Bad Friday

I am sitting in the press room after completing my work for the paper and I have to write this....

The bottom line is the story about Fernando rowing with Ron and allegedly threatening him along the lines that if he did not make him(Fernando) the number one driver(or let him leave), he would tell the FIA about the e-mails on his computer is true, as far as I know. I spent the whole of today chasing it down and it will be in tomorrow's paper and most of our rivals. It was this that forced Ron to tell the FIA himself.

I just find it incredible that Fernando is still driving for the team. I find it incredible that a guy can be given an opportunity in life like Fernando has, and then behave like this. Why didn't he just get stuck in, beat Lewis and stop complaining?

The atmosphere in McLaren is poisonous. The season has gone so badly wrong, it's like a plane crash. When I think back to the team's launch in Valencia in January and the bright-eyed optimism in Fernando(especially Fernando) and Lewis and everyone else, and to think what has happened since, it really is sad.

What will happen next, I really cannot guess. In my view Fernando should not compete for McLaren any longer and I write that with no pleasure at all because despite what so many of you think, I like him, I think he is a terrific driver and a worthy champion. But he has been poorly advised this season and he has certainly not handled the challenge of joining McLaren properly(and I know it was difficult for him).

That's it.

Comments

[Chris]

Ed,

Agree completely, Fernando has enough god-given talent to take the battle to Lewis on the track, without having to resort to blackmailing his own employer to get preferential treatment that was never offered.

Regarding the punishment, I think something was in order if we agree the point that one McLaren employee possessing Ferrari information means the Team as a whole is culpable. However, my feeling is that $100M fine & exclusion is extreme punishment if the only new evidence is the emails which contain the usual discussions any team would have over competition set-up.

I hope Ron finds a way to get McLaren through the rest of this season and the next. McLaren have so much history in F1 that is would be a tragedy to see them disappear from the scene or suffer in the middle ranks since they are the only team to have broken Ferrari's monopoly on pole over the past 15 years with any regularity.

My 2c.

Keep up the good reporting, much appreciated over here in Norway.

[Luis P.]

Ed,

Alonso is leaving McLaren next year, there's no way to stop him. Ron knows this and therefore he just can risk Alonso winning this years championship... He needs to break the "egalite" policy without being blamed for it, and therefore he needs media to chase Alonso down... It is just the logical next move in this chess game. Can anyone believe that Hamilton did not had the same information that Alonso? Did someone at McLaren say "don't tell Hamilton about this information, let him in the dark without benefiting from it? Sad, very sad. You guys should wake up and be more objective...

[ramplano]

if that is true Alonso should be banned from driving for a long period. However, who told you the story? Fernando? Ron Dennis? Someone who witnessed the row? Could you please reveal your source? Otherwise this is called defamation.
Having said that I must admit that Alonso behaviour is far from good and his emails tell us a lot about him, but I am kind of guessing that these guys are only the ones who have been caught. Surely there is much more to it in the world of car racing

[eljorje]

Shouldn't you know that for a fact before making a judgement like that?

[Tim Lumley]

Thanks for writing that Ed, they are my exact sentiments.

I could not believe when I read on one of the Web Sites earlier today that Ron Dennis had had to inform the FIA of the existence of the Emails in question after an alleged heated meeting with Fernando Alonso. If that does not tell you something of Ron’s integrity then nothing does.

I have been following F1 with a passion for almost 40 years and have never experienced such a saga as this.

Fernando had everything he could want at the beginning of the season, two times World Champion in what was the best car on the grid. All I can say is he has behaved like a spoilt child. He should have got on with driving as we all know he can and prove on track his world class status.

He has certainly gone down in my estimation and I’m sure a lot of other F1 fans.

Lets now hope Lewis beats him to the Championship!

[Ricardo]

Dear Ed,
Will you blame Fernando as the new Al-Quaeda leader?

