But Alonso just said he's not going to sit in a Mercedes powered car next year.
Nah, I never saw or heard that. Please link me if real.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 18:13
But Alonso just said he's not going to sit in a Mercedes powered car next year.
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Posted 12 October 2014 - 18:13
LolWhy is Jean Todt not shaking Alonso's hand here? Thought I saw something on live tv already, but I've finally found a gif on another forum:
http://i.minus.com/iqXphlHIG4lVy.gif
Posted 12 October 2014 - 18:16
''Obvious'' is the keyword Alonso used several times. ''Obvious''.
I've seen many outlandish suggestions about what Alonso is going to do which I would not qualify as ''obvious'' choices.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 18:16
Nah, I never saw or heard that. Please link me if real.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 18:18
Nah, I never saw or heard that. Please link me if real.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 18:26
So far I have no reason to doubt this guys sources. Let's wait and see. Tomorrow is a very specific date.
Tomorrow is the day Montezemolo is officially out, that's why everyone has pegged that date. I don't see the great rush to announce anything but there would be nothing stopping an announcement from tomorrow onward.
The McLaren/Alonso thing is a non-issue, Ron Dennis has made that clear so has Alonso. Honda McLaren perfect pairing for next season is Alonso/Button.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 18:35
Well following this thread and reading today's post-race interview report, here's what can be made
"Now we are finalising everything"
Finalising something means some settlement to leave one place, but not sure where to go.
"cannot say anything until everything is completely done but it’s good and I will do the best for my future and the best for the future of Ferrari because it is the team that I love"
At this point, the only good thing he can do for Ferrari is make their lives easy by:
- asking to be released from the contract so they do not have to pay him the penalty
- let ferrari go ahead with their long term recovery plan and let them have the driver they want
I dont think there is anything else good/best he could do for Ferrari anymore
“When you know it you will say ‘it was so obvious you will do that'.”
Does he read this thread at Autosport? If he really does, it means McLaren. Just make me wonders if he knows what the world is speculating about him and what is so obvious to the people.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 18:36
If the "it was so obvious" thing is true, imo it rules out Lotus, sabattical, Lemans etc... Simply these options are nowhere near "obvious"
If he means "obvious by now" it probably means McLaren (more even with the "no Merc engine in 2015) Maybe also it could mean Mercedes, as it is obvious he (like any other driver) would like to drive that car but it is no obvious as there are not seats available.
If he means "obvious" talking about months ago, then imo it means staying at Ferrari. But don't think so as he's repeate that he took a decision months ago and I don't think that "doing nothing" (this is, staying in same team you are under contract) is a "decision"
So confusing and interesting ;)
Posted 12 October 2014 - 18:36
At this point I'm quite lost...
Is he staying at Ferrari? Alongside Vettel? unlikely.
Is he going to McLaren? If so...why such delay and mistery?
Not a Mercedes Pu car according to this interview...
Well, all in all, I lost the interest in this silly season some time ago. It is being too long.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 18:38
If the "it was so obvious" thing is true, imo it rules out Lotus, sabattical, Lemans etc... Simply these options are nowhere near "obvious"
Sabbatical is and was near to obvious. It becomes obvious when you take into account that all of the parties he has been linked with deny any sort of agreement and reports he is not staying put at Ferrari
Posted 12 October 2014 - 18:41
"Now we are finalising everything"
Finalising something means some settlement to leave one place, but not sure where to go.
Not only that, a couple of days ago he kind of insinuated that whatever needed to happen happened 3 or 4 months ago.
I suspects, because of the inconsistencies in what he is saying, that Fernando was caught with his pants down by Vettel's decision.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 18:46
Is he going to McLaren? If so...why such delay and mistery?
Because Ferrari haven't officially released him yet. Same reason they've not announced signing Vettel. Tomorrow Montezemolo goes from Ferrari, Marchionne is in, contracts can be sorted out. Alonso gets released without fee as agreed, Vettel signs for Ferrari, McLaren sign Alonso.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 18:56
But Alonso just said he's not going to sit in a Mercedes powered car next year.
