Yes, he is insane. I predict he will go down in flames next year. After a couple of DNFs at McLaren he will totally lose it.

http://www.sportinglife.com/formula1/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=formula1/06/10/03/manual_115203.html

"Fernando Alonso has sensationally accused Renault of sabotaging his title campaign by making intentional errors during the Chinese Grand Prix.

Alonso lost the lead in both Sunday's Shanghai race and the Drivers' Championship after Renault put the wrong tyres on his car during his first pit-stop and then compounded the error by bungling his second stop.

And according to the Spaniard, the mistakes happened because Renault don't want him to retain the world title as he's leaving for McLaren at the end of this season.

"They wanted us to finish second and third because they do not want me to take the number 'one' to a different team," he told Spanish newspaper AS.

"They are not helping me as much as they could."

The 25-year-old went on to claim that Renault are now only interested in the outcome of the Constructors' race.

"Some [at Renault] are happy because we went past Ferrari in the team battle," he said.

With two races to go, Renault have a one-point lead over Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship, while Alonso is second in the Drivers' standings because even though he has the same number of points as Michael Schumacher, the Ferrari driver has won more races this year."

Well, that explains his demeanor at race end.

It also explains what the hell was going on in the middle laps ... strangest thing I've ever seen, and the "saving his front tires" thing made no sense.

And you know what, it's just crazy enough to be true!

His ego is too small. Isn't there medication that can fix that?

Seriously, I'd be plenty pissed too.

Anything to the charge that "Renault put the wrong tyres on his car during his first pit-stop?" It explains why he slowed so considerably. Were they full wets? They weren't drys .... I don't get it.

So "wrong tires" followed by a bungled pit stop???

Cost him the driver's lead. The (20 sec??) pit stop alone might have done that ....

Never mind, I get it now ...

Renault and Michelin admit to mistakes
2/10/2006

Renault and Michelin have both admitted to making errors during Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix, which cost Fernando Alonso the lead in the Drivers' Championship standings.

Although he started from pole position and dominated in the wetter first stint of the race, Alonso had to settle for second place behind Championship rival Michael Schumacher after first a Michelin and then a Renault error cost the Spaniard dearly.

With his front tyres wearing badly after the first stint of the race, Alonso pitted for new rubber and between his team and their tyre supplier a decision was made to put him on new intermediates. However, that proved to be the wrong call.

"The decision to switch Fernando Alonso to new intermediate tyres at his first stop was taken jointly by Renault and Michelin and obviously that cost him time while he waited for them to scrub in. With the benefit of hindsight that was a mistake, but in the heat of a race, split-second decisions have to be taken," said Nick Shorrock, Michelin's F1 director.

However, Michelin weren't the only ones to blame for that decision, as Pat Symonds, Renault's Executive Director of Engineering, admits the team also had a part to play in it.

"We are making no excuses today. This is a race we should have won, because the Renault and its Michelin tyres were dominant in all conditions," Symonds said.

"The fact we did not do so is intensely frustrating for the entire team. Fernando drove brilliantly from the start, and as we approached the first stop, told us on the radio that his front tyres were very badly worn.

"In consultation with Fernando and Michelin, we decided to change them - and leave the rears on. It soon became clear that the track was drying quickly, and that the decision had been the wrong one."

The disaster, though, was further compounded because as a result of the wrong tyre choice Renault "took the risk of stopping very early to switch Fernando to dry tyres - in the hope he would be able to gain time on the leaders," said Symonds. "A delay in that pit-stop cost us more time: we know that the nut fell out of the wheel gun, but not yet why."

However, according to Alonso, it didn't really matter than his second pit stop was bungled because the mistake made in the earlier pit stop had already cost him any chance of winning the race. "Looking back the best option was to leave the tyres," Alonso said. "But when you come into the pits and the front left is nearly slick, you change the tyre.

"We changed the fronts and that proved a bad thing to do. I thought we would have enough in hand, maybe slow for four or five laps. It took eight or nine to work the front tyres in. My race finished there."

Its called a team effort and until he realizes that he will never again be a World Champ again.

When things were not good a Ferrari you never once heard them air their dirty laundy like this. Yes they admitted, THEY had a lot of work to do but no one ever pointed a finger.

In the business world a company that throws people under the bus in order to save face looks foolish, same deal here.

I am sure he was mad, I would be too and it would have taken everything I had to smile and congratulate MS but I would have done it and I would have put on my best act in the conference with the camera on me as well.

After that slam of his team do you think they really care if he wins the WC? He has fully imploded.

nice to have your driver play monday morning quarterback. They picked the wrong tire. Big deal...that mistake happens all the time in wet/changing conditions. You didn't see Rosburg lambasting his team because they sent him out of dry tires too early. Or MS blaming anyone because he didn't change tires in Hungary...

Don't get me wrong. What he said and did was flat out wrong.

I was just pleased to find out what the hell happened to his lead. I had no idea it took so long for intermediates to scrub in.