[Peter]

Why should Fernando get fired? Ron said just a few weeks ago that whistleblowers should be protected and rewarded. All this means is that Dennis knew about the confidential Ferrari information the entire time and Alonso simply forced his hand. There were clearly more than three people in the team who knew what was going on. They deserve their punishment.

[Tim Duckworth]

Ed, Nikki Lauda recently said that Alonso should shut up and get on with his job at hand. I can't imagine what he will say now, and what team owners will think, if Alonso did in fact blackmail Dennis. He may be quite talented but very flawed in the integrity department. We have all heard how he reacts to his former teammates beating him but this is uncharted ground for a F1 driver isn't it? It's one hell of a way to get your way and possibly a contract. I have been an Alonso fan from early on in his career but this season he seems to be showing his true colors and I have found myself pulling for Lewis to beat him lately.

[Mauro]

My english is poor. Maybe I'm not understanding well. What are you trying to say? That the e-mails are false and he caused the McLaren punishment? Or that Fernando had to hide everything? What about the McLaren faults? Do you think that's everything is a big against-Ron plot? Because, remember that if McLaren has stolen information, there are two drivers that where unfairly punished: Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa.

[Pedro, Pamplona, Spain]

Ed. Did you ever heard about divorce? It's even worse than this since it starts with true love.

[Bernie]

This is getting more like a Shakespearean tragedy every day. Except that there's no clear villain in this. In my opinion Ron Dennis is caught up in the blast of an explosion caused by a mixture that he himself concocted.
And in the end, McLaren and Mercedes will come out the winners.
As will Fernando Alonso.

[luigi]

You should demonstrate what you suggest here.

And even then, it may be only the reason you seeked against that driver you say you like. Now don´t need ellipsis.

This is about mclaren´s fault: possible betrayal here is not a substantial fact to be punished precisely by the whole accused team.

PD. beautiful pics of alonso. times choose them with no connotations at all.

[Paul]

Alonso should be tossed from this year's championship, and banned for the next one, by the FIA for unsportsmanlike behavior. McLaren should replace him immediately for the remaining races. What kind of world champion would blackmail his boss to gain an advantage that he clearly couldn't gain on-track against his teammate? How childish.

[James]

Crazy.

Should Lewis now be fully supported as the number 1 driver for the rest of the season? It would be very embarrassing if Alonso won the championship on behalf of Mclaren now.

[Bhai Baldeep Singh]

It is indeed shocking to see all the revelations brought out in Max Mosley's statement that must have stumped many a critiques of Ferrari (role) in this saga. (I am more of a sport-fan rather than any teams').
I am a bit surprised that nobody is talking about the fact that both the Mclaren drivers have shared data with each other. This simply means that both the drivers have benefitted from the info. The team knowingly made this decision (for them to share all that there is, including the set up, within their individual cars).
Old story; one stone, two birds...
bbs

[Francisco]

Do you really think this blog entry is worthy of a journalist? No sources, no checking of any kind with the parties involved? Have you personally checked with Fernando if your allegations are true? Have you even tried? Do you have a copy of the mails you mention? Would you care to share them with us? Did Ron Dennis lie when he said no one but Coughland had any Ferrari data in the team?

[JE]

If he tried to blackmail Ron Dennis by threatening to send emails to the FIA proving the he (Alonso) was cheating then he has shown himself to be utterly contemptible. He shouldn't drive for McLaren again, but whether they can afford to lose the sponsorship Alonso brings with him is another matter.

It's amazing, Alonso cheats, then uses evidence of his cheating to try to secure number one status, and yet McLaren end up with the $100M fine and the tarnished reputation.

[JP]

speculations are free...... of course

[Aaron James]

Maybe Ron isn't so noble after all, while I don't defend Fernando whatsoever it seems an internal squabble in McLaren caused all this mess

http://www.racefax.com/content/features/Unravel.pdf

Use username 1234, password 1234.

Fernando threatened Ron to dob him into the FIA, Ron thought it was an empty threat and so told Max. Max realising it was a squabble did nothing until Ferrari came back with further evidence.