It was on the sky broadcast... Ted also commented
I think he's just playing with the media. After he said this, a Spanish journalist approached him to ask whether that was true. He laughed, winked and said no 'maybe,maybe'. I think someone already commented on this.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 19:26
Because Ferrari haven't officially released him yet. Same reason they've not announced signing Vettel. Tomorrow Montezemolo goes from Ferrari, Marchionne is in, contracts can be sorted out. Alonso gets released without fee as agreed, Vettel signs for Ferrari, McLaren sign Alonso.
I think this is right..
Posted 12 October 2014 - 19:34
Does anyone know when this interview took place? Was this before or after the race?
Posted 12 October 2014 - 19:35
Team Principal at Ferrari?
Posted 12 October 2014 - 19:36
Does anyone know when this interview took place? Was this before or after the race?
After the race.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 19:37
I think if it's true that Alonso will return to Woking, then it's more likely that he signed with Honda rather than McLaren. Honda will place him in the Mclaren seat. This way McLaren will not have much power over him and he will be the guaranteed #1, whether the management likes it or not. This way Ron Dennis is speaking the truth and McLaren hasn't really signed anyone literally.
Still to me the Mclaren option looks like a gamble (unless he knows something we don't), no matter how much he likes Honda's plans and ambitions. The 'obvious' options seem to be Mercedes (even though this is ludicrous to some) or Ferrari. That's at least what I call 'obvious', but Alonso may have a completely different view on this. In the end he's probably just playing with the media to divert or focus the attention...
I don't want to sound too controversial, but I don't think the powers in F1 would like to see Alonso in a dominant car. He will 'cruise' to victory. He also doesn't have the ideal 'profile' and maybe even background (to dominate.) Don't forget that F1 as an entertainment company also has a hand in deciding which drivers (or actors ) get employed where en when. They can facilitate or block moves.
Edited by Smile17, 12 October 2014 - 19:44.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 19:37
Noooooo. Vettel's race engineer.Team Principal at Ferrari?
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Posted 12 October 2014 - 19:50
I don't want to sound too controversial, but I don't think the powers in F1 would like to see Alonso in a dominant car. He will 'cruise' to victory. He also doesn't have the ideal 'profile' and maybe even background (to dominate.) Don't forget that F1 as an entertainment company also has a hand in deciding which drivers (or actors ) get employed where en when. They can facilitate or block moves.
Not so much controversial but plain silly, How and why e.g would that entertainment company have allowed the ever more unpopular Sebastian Vettel to rule for four long years?
But, as I mentioned earlier, this thread is excellent material for those who study the phenomenon of cognitive dissonance
Posted 12 October 2014 - 19:52
I hope it is Mclaren on a 3 year deal.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 19:54
F1 does seem. staged at timesI think if it's true that Alonso will return to Woking, then it's more likely that he signed with Honda rather than McLaren. Honda will place him in the Mclaren seat. This way McLaren will not have much power over him and he will be the guaranteed #1, whether the management likes it or not. This way Ron Dennis is speaking the truth and McLaren hasn't really signed anyone literally.
Still to me the Mclaren option looks like a gamble (unless he knows something we don't), no matter how much he likes Honda's plans and ambitions. The 'obvious' options seem to be Mercedes (even though this is ludicrous to some) or Ferrari. That's at least what I call 'obvious', but Alonso may have a completely different view on this. In the end he's probably just playing with the media to divert or focus the attention...
I don't want to sound too controversial, but I don't think the powers in F1 would like to see Alonso in a dominant car. He will 'cruise' to victory. He also doesn't have the ideal 'profile' and maybe even background (to dominate.) Don't forget that F1 as an entertainment company also has a hand in deciding which drivers (or actors ) get employed where en when. They can facilitate or block moves.
Edited by currupipi, 12 October 2014 - 19:56.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 19:57
I stumbled upon this YouTube video of an interview by the British SKY with Alonso, it was posted on September 22nd, and seems to have been recorded prior to the Italian Grand Prix.
