15 replies to this topic

[Peter]

Now that Alonso has officially gone from McLaren, how long do you think it will be before Ron gets rid of PdlR as well?

It appeared that they were working together behind Ron's back and were both involved in dropping McLaren in it with the Stepneygate affair, so I think Ron will be saying goodbye to PdlR sooner rather than later.

[Wouter]

I think there's a good chance that Pedro will be a McLaren race driver in 2008. As a stop-gap measure while they try to get Rosberg (for example) in 2009, to keep the remaining Spanish sponsors reasonably happy, because he gells well with the team, is very nice for an F1 driver and would not make problems within the team. He also seems to be a very technically interested driver and he's experienced, so he could be a good help for Lewis in setup, if he still needs that.

It would also mean that McLaren goes for a clear #1 driver, which they haven't done often since 1995 (probably 2003-2004 and second half 2006), which would be the better option for the WDC going by recent results of the WDC. For the WCC, 2 very strong drivers would be better (but then again Mosley will probably make sure McLaren doesn't win the WCC anyway), but McLaren may not be able to afford that especially if they have to pay drivers out of existing contracts. Pedro's speed is reasonable and sometimes very good, but he probably lacks the consistency to perform top race after race judging by 2006. Under the circumstances however, he may be the best choice.

If a top driver like Webber could be available for relatively little money it would be another matter, but that is unlikely unless there is a de-facto swap with Alonso.

[512 TR]

I think there is a huge possibility he will get a race seat because I seriously believe Ron will find it hard to sign someone that will agree to go through the same hell Fernando did. It's all in the open now.

It's not like that driver will get a fair shot to challenge Lewis.

Nico is too talented to make that move.

[roxu]

Banco Santander (spanish bank) stay as big sponsor ...

[Wouter]

Originally posted by roxu
Banco Santander (spanish bank) stay as big sponsor ...

That might be for contractual reasons, or because of their British interests (they apparently acquired a British bank). However, it's certainly a big plus for De La Rosa as I'm sure Banco Santander would appreciate a race seat for him.

[Asperon]

Its interesting that he hasnt be sacked. Wasnt he a rogue spy along with Alonso and responsible for Mclaren getting convicted?

[Wouter]

No and no.

[Sébastien]

Originally posted by Wouter
I think there's a good chance that Pedro will be a McLaren race driver in 2008. [snip] to keep the remaining Spanish sponsors reasonably happy,

Yup I guess that's it, Alonso can walk but his sponsors -have to- stay, they'll just have to settle for PdlR.

[JOEPERRY]

I hope so, if he´s the whole next year racing in Mclarem , he should win some races, now that Mclaren is quite competitive.

I think that a young and agressive mate of Hamilton like Sutil or Vettel would be harmful for the team.

For experience i thin PDLR is the best choice, plus his -Not so high, wages-, and his experience.

[Tigershark]

This is shaping up to be a repeat of last year, where most people argued Pedro de la Rosa would land the McLaren seat because of all the reasons already mentioned in this thread. Obviously he didn't, but there was a reason Dennis preferred to take a risk with a young rookie over De la Rosa when he was still counting on Alonso to lead the WDC charge, and it wasn't just his faith in Hamilton.

[teomolca]

De la Rosa will remain at Mclaren for sure (he has been loyal to the team all the time) most likely as a test driver. There are faster more consistent racers out there, though picking the fastest drivers didn't work too well for McLaren this season eh!

Santander will stay, first they got a cheap deal (so even if they don't sponsor a Spanish driver it's still worth it Santander already sponsor a racing team in WSBK (Yamaha) with no Spaniards so I don't think they'll leave McLaren because of that). 2nd they can just paint Hamilton's car with Abbey (which they own) instead of Santander. And most likely they'll do that.

Mutua Madrileña is a different issue, they are Alonso's sponsor, and they're just interested in sponsoring him. So they will want to leave unless Macca gets a driver they like (that could play in PdlR's advantage).

I don't know what's McLaren status in terms of sponsors, they were well served last year, but this year, with $100M less and having been kicked out of the WCC for cheating, sponsors might be scarce and Ron might have to concede to their demands.

[brakedistance]

Any GP driver worth his name will do anything to get that second McLaren set alongside LH. They all believe they can do it better than anyone, and know that they will never win a race if they can't get into a winning car. Can you see Webber or Button turning it down?

[Clatter]

Originally posted by 512 TR
I think there is a huge possibility he will get a race seat because I seriously believe Ron will find it hard to sign someone that will agree to go through the same hell Fernando did. It's all in the open now.

It's not like that driver will get a fair shot to challenge Lewis.

Nico is too talented to make that move.

Any driver worth his salt would jump at the chance of a seat in championship contending car, and would know that he would have an equal oppurtunity to go for the wins. This wasnt about FA not getting a fair shot, it was about him not being outright number one.

The only problem I see is that all the decent drivers are tied to contracts, and very few of them have really shown enough to want to spend mega-bucks buying them out. That is PDLR's biggest advantage, and IMHO the reason why he may, possibly, get the seat.

[512 TR]

Originally posted by brakedistance
Any GP driver worth his name will do anything to get that second McLaren set alongside LH. They all believe they can do it better than anyone, and know that they will never win a race if they can't get into a winning car. Can you see Webber or Button turning it down?

Easily! Both would turn it down 100%.

[Tigershark]

Originally posted by brakedistance
Any GP driver worth his name will do anything to get that second McLaren set alongside LH. They all believe they can do it better than anyone, and know that they will never win a race if they can't get into a winning car. Can you see Webber or Button turning it down?

After what has been said about Dennis and his team this year, the comments from people like Prost and Coulthard about the situation there? The drivers tell each other things journalists will never find out, and the media reports are probably just the tip of the iceberg. I can see Webber or Button turning it down, absolutely. Without Alonso to balance things out, McLaren is without a doubt the team of Dennis-Hamilton-Hamilton and their cronies.

[WACKO]

Originally posted by Peter
Now that Alonso has officially gone from McLaren, how long do you think it will be before Ron gets rid of PdlR as well?

If the Spanish sponsors stay, which all signs are pointing towards, he will definitely stay. You can only so far in annoying your sponsors and there is no viable reason to send him off.

Originally posted by Wouter
I think there's a good chance that Pedro will be a McLaren race driver in 2008. As a stop-gap measure while they try to get Rosberg (for example) in 2009,

That will not happen. PDLR will stay as third driver.