Ecclestone got wind of some spanish Emails, max twigged on that Ron's previous comments did have some basis and here we are.

The irony is that Ron tried to call Fernando's bluff, only to find out Fernando wasn't bluffing!

This whole furore gets even crazier!

[SueSumers]

Once again.....CRITICITE ALONSO DO NOT MAKE HAMILTON BETTER.

If your tale was true, why was Ron hugging Alonso in Monza ?????

Perhaps is Ron Denis masochist... Hamilton insuts him and Ron loves Hamilton much. Alonso threats Ron and nearly he gets an orgasm.
"Comon ED" this Friday has not been so bad... ALONSO (still McLaren) FASTER THAN HAMILTON. Or maybe you would have preferred that the faster was Massa (still Ferrari) ????

Take it easy.

[Giando]

This article is really incredible awful
You did not underline that all the mails prove that McLaren team has cheated, that the pilots know it (yes, also Hamilton) and all the other staff. You are just blaming Alonso for not having integrated on the team. This is not the way a journalist should work also if he is English and must foot licks McLaren fans

[delroy]

if that´s true (and i really doubt it is) it´s nothing else than alonso taking revenge from what the team has made him suffer all the season. i don´t support him but i can understand him.

[Victor Abellon]

Sorry Ed,
I really dont want to violate your freedom of speech and other related rights by just not agreeing with you. But it is hard to beleieve that the only guilty people here is de la Rosa and especially Alonso.

Ron Dennis didn´t know anything about it. Hamilton was wholly unaware of it?

On the other hand any tema would have done the same thing as McLaren if they just could be in the same position. Should I have to rememeber that they didn´t spy. It was Ferrari's former Chief Mechanci who passed the information. Mclaren in any way actively sought to spy on Ferrari.

The whole Formula 1 management is becoming a circus. Should I remember to the British public that Ecclestone imposed political conditions (vot this party not that one) to allow a Gran Prix in Valencia. Is this not an scandal for the Murdochian watchdog press. Well, anyone has to make a living...even journalists.

[Maria]

Last year Fernando Alonso was a champion, Mclaren wan´t. Mclaren didn´t "give an opportunity" like you say. They looked for him because he is a champion.
If Mclaren "let him" to drive I´m sure is not because they give him "another opportunity", There are sponsors, for example.
Why don´t they allow him to left Mclaren off and everybody will be happy?

[Fernando]

Ed, can you tell us another story... this one about Dath Vader Alonso & Saint Ron Dennis of Calcutta is really sad.

Such a great and honest man (Ron, of course) being threatened by that stupid spanish driver.

As you said:

I find it incredible that a team can be given an opportunity in life like McLaren has, and then behave like this.

But Ron has been poorly advised this season and he has certainly not handled the challenge of dealing with a real WORLD CHAMPION properly(and I know it was difficult for him).

By the way: I find amazing that after Monaco, Hungary, etc... Fernando is still the one who complains and moans!!!

Now I understand that famous sentence: "... a team with british standars of ethics"

I just hope that there is just a little piece of pride left at McLaren.

We all want to see how "a team with british standars of ethics" shows its "equal treatment policy". Millions of eyes are loking at McLaren and the FIA needs just a little excuse for finishing the work.

[R Palacios]

Sure... So you think that everyone has been nice to Fernando, he's got nothing to complain about, and he should thanks Dennis for..for what??? Fernando didn't need a McLaren to win the championship twice; it was them who wanted a champion... It's just suspicious that you didn't say anything at all about Hungary, where it was clearly Lewis' fault: he did what he wanted, shouted at Dennis, and then Dennis tried to prevent him from getting the pole by using Fernando to stop him... and Fernando was sanctioned!!!! And what happened to Lewis??? He keeps on driving, and now you think that Fernando shouldn't... Please think about it. It's just amazing how you adore Lewis, just amazing. Alonso is definitely not the nicest guy around, but he's got the right to use whatever he has in order to defend himself against those who'd rather see other driver winning the championship (We both agree here, don't we?).
By the way, are we sure that this weird story is true??...

