40 replies to this topic

[Risil]

Fernando Alonso has commented recently that he feels FOM are cherrypicking his radio messages for some nefarious purpose or other.

 

Does this happen? How long has it been happening for?

 

And for that matter, are drivers and teams taking advantage? They know their "private communications" being broadcast for all the world to hear. Why not let them all know how you really feel?

[jonpollak]

#Radio Free FOM

[Disgrace]

It's all about improving the show.

[aray]

I think FOM do that on the basis of what public wants,they go for bit dramas.....like with Verstappen in Oz.. 

[LuckyStrike1]

Yes, they are after him! Or something ... 

[BuddyHolly]

I think FOM do that on the basis of what casual fans want,they go for bit dramas.....like with Verstappen in Oz.. 

 

This ^^ and please forgive me for changing it ;)

[Lotus53B]

Sometimes when he uses the radio, he makes comments that would be "interesting" to the viewing public.  Drivers when they swear also tend to get passed on to the world feed - e.g. Kimi, Max.

If he doesn't want to be broadcast, he should avoid comments along the lines of "looking like amateurs" or "gp2 engine".

 

The team won't like them, but FOM will be delighted to broadcast them.

[CoolBreeze]

I think Fred is overthinking

[P123]

FOM pick out whatever they think will make a headline. It's usually drivers complaining about something, and the fans can then over-react and complain about the driver being a whinger.

[SophieB]

An interesting one, and I suspect it happens although my guess is not in the way Alonso possibly means. I suspect his messages get chosen for much the same somewhat circular reasons that people are interested in what Alonso says and does in the first place. The media know the public feel like this and are possibly also subject to the same mystique. Either way, it probably feeds on itself after a while.

The bit I think he is would be on a stronger wicket with is the press reaction to the messages, and the levels of significance that tends to get placed on them rather than reporting and then moving on as with others. This I do think is disproportionate compared with some of his peers, although this is not unique to Alonso.

If he will communicate in anguished sounding yelps/ howls over the radio, it doesn't surprise me it gets on the air, though.

[Marklar]

Do you remember when Rosberg locked up in Monza 2014 and the FOM played an earlier and unrelated scene of Toto Wolff smiling?

Pretty sure they are acting in terms of team radios similar. Not in the same way, but by chosing certain team radios for a certain porpuse/narrative

Edited by Marklar, 16 April 2016 - 16:52.

[kosmos]

Fernando is an easy "target" because his temper, and goes both ways, when he is angry or when he is funny on the radio but I do think Fernando thinks they give him a "special treatment", not only with the radio but also with peculiar penalties over the years plus he seems to have a problem with Charlie Whiting or maybe the other way around (watch his last race with Ferrari documentary).

[LORDBYRON]

FOM do it as its what the public wants 

[Kev00]

There is no agenda. The same applies to Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel, Raikkonen, Ricciardo and Button. If FOM think the public find their radio interesting or amusing then they will broadcast it. If it is Ericcson or Haryanto or Palmer then they probably won't because nobody cares.

[johnmhinds]

Their only agenda is to make you talk about the sport, which seems to be working.

[KingTiger]

I think it's just a combination of things that makes it look that way. Alonso is 1) popular, 2) speaks English well, but with a funny accent 3) has a bit of a temper.

[Mat13]

FOM are always going to cherrypick the more exciting communications, it's common sense. I can't imagine most radio messages are interesting in the slightest.

[Fatgadget]

FOM pick out whatever they think will make a headline. It's usually drivers complaining about something, and the fans can then over-react and complain about the driver being a whinger.

No $hit!
Next you going to tell us father xmass isn't real ain't you?.....

[pRy]

I think he's being paranoid. We hear Nico at least once a weekend shout "Don't tell me the gaps". 

[Buttoneer]

"Is it because I is Spanish?"

[Niceman]

Why always me?

[HoldenRT]

There's always an agenda in F1, although not necessarily against Alonso or with team radio.. just in general.  I like to hear all the drivers be outspoken on radio, because it's pretty much the only time they are 100% real without the PR.  It's pretty funny when it's a few days later and they change their tune and you know they are lying or spinning the truth, but it's a part of the game I guess.  The funniest one was Nurburgring 2009 with Rubens.

[DaddyCool]

Well boo hoo sure it's terrible to hear some real emotions through the radio instead of the mighty interesting corporate PR bullshit.

These guys are some of the biggest pussies among sportsmen outside the car.

[MasterOfCoin]

There is no agenda. The same applies to Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel, Raikkonen, Ricciardo and Button. If FOM think the public find their radio interesting or amusing then they will broadcast it. If it is Ericcson or Haryanto or Palmer then they probably won't because nobody cares.

Actually i think he had less messages when he was with Ferrari compared with Hamilton, Rosberg ,Vettel ,Button and so on. When i think about it, for a Top team Ferrari doesn't have many messages aired. So Fom might be orchestrating drama. 

[noikeee]

What did Alonso say this time? I watched rather quickly a recording of qualifying and missed it.