The last 2 races will be very exciting. With Alonso imploding and his team probably not caring about his Championship anymore and Ferrari's Jean Todt giving this interview.... yeah, I am looking foward to the battle.


Article:
http://www.planet-f1.com/News/Story_Page/0,15909,3210_3213_1566149,00.html

Blatant blocking maneuvers. Hellooooooooooo????? FIA????????????? Hard to believe after the BS penalties given out recently that those tactics were deemed ok by the FIA.

What colored glasses we wear Richard. Can't prove anything other than Todt's suspicions, and the FIA has already done what was its intent by causing enough lost points/performance on the Renault to at least give Schumacher a chance to win the title.

too bad nothing controversial has ever happened at Suzuka...

:p

One guy hugs all his teammates after the race and the other guy says "They are not helping me as much as they could."

Gee, I wonder who will have more support from his team in the last two races??????

The meltdown continues. Maybe he won't even survive till the end of THIS season.

From http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/

"Reigning World Champion Fernando Alonso has widened his attack on the Renault team after losing his championship lead in China.

The 25-year-old, who in the Spanish press this week accused his team colleagues of abandoning the quest for his drivers' title, has now been quoted as criticising team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella's tactics on the Shanghai circuit.

While Ferrari boss Jean Todt hinted this week that Fisichella's precision driving on the straights was tantamount to illegal blocking, Alonso attacked his Roman cohort for overtaking him.

Alonso reportedly told Sport-Informations-Dienst: "In the same situation I don't believe that (Ferrari's) Massa would have driven past Schumacher.

"

A Renault spokesman, however, insisted that 33-year-old Fisichella 'drove purely for the team' in the Chinese Grand Prix.

And he said of Spaniard Alonso: "There is no problem at all with the relations between him and the team."

Tomorrow we expect Alonso to hit out at global warming, which must also be responsible for the loss of the championship lead."

and...........

"Fernando Alonso has urged Renault tyre supplier Michelin to up its game after in China he lost the lead of the drivers' championship for the first time in 2006.

The French tyre marque is to pull out of Formula One at the end of the month, and Spaniard Alonso said: "For Japan and Brazil, we need to believe in our tyre."

In the title battle between Renault and rival Bridgestone-shod Ferrari, the importance of tyre performance was starkly emphasised in Shanghai where the conditions favoured each marque at different stages.

"Hopefully Michelin can give us something more for the last two races," the 25-year-old added.

In the Spanish press, it is reported on Wednesday that Michel Rollier, the managing partner of Michelin Group, wrote a personal letter to Alonso asking him to ease his outspokenness about tyres in the closing stages of the 2006 battle.

God as much as I wanna' like the guy, he isn't giving me much to work with, is he?

Schumi is gonna' hand his arse to him.

Sounds like "Whine Pablo" all over again. I do hope that Ron Dennis has an awesome car for him çause if not, I'll guess will see him at a Nascar track near you soon........

wwrbd?

http://www.rhube.com/Images/rickybobby.JPG

Besides, tire wise, Fisichella with the same tires had no wear problem at all... Alonso has this hard turn in style (it's amazing to watch in car - you wonder how the car stays on the road) and is the one responsible for wearing down his intermidiates completely. The team has a choice of leaving them on or replacing them, he's leading by 20+ secs, what would you have done ? I'd have replaced them too... A puncture or accident would have looked mighty stupid! They left the tires on Fisico's car because the tires looked much better.

I agree with the implosion comments, he's clearly caving to the pressure. I dislike MS, I was hoping he'd get beaten on his way out, but the way Alonso is behaving right now - like an arrogant prat - I kinda hope he does not win the championship. He's clearly arrogant and egomaniac. Like it's in Renault's interest to have him lose and focus on the manufacturer's championship - which nobody cares about ! Then agai, what would happen to you or me if we were 20 something, world champion, had the press watch your every move, make tons of $$, date a pop singer etc... I'm pretty sure it's hard to keep your feet on the ground when you are the hero of an entire nation ! He's young...

The two guys to watch next year are gonna' be Kimi & Kubica.

I give hats off to Kubica for having the "necessary attachments" (anyone else catch that line in the commentary? I busted out laughing) to try the dry tires earliest. It was hilariously funny to watch, but don't count the guy out - he's very, very good and he's clearly got the balls to push the limits. I really think he's gonna' be a serious contender next season.

Hard to believe that BMW have not signed Kubica up for next season yet as their 2nd driver. They must have him under an airtight contract. He's outshone his team mate since his first race !

With MS gone, it'll be Kimi vs Alonso, BMW is not up there yet. Renault is definitely out for the title, though I expect flashes of genius from Kovalainen (and the usual 4 th to 6th spot from fisico)

Kubica impresses the heck out of me. So did Rosburg early in the season...maybe he'll get back on track next season. It'll be interesting to see if Kimi's bad luck follows him. I'm convinced that some guys are just really hard on their cars...not sure if it is so much that the McLaren is fragile as that it just doesn't jibe with Kimi's driving style.