[Tim Allen]

I'm amazed it's taken all day for the Alonso story to really start hitting home. I also cannot believe how he and De La Rosa are still employed by the team. Such a shame, for such a great driver to effectively finish his own career in this pathetic way.

[Manuel]

No that not is, Ed.

It´s only a new episode against Fernando.

Look into McLaren Team searching who´s the idiot.

[garforth]

It seems that not only is Alonso vilified by what appears to be the whole british press but your phot editors choose the most unflattering images of him to accompany your articles. We do not no for certain that Alonso's arm twisting was what forced Dennis to blow the whistle, surely we should wait for the full story to come out and according to the principals involved not hearsay scuttlebug. Where is the sense of English fairplay. Tolerance ! Cymru am byth !

[Michel S.]

Beware of the Spanish Inquisition, Ed. But sadly it just seems so plausible, even for someone like me who knows much less than you do, that Alonso is to blame.

I dismissed the rumours last week about the Alonso-de la Rosa emails, but it turned out they were true. And as someone who was a fan of Alonso until this year (and thus not biased from the start against him) I must say that I find Alonso's behaviour more and more unbecoming as the season progresses -- I think Silverstone was the watershed, and after Hungary there can be no doubt that Alonso is more in the wrong than Hamilton.

Still, it took a while to accept that Alonso might blackmail his team to this extent.

[Greenpe]

Any proof? Can you be named journalist, in any way?
You are such a crap.

[AJ]

I don't know if he was offered something else or he expected something else. I don't think a two times world champion would have gone to a team knowing that he was going to get "equal" (although not so equal to me) treatment than the rookie.

One thing is sure: If a person wants to leave the company you can't force him to stay, he'll do something to get fired, maybe that's what Alonso wants.

Another thing is sure: Both drivers don't give a s***t about McLaren or Ron (this includes Hamilton too, remember Hungary), and well, that's Ron's fault.

Now the press wants to show Alonso as the bad guy, well, we will see what happens next, this hasn't finished yet, it's like a soap opera :-)

[Alex]

Ed, Eddie, Eddie Ed,

What a pathetic excuse for a journalist you are. So you’ve been following this story “the whole of today”… mmm… I wonder if you have taken the time to talk to anybody on Fernando’s camp or to Fernando himself. Based on your comments, I can only imagine that you already did it. Apparently you’ve gotten confirmation that your side of the story is exactly how things went down from Alonso’s camp because “The bottom line is the story about Fernando…. is true”.

Everybody knows that usually every controversy has at least to sides. Even you must know that, and as your professional ethics demand, I am sure that you have taken the time to check with both sides.

One would expect that Fernando will soon confirm your account. He might even sing a mea culpa.

My gut feeling tells me that this is not going to happen though. Something tells me that Fernando might have a completely different take on the situation. That might expose you as a complete one sided hack.

I guess only time will tell.

[LUCAS]

Hi Ed,

You (and other journalists) are making a lot a of assumptions in this case. You do not know, for instance, if Alonso was told in first place (along the rest of the team) not to tell anything to FIA before their first meeting in July. The e-mails show clearly that this information had free traffic within the team. Nobody knows who else were discussing Ferrari details. Just because Alonso's e-mails came out it does not mean that he is the bad guy. Clearly, the whole organisation was corrupted and took advantage of what Stepney tipped off.

In these circustances, when everyone is a bad apple, Alonso may well be trying to defend himself and save his championship points if he had informed FIA. Do not forget that Halmilton (either the driver or his father) delated his own team about being blocked in Hungary. Who would guarantee that they would not delate Alonso?

But Ron did it before... to look 'honest'. You praise this guy too high...