 

FOM would be some absolute idiots if they didn't air the most controversial radio exchanges. It's the right thing to do "for the show", and for us, as we do want to listen to the most interesting/fiesty bits. Now the real question is, do they cherry-pick Alonso's messages and not broadcast similar ones by other drivers? I don't know - we'd need to have the full radio transcripts of every driver to know that.

[Marklar]

I think he's being paranoid. We hear Nico at least once a weekend shout "Don't tell me the gaps".

I think that's the point. Maybe more drivers are frequently shouting "Don't tell me the gaps", but they are just broadcasting every single of those team radios of him (just an example)

[johnmhinds]

What did Alonso say this time? I watched rather quickly a recording of qualifying and missed it.

 

Just this: https://streamable.com/8db3

[noikeee]

Just this: https://streamable.com/8db3

 

 

Wait what? Is that all? I thought he had swore at the team or something. He thinks there's a FOM conspiracy because they broadcasted a 2 second clip of him grunting? 

 

This is now officially the lamest controversy of all time.

[Jvr]

As stated already earlier, FOM is only after soundbites that market the F1. Higher profile drivers will get attention if it increases the media attention. Alonso is old enough to know this.

[Archer]

Fernando is an easy "target" because his temper, and goes both ways, when he is angry or when he is funny on the radio but I do think Fernando thinks they give him a "special treatment", not only with the radio but also with peculiar penalties over the years plus he seems to have a problem with Charlie Whiting or maybe the other way around (watch his last race with Ferrari documentary).

It's not rare if he don't like Charlie, for example: the monza 06 penalty for impeding Massa's qualifying being lap 200 meters ahead was a joke. If anything he gave him a slight tow. With respect the radio he is maybe a bit paranoid, and a bit hypocrite because he has used the radio for his political purposes in the past (japan gp2 engine).

[KnucklesAgain]

Am I the only one who feels that the actual quotes in the article don't support the sensationalist headline very well?

[NateF]

Am I the only one who feels that the actual quotes in the article don't support the sensationalist headline very well?

In the era of clickbait headlines rarely match the actual story, even in more somber newspapers.

The annoying thing is people forming their opinions based on the headline having not read the article.

Edited by NateF, 16 April 2016 - 19:06.

[blacky]

ALO should talk in italian again on the team radio. I guess he had lots of angry team radios in italian in the last years which were never broadcasted (only the famous "mamma mia ragazzi" in Monza).

[KnucklesAgain]

ALO should talk in italian again on the team radio. I guess he had lots of angry team radios in italian in the last years which were never broadcasted (only the famous "mamma mia ragazzi" in Monza).

 

And the "geniuses" thing as well

[Norm]

Wait what? Is that all? I thought he had swore at the team or something. He thinks there's a FOM conspiracy because they broadcasted a 2 second clip of him grunting? 

 

This is now officially the lamest controversy of all time.

 

Not once does he use the word conspiracy. Read what he said before making such asinine comments.

[Archer]

ALO should talk in italian again on the team radio. I guess he had lots of angry team radios in italian in the last years which were never broadcasted (only the famous "mamma mia ragazzi" in Monza).

He should do it in Bable, that is the ancient language from his region. It would be really comical, and only very few would understand the whinings on radio.

[HP]

ALO should talk in italian again on the team radio. I guess he had lots of angry team radios in italian in the last years which were never broadcasted (only the famous "mamma mia ragazzi" in Monza).

Who on the team will understand him?

 

How will Ron Dennis react?

 

Oh the ensuing drama! Imagine all the headlines. "It's 2007 all over again", "Alonso demanding return to Ferrari", "Ronspeak in Italian, to keep Alonso happy" "McLaren abandoning Honda, switch to Ferrari engine, Team already using Italian for communication".

 

Sorry, need to get me some popcorn, this is going to be fun..

Edited by HP, 17 April 2016 - 01:47.

[turssi]

It's a two way street or a semi-moderated semi-public forum and FOM, drivers and teams use it alike. Of course the administrators hold more power in a way even if they are silent and that's what Fernando might be pointing to.

[ensign14]

Alonso has also used it to his advantage.  Like complaining about a GP2 engine.  Of course they are going to broadcast that.

They're also going to broadcast anything that is entertaining.  They wouldn't broadcast Buemi complaining about tye wear; they did broadcast him going "oh nooooooooo!!!!" though.

 

And they're going to focus on the big names.  We want to hear what the big names are thinking about.  Not even Jonathan Palmer wants to hear what Jolyon is thinking about.

[Szoelloe]

Fernando Alonso has commented recently that he feels FOM are cherrypicking his radio messages for some nefarious purpose or other.

 

Does this happen? How long has it been happening for?

 

And for that matter, are drivers and teams taking advantage? They know their "private communications" being broadcast for all the world to hear. Why not let them all know how you really feel?

 

It happens. It's been going on since FOM has access to radio traffic exclusively. I don't think it's an agenda per se, rather what the director finds interesting or relevant. I suppose that could be looked upon as 'agenda' though. I wish all radio traffic could be made optionally public.

[Spillage]

If he doesn't want to be broadcast, he should avoid comments along the lines of "looking like amateurs" or "gp2 engine".

The team won't like them, but FOM will be delighted to broadcast them.

I have a feeling that's *exactly* why he says things like that.