Comments on: Yet another sticky situation for McLaren, Alonso and Hamilton

By: doctorvee » Is there a witch hunt against McLaren?

doctorvee » Is there a witch hunt against McLaren? — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:28:19 +0000

[...] there have also been rows over team orders and the status of the drivers which was kicked off by a deterioration in the relationship between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. McLaren probably have the two best drivers in the world [...]

By: patrick

patrick — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:25:56 +0000

Well it does seem to have got everyone talking about F1. And it is more interesting than the never ending tedium of Spygate.

Can’t help feeling that the constructors points penalty is little more than a message from Max to Ron that he doesn’t thing Mclaren are entirely out of the doghouse.

But I do agree with those who have noted that ultimately the current qualifying system could not have been better designed to sow discord between team mates chasing the title.

By: craigblog.co.uk » McLaren to appeal Hungary points penalty - Why?

craigblog.co.uk » McLaren to appeal Hungary points penalty - Why? — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:14:43 +0000

[...] who was at fault in that is a matter of great debate, but the result was a penalty of 5 places on the grid for [...]

By: peterg

peterg — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 06:53:14 +0000

What Lewis did in qualifying constituted naughty, he would have gotten a slap on the wrist by the team. What Alonso did was stupid & the stewards dropped him back down the grid as a penalty. There the matter would have ended, all done, move on.

But Noooooooooo!….Ron tried to b/s his way out of Alonso’s deliberate block with a cock & bull story. The steward saw right through it & hit him where it hurts, constructors points. No sympathy from me. His “explanation” was an insult to the intelligence of all concerned. Alonso was equally dishonest “I was asking about my tyres & listening to a non existent countdown”

Quite a backhanded compliment from a double world champion to a driver still in his F1 nappies. Alonso would not have done it had he not believed young Lewis could beat him to pole – in a equal car. Despite his obvious talent, Alonso seems vulnerable in the psych department.

By: Clive

Clive — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:36:20 +0000

Excellent post, I agree wholeheartedly (especially about changing the qualifying format). And thanks for the plug. I can see I have more than just F1 Fanatic to worry about!

By: doctorvee

doctorvee — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:23:44 +0000

I totally agree about qualifying. The race at Hungaroring is boring enough as it is — you come to rely on qualifying to bring you the weekend’s best action. But qualifying was — once again — tedious in the extreme (the little Alonso incident aside, of course). It points to something I have been banging on for a while now — the qualifying system needs to be changed! In particular, the fuel burn-off phase must be removed as soon as possible.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:21:15 +0000

I’m not sure we know all the facts even now, so it’s maybe not fair to blame Alonso 100% – although the fact the FIA handed him a punishment which he can’t appeal about, yet gave the team a punishment which is easily reversed at a later date, may point to the fact that they felt him more in the wrong than the team.

Personally, I kinda hoped Alonso had done it all on purpose as it took an amazing amount of clear thinking to come up with something as dastardly as that – and to then have the presence of mind to go out and take pole was simply stunning!

It certainly woke me up after yet another dull wualifying session – this Q3 phase is a total nightmare that must be sorted prior to next season.

By: jameshigham

jameshigham — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 13:08:39 +0000

Yes I agree the constructor’s should stand. This thing was personal. Basically all teams have a star and up-and-comer, usually not capable of trouncing the others out there. Hamilton showed he could, via the McLaren stable. It’s an interesting dilemma for Ron Dennis.

By: doctorvee

doctorvee — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 11:49:44 +0000

That is the interesting question, but I am sure Renault still have an opening for him. I read last month that they were holding back on signing drivers precisely in case Alonso found himself leaving McLaren at the end of the season.

Other people are saying Toyota, but I just don’t see Alonso moving to such a middling team. BMW is a possibility, but then what about Kubica?

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:39:46 +0000

I thought the penalty for McLaren was particularly harsh – Alonso was the one at fault for delaying his exit from the pitlane. I don’t see why the constructors points should not stand.

It’s interesting to see Lewis playing the political game, and playing it very well. He put his hand up to the lesser incident, saying he was totally at fault and has been playing the media.

The question is though, if Fernando was to quit McLaren, where would he go?