The point is that two cheaters, Alonso and Halmiton, were allowed to compete for the championship (Yes, Halmiton too for using a car and strategies built with illegal actions - and who knows what he knew?).

The fact that Alonso still driving a McLaren car is a prove of their profissionalism, both the team and the driver, being able to focus in the job and to a brilliant one as in Monza in the worst circunstances.

[Juan]

It was Ron Dennis who said to Alonso to publish the e-mails.

[Manuel]

Ron lies in the past about the document: "No one in McLaren knows about the stolen papers".

All in the team was in the story. It could be said by everybody: "Ron, better for you to talk..."

If Dennis was a liar in the past, the punishement is now here.

Be careful now about "strange things" in the FA´s car, because McLaren could be dropped at all. Included Lewis.

[gp]

Ron should drop him today itself. Its painful to read this, even painful to read the FIA report on the hearing. Pedro too? He's been here for years! Unbelievable. Backstabbing. I think most of the McLaren supporters are still having that chill feeling reading the websites and newspapers. Front paged, decimated. Whatever. I'm not going to quit watching, and no fans should quit watching F1, we must fight this as Ron had. The damage is done, FIA was right to punish the team, but crucified by your own team members is the worst of the feelings.

[Augusto Baena]

Again, your blame on Fernando.

In my opinion, it has been a gigantic collapse of Ron. And that collapsed was caused by Ron stopping making rational decisions. His (confessed) attachment to Lewis has made him lose all perspective. Bye bye equality. Lewis getting away with betraying the team in Monaco was the point of no-return. Lewis again getting away with it in Hungary confirmed the collapse.

On the other hand, I find it hard to swallow that only Coughlan, de la Rosa and Alonso were aware of the existence of Ferrari info.

I don't think Fernando is an angel. But Ron's mismanagement has been evident.

Regards

Augusto

PS: If you like Alonso, you really know how to hide your cards well!!

[Rafael]

Hi Ed,

I agree with you about what you said about Fernando...he should stop complaining.

But I think he just stopped last weekend...and he wan

About the emails...I think you go too far...I would like to know who (I mean F1 pilot) would resist the chance to use such a piece of information coimg from inside your own team...especially when your car is slower...

World and people is not white and black...neither good nor bad...the world and the human being is just some kind of grey...colour, grey personality...

You can not just pretend start playing the game of white knight...trying to save the F1 world from ...Alonso...

Alonso and especially De la Rosa received information from two real spies. They (Stepney and Coughlam) were the two main responsibles...they thought, they planned in advance the full thing!.

Alonso was just suddenly in front of an email with data...what will you do Ed?..oh..I know you will put it in the bin...Jajaja!.

He did not plan to play to spies like Stepney and Coughlam did

It's difficult to try to justify Alonso...but I can understand... he was just weak..."tentation was strong".

What Stepney and Coughlam did was radically different they hated first, then they planned, then stole, then they acted....a full spy conspiracy....that's premiditation...

Anyway, do you really believe?...that F1 are free of spies?...they live of that Ed...it's full of cases...they are always trying to cheat...like Ferrary did just using an illegal car at the beggining of the season...and Denis, after being said by Coughlam, went to speak to FIA.

Why Ferrari was not totally discalified then????? they were also cheating playing with the rules to get advantage

Alonso emails is just normal play in that dark world....

The only ones, the real responsibles, are Stepney and Coughlam They were just too too far...of course.

And I think you forget what Max M. said in its letter: Pilots can non act without a huge amount of technical support. It's just immposible, we can just not believe it. Max clearly specified that. So Lots of people (not only Alonso) must know about Ferrari documentation.

That's clear like water Ed. you don't understand why Alonso is till running. Well I do not understand how you can just miss that point.

Alonso and De La rosa were the only ones we know received such kind of emails with data...but you do not have to be really smart to add 2+2...the full team or at least a big number of people were implicated and receiving Ferrari data

Anyway, for you Alonso is now the real SPY...

