210 replies to this topic

[slmk]

Before you stop the attention seeking .... any hints on why FA backed out the apparent deal to go to Macca in either '14 or '15??

 

Seeing how badly the team has performed so far in 2014, I would back out too.

 

That, and the unstable sponsorship situation. Yes, Honda is backing McLaren to the tune of €100m/year but if you want to compete at the top, you will need a true title sponsor, which McLaren lacks now that the Vodafone deal has expired.

 

The Hulk would be great, but who knows if he would take the offer. His team shifting over the past few seasons might have hurt his chances. He left FI after one season because the car did not perform. Went to Sauber for one season, to leave again for FI. If McLaren would sign him, one bad season like this, maybe he would have left after one season. Some might see that as lacking commitment, but of cause you would want to be in the best car. I doubt he would perform better in the MP4-29 than their current drivers though.

 

Then, McLaren would likely put a clause locking him down for 2 years at the very least - I would understand Hulk to sign 1-yr contracts/commitments with midfield teams given that he is entering his prime as a driver (25-26 years old) but he might accept to be locked to a top team for several years given the right environment which McLaren may or may not provide him at the moment.

Edited by slmk, 22 April 2014 - 17:04.

[maverick69]

@jj

 

More wedge from the reds - and the fact that RD and Fred farkin´ hate each other..... not to mention any potential legal agreements. But that´s out in the news/paddock talk anyways.

 

McLaren are spending big though. Basically doing what Merc started a few years ago. "The place to be" I´m told after this current phase......

[discover23]

How can someone want to employ someone who does not want to work for them?
Strange..

[slmk]

@jj

 

More wedge from the reds - and the fact that RD and Fred farkin´ hate each other..... not to mention any potential legal agreements. But that´s out in the news/paddock talk anyways.

 

McLaren are spending big though. Basically doing what Merc started a few years ago. "The place to be" I´m told after this current phase......

 

Spending big to catch up, really. Not really comparable to what Mercedes did, which is to spend big to dominate the early part (at least) of this set of regulations.

[maverick69]

Spending big to catch up, really. Not really comparable to what Mercedes did, which is to spend big to dominate the early part (at least) of this set of regulations.

Good point to be fair. But things tend to get easier to catch up as the various trends arise.

Hopefully the debacle of 2012 lends weight to a change in thinking. Many a beer was spat out in the paddock over that mess......

[slmk]

Good point to be fair. But things tend to get easier to catch up as the various trends arise.

Hopefully the debacle of 2012 lends weight to a change in thinking. Many a beer was spat out in the paddock over that mess......

 

Indeed - but how could McLaren attract Alonso (clearly the man they are looking for)? The only way is if Honda's PU is materially better than the competition, which I highly doubt given the lack of relevant mileage compared to the current 3 manufacturers and the fact that they will also be improving their PUs throughout the season (I believe that Honda's "late start" is not as big a game changer as some people may like to believe).

 

McLaren hasn't produced a chassis better than Ferrari in the last two seasons and the arrival of big name engineers won't reverse the trend until 2016 (by then, Alonso will be 34 going on 35). On top of that, he would be working with a resurging and ever-more controlling Ron Dennis (as opposed to a more passive Whitmarsh), which he might not like. A move to McLaren involves may to many "ifs" for a guy likely in the twilight of his career.

Edited by slmk, 22 April 2014 - 17:42.

[Massa]

Why Alonso would want to drive for a Mclaren while he is a on better team, with a bigger budget, with a unique relationship with his team.

[MirNyet]

There was an article a few years ago about Alonso and Hamilton. They are both Senna/McLaren fans from their childhood. Once the car is a winner, both may jump in order to win in a McLaren Honda. Alonso has grown up a lot since 2007 and his years at Ferrari may have softened his viewpoint to McLaren. Personally, I think they have a better chance of getting Hamilton back than Alonso however. One thing to think about also is that Alonso has been dogged since 2007 with the viewpoint that he was beaten by Hamilton - something he might want to wash away before he retires - so depending on how much he has actually grown up - you could see them both back in McLaren Hondas before they go.

[study]

One thing to think about also is that Alonso has been dogged since 2007 with the viewpoint that he was beaten by Hamilton - something he might want to wash away before he retires -

 

Lol, you've just giving me a mental image of Rocky against Apollo Creed need a private rematch to find out once and for all who's better!

 

Strangely the rolls are reversed

 

The black guy is the thinking fighter suiting Alonso better and Rockys Latin fighter suits Lewis persona better.

[Nemo1965]

Can you please give some examples of the statement in bold? I can't remember Ron Dennis exploiting such a tactic Don't get me wrong. The point is Dennis is going to put the interests of his team first rather than adopt the consensus approach favoured by Whitmarsh. There are innumerable examples of his clashes with Todt when he was at the Helm. A current case in point uis the upcoming court case over Fallows. If a settlement with Red Bull allows Prodromou to start working early, Dennis will consider it a victory over Red Bull.

 

Okay. But that is something else than 'hindering the opponent is a victory on itself', which I thought you were alluding to. My bad! Ron Dennis can be a streetfighting man, that is for sure. But I have to say I can't remember him ever trying to win on the track by protesting someone's elses car, for example, or trying by careful statements to disrupt another team (like mr. Marko. God. Once he was a hero of mine. Why is he such a political rat now?). Perhaps Dennis has done some mean stuff in the Benetton and Schumacher-years... my memory is not that good.

 

Anyways, on the question: why would Hulk  or any driver come to McLaren? Well, for the same reason Hamilton went to Mercedes. Not only because of the works engine that is coming, but also by the 'hidden' stuff that is already set in motion but not yet visible for us, the anoraks. I am talking about sponsors, developments on cars, soforth and soforth...

[Treads]

There was an article a few years ago about Alonso and Hamilton. They are both Senna/McLaren fans from their childhood. Once the car is a winner, both may jump in order to win in a McLaren Honda. Alonso has grown up a lot since 2007 and his years at Ferrari may have softened his viewpoint to McLaren. Personally, I think they have a better chance of getting Hamilton back than Alonso however. One thing to think about also is that Alonso has been dogged since 2007 with the viewpoint that he was beaten by Hamilton - something he might want to wash away before he retires - so depending on how much he has actually grown up - you could see them both back in McLaren Hondas before they go.

 

If Mac get hold of the best car, or a better car than Alonso or Hamilton happen to be in one year, they'll want to come back. They both want to win. Simple as.