3409 replies to this topic

[prty]

Again, very committed in the circumstances ;)

And clearly macca bear no responsibility for leaving their driver out on canvas on a wet track.

It's not like he suddenly spawned in the pit entry, he knew the grip level he had at that time. Misjudged it and entered too hot, that's not the team fault. If someone crashes out now while being in the cliff zone of the Pirelli tyres, that wouldn't be the team's fault either. Losing positions would be.

[robefc]

It's not like he suddenly spawned in the pit entry, he knew the grip level he had at that time. Misjudged it and entered too hot, that's not the team fault. If someone crashes out now while being in the cliff zone of the Pirelli tyres, that wouldn't be the team's fault either. Losing positions would be.

Yep, f all!

More seriously, yes he made the mistake, the biggest mistake however was not overruling his team. That's understandable given his experience and also the way he'd grown up with the team but a fair criticism if comparing him to alonso or whoever.

But, as Whitmarsh admitted, the team had a complete brainfade, doesn't change lewis's error but nor does lewis's error change that fact.

[swerved]

I remember back in the day some of us were saying that Hamilton was shacking the mechanic hands only for the cameras, and we were called everything but pretty:

http://forums.autosp...showtopic=97297

Now a mechanic who worked with him talked about that:

http://www.pitlanema...magazine/?p=213



Oh well, time and its things

Interesting when you look back that far isn't it, Bruce wasn't so wide of the mark, I recall a few in various places remarking at how staged the handshakes looked.


As false as a 2 quid Rolex.

[P123]

Mate if he was shaking hands with the team at that point purely for the cameras then that's the epitome of commitment

'stupid fricking team took an unnecessary gamble and I've just consequently ballsed it up but I better play up for the cameras because otherwise alonso - the one ron's racing - might win back the hearts and minds of the team and the british press and then I'll be buggered'.

Yeah, have to say China wasn't on my mind when I read that article. If he was as self-centred as some would like to believe then I'd expect throwing a strop would be uppermost in his thoughts at that time...

Interestingly, or perhaps not, what many of the conspiracy theorists have failed to pick up from that article is that all the mechanics and engineers were fighting pre-season to work on Alonso's car. One of the most often heard complaints during '07 and since has been how the team cheered Hamilton's successes too much, which is then given as evidence of favouritism. I guess that cheering must have been as fake as the LH handshakes... or it was all in the imagination of the complainers, or perhaps Alonso's behaviour was even worse that some insincere handshaking.

[fabr68]

Yeah, have to say China wasn't on my mind when I read that article. If he was as self-centred as some would like to believe then I'd expect throwing a strop would be uppermost in his thoughts at that time...

Interestingly, or perhaps not, what many of the conspiracy theorists have failed to pick up from that article is that all the mechanics and engineers were fighting pre-season to work on Alonso's car. One of the most often heard complaints during '07 and since has been how the team cheered Hamilton's successes too much, which is then given as evidence of favouritism. I guess that cheering must have been as fake as the LH handshakes... or it was all in the imagination of the complainers, or perhaps Alonso's behaviour was even worse that some insincere handshaking.

Massa's mechanics more cheerful of his 3rd place as compared to the long faces at Mclaren's pole from Alonso in the garage.

Of course everyone before the season wanted to be at Alonso's side of the garage. However, it is not a secret that once Hamilton proved his speed, the favorite driver changed.

At least now we have official comments from Mclaren insiders that it was not all roses at Hamilton's side. He played the cameras, the media and it worked.

Edited by fabr68, 01 September 2012 - 01:56.

[JBLeon]

I am an Alonso fan but... his team reacting to poles and wins as if they were about to take part in a funeral is not reason enough for him to have done what he did. And his constant rantings to Spanish TV, especially Lobato, putting down the team every time Lewis was giving him a run for his money was just tasteless. If his team's reactions meant so much to him, why didn't he go to the team? He knew he was going to a British team... He knew Brits were not the give-me-a-hug/tell-me-how-you're-feeling type. Fernando was, and is still, a very emotional driver who needs a pat in the back once in a while. Brits tend not to take emotional persons positively, contrary to Spaniards, and Alonso, needles to say, let his emotions get the best of him in 2007.

I'll give you my take on those images from Monaco qualifying back in 2007: To me it looks like a bunch of guys who are happy their driver got pole position but are holding back because another Brit got beat and they were well aware the camera was on them. It does not prove anything. We all know that Lewis was "working" the British media Big Time back then.

And yes, McLaren's decision to give equal opportunity to both a two-time WDC and a rookie is beyond human comprehension, but Fernando knew what he was getting into.

There are many Spanish F1 fans, like me, that wish Alonso go back to McLaren some day and mend some of the wounds he left open. If not all.

[santababy]

I am an Alonso fan but... his team reacting to poles and wins as if they were about to take part in a funeral is not reason enough for him to have done what he did. And his constant rantings to Spanish TV, especially Lobato, putting down the team every time Lewis was giving him a run for his money was just tasteless. If his team's reactions meant so much to him, why didn't he go to the team? He knew he was going to a British team... He knew Brits were not the give-me-a-hug/tell-me-how-you're-feeling type. Fernando was, and is still, a very emotional driver who needs a pat in the back once in a while. Brits tend not to take emotional persons positively, contrary to Spaniards, and Alonso, needles to say, let his emotions get the best of him in 2007.

I'll give you my take on those images from Monaco qualifying back in 2007: To me it looks like a bunch of guys who are happy their driver got pole position but are holding back because another Brit got beat and they were well aware the camera was on them. It does not prove anything. We all know that Lewis was "working" the British media Big Time back then.

And yes, McLaren's decision to give equal opportunity to both a two-time WDC and a rookie is beyond human comprehension, but Fernando knew what he was getting into.

There are many Spanish F1 fans, like me, that wish Alonso go back to McLaren some day and mend some of the wounds he left open. If not all.

[F1ultimate]

This is quite an awesome photo of Lewis and Alonso. This must be the first time they have contact in ages.

Edited by F1ultimate, 04 September 2012 - 08:47.

[Cavani]

last contact is so near in malaysia 2011 so it is not ages

[as65p]

but Fernando knew what he was getting into.

On the contrary, nobody knew. Most of all not how good overall, and lucky on top of it Hamilton would be during the first 12 or so races.

I don't buy this stereotypes of latin driver can't go with british team. For a start, brit Hamilton is just as emotional as Alonso, if not more. Obviously Hamilton had a cultural and language advantage working with his countrymen, but still, all things considered, it was marginal how it turned out between all those overblown egos. I believe Hamilton was inches away from becoming the villain around Hungary, probably only Alonsos ill-judged outburst vs. Dennis and Whitmarsh saved him.

And let's not forget how young and still unexperienced with different team cultures Alonso was himself at that time. You sort of paint him as the elder statesman who should have seen it all and take everything calm and rationally, but that's just not a realistic expectation at that point in Alonsos career.