How will KMag do?

Lot's of un-knowns equals a big gamble in my book.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Succinctly put my friend and fellow west countryman.

 

[Kewee]

I think he is a great racer and that's as far as my feelings go about him, in Austin how hard did he have to fight to get past Button? And how easy was it for him to get past Kmag? On that basis which driver should he be replacing at McLaren...?

I'm hoping he'll be teamed with Button but I think it will go the other way unfortunately. Ron Dennis seems to have an attraction to Scandinavian drivers.