...Well...next step will be to say Stepney and Coughlam were innocent and that Alonso just plan the full thing...

I just want to say one last thing. Alonso should not use information coming from Coughlam (a very important guy inside his own team )...but Ed, We all now know the real truth becuase Alonso said what he did. He made a mistake but telling FIA what he knew makes a big difference.

take care mate

[Guido]

It is has been very clear for some while now that Alonso has had his nose bent severely out of shape by the enormous talent of his team mate. Clearly he thought that he would be 'King of the Hill' at Mclaren.

Instead of buckling down to the job in a workmanlike fashion, Alonso has been behaving very much like a Primadonna and tactics such as the episode in Hungary only serve to underscore the spoilt bratishness of Alonso's behaviour.

Hamilton has no doubt bitten his lip on several occasions, but has behaved in a manner absolutely worthy of a World Champion and shown himself to be a true Gentleman - what a class act! Alonso is equally talented but is doing himself a huge disservice with his theatrical behaviour and near tantrums. He needs to grow up.

Threatening your boss is probably a career shortening decision and Fernando would be well advised to bear in mind the old adage "Do not bite the hand that feeds you".

If I were Ferrari, I would have grave reservations in hiring someone with a proven history of resorting to blackmail to achieve their own ends. No driver is that great.

[Morfeo]

Hi Ed,
You are not the only one who does not want Alonso to continue in McLaren... in fact, there are two countries (UK & Spain) supporting you!!!
Besides, I cannot believe that McLaren,a team which HAS NOT WON a Championship SINCE 1999, can be given an opportunity like having Alonso, who HAS WON the championship TWICE, and then act as if he was a rookie!

[carmelo cortes]

To be frank I am alonso´s fan but knowing that he had that information really made me bad but this makes me worse. I would not expect that from him if it is true. One thing is for sure, alonso and de la rosa are the weak links , someone upthere knew more about this and how to use it.

[Cody]

Hey Ed,

Quick question... who's in charge of choosing the Alonso photo's that get published in your newspaper and blog? And why does that person choose the most grotesque Fernando expressions?

If you wouldn't have told us about how impartial you are, one could believe that somebody has an agenda...

[Carlos]

I find it next to impossible that Fernando Alonso would shoot himself in the foot intentionally. Are you implying Ed that Ron was completely clueless to the fact that Coughlan was feeding information to De la Rosa and Alonso, and that they intended to use this information in the testing simulator? I guess Ron really isn't the "control freak" he is painted to be. Who would have guessed!

As for Fernando, yes, he is a great driver and a worthy champion but unfortunately as you say he was poorly advised. What two time World Champion would in hindsight go to a team that would undermine and intentionally ruin his reputation from the get go? For most people $40 million would be more than enough to sell their reputation, not so Fernando.

Clearly, Fernando had realized early on that the Team was for the team first and foremost. He is just following the Team's lead and unfortunately some people need a scapegoat and are not willing to see what is evident.

Btw, Fernando has now got his head down and if the last race and yesterdays qualifying are an indication, Fernando will win the Championship this year.

This inspite of everything arrayed against him.

In Monza, the British media assumed that Ron's tears reflected happiness, my take is that they were actually tears of guilt, and his body language with Fernando bespoke that. But then as they say in my country, "Don't get into a hair pulling match with a bald man". You will write what you believe and everyone has their opinion, but the truth and reality will be laid on track. Good luck to all this weekend!

[Victor]

Don't worry Ed, you're going to get your wish after these 4 races are over. Fernando will leave this nightmare behind with his 3rd World Championship in his pocket, and will head for Ferrari to win a few more against the spoiled brat. Yeah, go ahead, say what you want, but you ain't fooling no one. Take your pretty boy and praise him no matter what. You probably thought too(like all other British media)that Renault should have given a seat to Button (very overrated pilot if you ask me) instead of Alonso some years ago, and everybody knows the outcome of that decision. You are pathetic, I truly pity you.