It might be old news to some, but I hadn't heard it (I usually only watch the actual race), and was surprised by Alonso's negative tone about F1, which the interviewer suprisingly glossed over:
Alonso: "This year is not so much fun. For once because we are not competitive, and second because the cars became quite boring to drive. They are too slow, cars are too heavy, there is not anymore the noise. Lots (?) of the car that we used to enjoy. So yeah, we are in a tough, tough year. Not for us, or for Ferrari, I think for Formula One. So... ".
He is then asked: "So are you not enjoying it?"
Alonso responds: "This year, I think no... not enjoying so much. I enjoy driving the car in qualifying, where more or less we are alone and you extract the maximum from the car, and you enjoy driving at the limit. It doesn't matter if it's a go-kart or a Formula 1 car, slower or quicker, but you extract the maximum so that lap is good. When you cross the line obviously you feel that you are on pole position because was perfect lap, but then you see that you are 1.8 seconds behind the pole position. But... there are some joy moments of the weekend, but in general I think the season has been not very positive. For us and for Formula 1 in general."
The interviewer then says: "And in terms of the rumours that go around, in terms of the talk of McLaren approaching you. You must surely be tempted to look around."
Alonso: "Yeah but, obviously, has been a lot of talks. From my mouth it never came, any interest, or leave Ferrari, or any war, saying that I will join another team. It's not my intention at the moment to move. I want to win for Ferrari, I want to win here and to finish the job that we start some years ago."
Edited by Nonesuch, 12 October 2014 - 19:58.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 20:07
Posted 12 October 2014 - 20:19
Posted 12 October 2014 - 20:27
I stumbled upon this YouTube video of an interview by the British SKY with Alonso, it was posted on September 22nd, and seems to have been recorded prior to the Italian Grand Prix.
It might be old news to some, but I hadn't heard it (I usually only watch the actual race), and was surprised by Alonso's negative tone about F1, which the interviewer suprisingly glossed over:
At first sight one could think it's like he's confirming there that Ferrari is his first choice. But I think he was playing his game with McLaren there the same way as Ron Dennis is playing his game with him - like when Ron said just a week ago that Button/Magnussen is a perfect option as well.
When Alonso said prior to the Italian GP "It's not my intention to move" I think he's just saying to McLaren: "If you want to have me, you should move in my direction and I will only sign on my conditions". At that moment Fernando still had a few trump cards. With the doors closed for him at Red Bull and Mercedes his position has weakened and Vettel (or more specifically Horner saying right away that Vettel is leaving to Ferrari) has wiped another weapon from his hands. IMHO Vettel would never go to Ferrari with Alonso still holding court.
It's perfectly possible -as suggested here earlier- that he had already signed a conditional pre-contract with some opt-out options. These options have more or less vanished now, it seems.
So it's now McLaren who can operate from a position of strength. But they better use that in a gentle way to help Alonso to save his face and to avoid starting the renewed relationship with renewed bitterness. Of course the alternatives for Alonso are still a sabbatical (but what will the situation be e.g. with Lewis ramping up two championships in the meantime?) or some magical Enstone reincarnation but that's not the obvious one at the moment.....
Edited by scheivlak, 12 October 2014 - 20:29.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 20:32
From that interview my guess is he is staying at Ferrari. It would enhance his reputation if he thrashed Vettel, like he's thrashed Kimi, then switch to mclaren or Mercedes for 2016. After all, all we know is that the ferrari option has not been taken up for 2016, nothing about 2015.
I
Yes he has this kind of "i know something you don't know look" about him in this interview. Given how much talk there is of McLaren is feels to me that Ferrari may somehow still be an option.
Guess we will find out tomorrow finally.
On a side note. Please everyone keep Bianchi and his family in your prayers. It is not looking very good at the moment for him.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 20:41
But I think he was playing his game with McLaren there the same way as Ron Dennis is playing his game with him
Very possible.