I disagree, I think Alonso's WC in 2005 was a fluke. He is a good driver but not great, He is hard on the car. Look at what happened in Imola. He fractured his knee crashing over the chicanes too hard. Do you think the McLaren is up to that abuse? I don't. Kimi's mirror fell off in Qualy last weekend!!! The cars fall apart!!

He might win 1 or 2 races next year, if he wins 3 I will be very suprised. Keep in mind he has to adjust to the Bridgestone tires next year and deal with a car that is very touchy and problematic. I think he will have a lot of DNF's next year.

Kimi also has to adjust to the Bridgestones but is at least going to a chasis that has run it and knows the tire. I think Kimi will win the WC but it will be a close race between a few drivers.

I really think this tire change will turn the entire field on its ears. I think you are going to see a lot of the Bridgesotne clad cars from this year more competative next year. I do not think the Bridgestone tire is the better tire.

I don't know that I disagree with anything you said, I mean, Alonso is slowly getting on my nerves, but a fluke? he has outshone his teammate consistently and is the world champion. The guy can drive.

And I don't think you can count McLaren out for too long, same as Ferrari - one odd year is Ok but I doubt the team will be bad for much longer than that. They lost newey but their factory is awesome and the Mercedes acquisition has probably brought more $$$! But I agree with you, it's going to be a walkover for Kimi, mostly thanks to a more reliable car and mostly bridgestone familiarity within the team - and good for him, he deserves to finally win one. He's not the most affable guy but he clearly is talented !

I also agree the tire situation will level the playing field, and put the nail in the coffin for Renault's hopes. I hope Williams makes a bit of a comeback somehow - but I doubt it.

I really think it was a fluke. I think it was more the car than the driver. Renault was the only fast reliable car that year. Alonso deserved to win, but there were really no comers in 2005. Adn yes, FA was faster than Fisi but I am not sure if that is saying a whole lot.

Kimi tried like hell but his car kept breaking. Ferrari was fumbling around with a horrible chasis and Bridgestone just could not turn out a decent tire. Ferrari's car was so bad in 2005 that they went to the 2004 chasis to develop the 2006 car. Pretending like the 2005 chasis didn't exist.

McLaren seems to have gone in the wrong direction as well and needs to go back to its 2005 chasis and look to 2007. The 2006 car has not proved to be very good and once again the cars are just not reliable.

We all know the team with the biggest budget will not win, look at Toyota. McLaren throwing more money a tthe car will not solve their problems.

I think Alonso won his last Championship. After this past weeks antics I really do not see any team wanting a part of him. I have to wonder if McLaren is having second thoughts as well.

I agree with everything you said. FA's championship last year was a result of Renault getting the new tire rules right and Ferrari being caught with their pants down after total domination for so many years. You can bet they won't allow that to happen again. With their databank of knowledge with the Bridgestones on each track, I think it will be total domination for Kimi next year. I'm predicting 10 victories for Kimi and 2-3 for Massa. Shades of 2002. Of course, after the end of this season everyone at Ferrari may depart the team, which will introduce a lot of unknowns for next year.

Motion - I wish we lived on the same coast so we could jump around the room screaming at the race on TV together.

My brother and I get together every race Sunday for good drinks and good food and watch the race. We do not know anyone around here that is also into F-1. I want to have a Brasil party but there really is no one to invite here.

Jim,

I watch and tivo every single race....... My time to hang around with friends is compromised though since I have an 18 month and a 7 week old.....

I usually end up watching the races after everyone is asleep at home....

Juan - I have a 3 y/o and a 13 y/o. My brother has a 2 y/o and 4 y/o.

My 13 y/o watches the races with us and my sis in law and kids come over too and the girls take the kids out back to play or to the movies while we watch the race.

There have been some races where I watched at night like you, but the next 2 races? The world stops for them.

I don't know how i missed this for two years. But I'm here now, and I can feel it in my bones... I'm home.

(Alonso is a giant douche)

Seemed like a good idea to dredge this one back up :d

Signing Teflonso means the next major F1 scandal belongs to Ferrari. Enjoy, tifosi. :)

bah... at the very least he has proven himself to be great without TC...

Alonso is whiny but he is also a heck of a driver and can be interesting in an interview, unlike Kimi.

And next to rocking, the dude can drive!! Out of the blue, he whooped Schumi's behind, and stole the worldchampionship from him. When you're that good, a little arrogance is no surprise.
And it is time that they come up with a set of rules and stick with it for a while.
How on earth can we compare the driving from season to season if everything changes all the time...

Had dinner at Shulas in Indy a couple years ago and the whole Alonso clan was at the table next to us. Nice people.

Come on, you know better than that. ;)

Every team that he has been driving for the last 3-4 years has had a major scandal.

Personally would sign anyone but him as he cannot be trusted and with no trust he would not be near my camp.