F1 - Here we go again

stealthn · 10-12-2007, 12:26 PM

Man what a joke this year has been, and it's really spoiling the final chase. Apparently now they are going to have a "monitor" to ensure LH and Alonso get the same treatment for the final race (or more specifically Alonso doesn't get "less" preference than Hamilton).

Unreal; wasn't it Alonso that thought he should have preferential treatment from the team in the first place?

Here's the BBC report:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7038494.stm

frogger · 10-12-2007, 12:38 PM

Actually, I think this monitor is ust trying to ensure FA's treatment is the same or better than LH's. Otherwise, we'd have seen a neutral (i.e., not Spanish) monitor assigned.

StevoRocket · StevoRocket's Garage

Should be a minder for Hamilton - it was his wheel that fell off earlier this year.
Caused by a wheel tightening thingy. Allegedly. Supposedly. Perhaps.

Komenda Fan · Komenda Fan's Garage

I never understood what was wrong with team orders in the first place. This isn't a competition between drivers, racing is so much more complex than that. With Alonso signed to Renault next year, it will be hard for Ron Dennis to have a word in private with him, however.

Joeaksa · 10-12-2007, 03:57 PM

There will always be team orders, just not out in the open as it was years ago.

Poor Alonzo.... but this has really sealed his fate. There is not an ice cubes chance in hell of his ever driving for McLaren again.

Jim Garfield · 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

Poor Alonzo.... but this has really sealed his fate. .

Poor Alonzo?? Has there ever been a bigger crybaby/ jerk? When he was at Renault it was the same story..... "my team is sabotaging me, whaa, whaa, whaa." I usually root for a driver every year. With him it's more of a negative thing, i.e., anyone but Alonzo.

I hope that he ends up at Super Aguri or Honda where he belongs.

Jeff Alton · 10-12-2007, 10:17 PM

Not just this year, F1 is a total joke. I can not bring myself to watch it. However that tire scandal at indy was interesting........

Cheers

LeRoux Strydom · 10-12-2007, 11:33 PM

When a team signs two new drivers, one of which is a rookie, and the other is the reigning world champion, anyone would expect the WC to get some preference. FA has been teaching LH what he knows about car setup etc. His reward was to suck the hind teat of team support.

You want to tell me that Ferrari gave Michael Schumacher equal treatment to his co-drivers all these years? Get real.

flashgordon13 · 10-13-2007, 03:48 AM

Alonso should just go away! This clown has gone way too far with all of his drama and crying. Teams have had a number one and number two driver since there were two car teams. Alonso was the number one driver at the start of the season, but Hamilton has earned the spot by beating the number one driver. Being current world champion was just not enough to convince his car to be quicker than a rookies so now he pays for his lack of performance. Racing is a perfomance based sport, isn't it? End of story Alonso. Every other team has a number two driver so he should not feel lonely.

Jims5543 · 10-13-2007, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stealthn

Man what a joke this year has been, and it's really spoiling the final chase. Apparently now they are going to have a "monitor" to ensure LH and Alonso get the same treatment for the final race (or more specifically Alonso doesn't get "less" preference than Hamilton).

Unreal; wasn't it Alonso that thought he should have preferential treatment from the team in the first place?

What would be the solution then? I am just curious?

IMHO I think the FIA should just tell Alonso to get over himself. He has really turned out to be a joke and if I were the mechanics at McLaren I would not show up next weekend.

I cannot believe such a paranoid, mental, disaster if a person can actually get his head out of his butt long enough to drive to a win.

stealthn · 10-13-2007, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeRoux Strydom

When a team signs two new drivers, one of which is a rookie, and the other is the reigning world champion, anyone would expect the WC to get some preference. FA has been teaching LH what he knows about car setup etc. His reward was to suck the hind teat of team support.

You want to tell me that Ferrari gave Michael Schumacher equal treatment to his co-drivers all these years? Get real.

Yes, but Rubens B. did not go wimpering to the Italian Motorsports federation or the FIA that he is not being treated fairly and Michael is getting all team preference, come on this is simply a baby that is going to loose the championship and is setting the groundwork to blame everyone but himself. Ban him for life!

frogger · 10-13-2007, 05:55 AM

How the team treats its drivers is none of FIA's business.