I was more surprised by his rather negative tone about F1 in general, though. The lack of speed and heavy weight aren't going to be different in the years to come, nor will they be different at another team. Perhaps it's just frustration colouring his experience, though, which is quite common in all kinds of people, regardless of their profession.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:07
He cant say he wants to move because he needs Ferrari to pay him severance so that Honda don't need to buy him out his contract. IF Ferrari don't grant him severance and cruelly keep him under contract then he will have to see out his contract racing outside F1 or not at all.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:16
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:16
I stumbled upon this YouTube video of an interview by the British SKY with Alonso, it was posted on September 22nd, and seems to have been recorded prior to the Italian Grand Prix.
It might be old news to some, but I hadn't heard it (I usually only watch the actual race), and was surprised by Alonso's negative tone about F1, which the interviewer suprisingly glossed over:
Funnily he is repeating some of the criticism Vettel made earlier in the season, but that's OT.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:19
After today's interviews I don't think there is too much left to speculate. He said he made up his mind months ago (this means he is not going to stay at Ferrari, he wouldn't have needed to make up his mind about that, as he had a running contract), he made the move because it was the right thing for Ferrari too (Ferrari needs longer period to come back to the top, he wouldn't commit for that, with him leaving earlier they can bring in a new lead driver), and the choice is obvious (McLaren). This is my take on what he said.
They need to wait for Marchionne to take over, nothing can be signed before.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:24
Just throwing a thought into the circle since no one really seems to know what Fernando is doing. Do you think its possible that Honda have signed Fernando under Honda to be part of a Honda manufacturer team in 2016 and that all the waiting is for Honda to announce their entry for 2016? I'm not sure what Honda have said in recent times about starting their own team again, but could it be possible that this is what Fernando is referring to when he says it will be obvious when it is announced?
Just a thought on my behalf!
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:26
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:28
Just throwing a thought into the circle since no one really seems to know what Fernando is doing. Do you think its possible that Honda have signed Fernando under Honda to be part of a Honda manufacturer team in 2016 and that all the waiting is for Honda to announce their entry for 2016? I'm not sure what Honda have said in recent times about starting their own team again, but could it be possible that this is what Fernando is referring to when he says it will be obvious when it is announced?
Just a thought on my behalf!
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:28
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:30
Exactly. Surely the point of partnering with McLaren was to have a major involvement in F1 without the palaver of entering a manufacturer team.... Honda were visibly upset when they announced they were leaving F1 in 2008, and it seemed to be a situation they didn't feel great about (hence why they helped Brawn as much as they until Ross sorted out the takeover, and even gave them a working budget for the 2009 season).
They won't do that again.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:32
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:32
No way. THAT would be a big risk. Remember: Mclaren have made some properly fast and innovative cars not that long ago, they could strike back quickly (look at Williams for instance!)
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Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:46
Why on earth would Honda want to repeat that multi-billion dollar nightmare ?
Because they think that, after whatching this season's cars, this wasn't that ugly after all?
EDIT: On second thought, forget it it. It is still the most hideous thing ever.
Edited by NoSanityClause, 12 October 2014 - 21:47.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:47
Can't be bothered to go through this thread, to see whether this has been raised, but...
...for a driver as intensely political as Alonso, he's bloody hopeless at it. Talked himself out of the best drive on the grid in 2007, spent a couple of years in the wilderness, went to Ferrari just as they were losing their best staff, and ends up engineering a spat to get out of Ferrari just when there are no alternative drives available.
You'd think that one of the two best drivers on the grid would have managed to find a top drive in the last few years...
To be frank, though, were I a betting ensign, I'd put a cheeky cockle on him staying at Ferrari. He wants to show the world that Vettel is a counterfeit champion. Beating him hollow as a team-mate would do that.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:49
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:56
There goes Santander.... Red and White Mclaren Honda anyone?
Posted 12 October 2014 - 21:59
It is accepting you're part of the problem.
In a very loose sense only. "I had good times with this team, but they are now in a new, long-term phase of their journey to the extent of which I cannot commit, so I am stepping aside to pursue other things, but I wish them the best" happens all the time in many ways of life.
Edited by KnucklesAgain, 12 October 2014 - 21:59.
Posted 12 October 2014 - 22:07
Topic closed due to length. Please continue in the new thread.
http://forums.autosp...-2015-part-two/