Jims5543 · 10-13-2007, 06:37 AM

BTW- I saw this announcement on Planet F1 either yesterday or the day before and didn't think it was worth even discussing since it is obviously another Alonso temper tantrum.

While I never put a lot of weight on what former F1 drivers have to say I think Lauda nailed it:

Quote:

The FIA made the decision after a request from the head of the Spanish motorsport federation Carlos Gracia, who will also be attending the race.

However, Lauda, a former F1 Champion, reckons the initial idea for the watchdog came from Alonso.

"I think that Fernando Alonso could have put the idea into their head," he told the Bild newspaper.

Meanwhile the Austrian has warned Alonso to expect a play hardball with McLaren team boss Ron Dennis when they finally sit down to discusses his future with the team.

"Ron is not an easy man but I always knew the limit, I cannot damage my sponsors or the people who pay my money," he told Reuters.

"It will be interesting to see what happens after Brazil."

Since Dennis has Alonso tied up in a 2 year contract to drive for McLaren, he could eat 20-30mil next year and force Alonso to sit out next season on the sidelines.

He is really poking Ron in the eye and, I agree with Lauda, it will be interesting to see what happens after Brazil.

MFAFF · 10-13-2007, 11:36 AM

Guys,

Remember MS had a clause in his contract giving him absolute #1 status in the Ferrari team...and the power of veto over his team mate....why do you think he retired?

Jean Todt and Luca told him Kimi had been signed and he was going to be there in 2007. MS's 'approval' was not sought in this instance...he was in a dilemma... he could either accept a new contract which made him equal to his team mate in all respects.. or he could leave or he could to another team...

He took the hardest but wisest route, retirement. He is by his results th emost succesful F! driver and that in itself permits him entrance into the pantheon of the greats...as his character does not.

Unlike most team Ron has always proclaimed parity....even to the point of losing the WDC when Prost and Senna's fighting allowed Piquet to win...

As for it not being the FIA's business, well lets say that the FIA business is everything to do with F!, on and off track so unless it changes its spots then they will stick thier noses in.

Ron will employ the best drivers for his team next year. To be honest FA is a mere beginner when it comes to manipulating the media and the team to his own ends...RD had to deal with Senna and Prost together..each on his own was a far greater challenge than Fa but together they were in a different league.

I think one to watch in the regard is LH himself. I think given a couple more years he will reveal his true colours, as has Fa, as did MS and many others...

Jims5543 · 10-14-2007, 05:33 AM

This is beyond driver status on a team. This is an accusation that the team is sabotaging his car. Its the same story as Renault last year. I honestly do not know how a pit crew could work for him after he accuses them like that. Let alone a team manager even wanting to look at him after that.

Joeaksa · 10-14-2007, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Cesiro

This is beyond driver status on a team. This is an accusation that the team is sabotaging his car. Its the same story as Renault last year. I honestly do not know how a pit crew could work for him after he accuses them like that. Let alone a team manager even wanting to look at him after that.

Agree totally. How can a crew support a driver who is acting like this?

Not surprised that he is feeling let down, but then he let the entire organization down... $100 million worth not to mention the world championship points.

MFAFF · 10-14-2007, 10:02 AM

Again guys... learn from history..

Senna was prone to making clear that his chassis was not a good as Prost's, on purpose and Prost was not above accusing the engine team of being biased.

At the time sabotage wasn't necessary, Senna got the latest engine spec. pure and simple bias...

Both got up RD's noses with their attitudes and yet he was not prepared to get rid of either...they lost him a world championship and they were the focus of scandals etc..

Do you honestly think that deliberately driving your team mate off at the first corner was not letting the team down? It was sabotage and letting the team down at the same time....

Its what gives column inches of newpaper coverage, minutes on TV etc and keeps the money rolling in...Bernie could not be more pleased with what is going on....and McLaren will benefit from that....

If Alonso is champion again next week he is home and dry...if Kimi wins the WDC and he is second he is a little unsure...but far from gone. Rd may have a little heart oheart over the winter...but he knows the importance of having one of the best drivers in his team...one who can race and set the car up...not having win a WDC since 1999 really really hurts, not winning a single race last seaon really hurts, losing $100mil and having a difficult driver doesn't hurt nearly as much.