[Verbal]

I see where you coming from Ed, but once again you are IMPLYING Ron and Hamilton are whiter than white in all this.
It seems to me Ron only went to the FIA to negate Alonsos upper hand and when you think about it, if Ron and the rest of the team were never aware of the illicit data/emails then Alonso had nothing to bargin with...why did Alonso think it was such a powerful hand.
Ron was asking for it.
Whats amazing is how both drivers excaped points penalties. I find it very hard to believe Pedro and Alonso had this information and Hamilton was totaly oblivious

[JAVIER]

Ed,

you should not be judging without all the facts, not even in the blog. This is a serious issue and untill we have the testament of Ron and Fernando over the table, any judgement such as yours does not make any good. Talking without the facts is not journalism, it's sensationalism.

Your ironic post on Alonso and Hamilton was perhaps funny, and it somewhat relaxed the ambience. This post is poison without evidence. Please don't follow this line, I'd appreciate it. Once we have the real facts, go your way.

[javi g]

OK, Ed, some of what you say is right, but you forget how Fernando should feel at Hungaroring, when Lewis disobeyed the team orders and he did not even get punished by Dennis after getting the team points removed. Alonso was hired as the double world champion, and I am almost sure that Mclaren probably told him many things to convince him of joining them. After that, he finds some mechanical no putting the right pressure to his tyres, the whole team cheering it up when Hamilton passes him... Ok, Hamilton is a supernova, a great driver too, and he has got the guts that Alonso has to pass the rivals at the last corner. But we can´t forget that he is the great british hope of present after years of orphanage since Nigel Mansell. I have written in a former post that I didn´t like how Fernando behave with Ron at Monza. Now we know why he was that cold. Their relationship was already torn to pieces. Are you sure is all Fernando's fault?

[Anthony]

What I think is sad is that it took something so "sad" as what Alonso did (see above) to force Dennis to reveal the evidence he previously withheld and proved once and for all that McLaren in fact cheated with regards to Stepney-gate.

In other words, had McLaren agreed to give Alonso the #1 seat, which is a totally unrelated issue to the 780 pages taken from Ferrari, McLaren would never have been exposed (or threatened to be exposed by Alonso) and Dennis would never have been forced to tip off the FIA himself (chosing the lesser of the two evils).

That, is what is truly sad, because it's not just Alonso who has been given an incredible "opportunity in life", so has Ron Dennis and the team he represents.

That, is it.

[Ignacio]

Well, Ed, sincerely I don't understand you, really.

So you think that now, after FIA reached its decision and did not punish Fernando, you think McLaren should?

How would that leave McLaren, AGAIN? So a pilot chooses to give the info the FIA requested, and in retaliation, his own team excludes him from championship? That would probably deserve another big big fine for McLaren, don't you think? Do you think FIA would allow McLaren to punish a driver for collaborating with them?

And besides, your proposal would leave Alonso with a interesting no-win situation with 2 options: Disclose the emails to FIA and lose your job as pilot. Do not disclose them and lose your SuperLicence. What has Alonso done to deserve that, that Dennis has not?

I should remind you that the one who managed this case like SHIT was Ron Dennis. Ok, Coughlan was the recipient of the stolen info, and De la Rosa and Alonso some of his correspondents. And Dennis knew nothing about this exchange? Alonso and de la Rosa are only pilots.. I doubt they can interpret (and less implement) the detailed technical plans from Ferrari. A F1 car is not like a street car, Ed, and certainly the knowledge in F1 cars mechanics of the drivers is big, but not detailed, or comprehensive.

My point is that Coughland received that info and shared it with MANY others.. engineers, mechanics, Dennis. And the biggest man responsible for a catastrophic management is Ron Dennis. He should be the one leaving. If I were Mercedes, I'd ask his head.. NOW.

[Pino]

Mr Gorman: It´s a pity that you keep on messing news and opinion. It´s a pity that a journalist working for "The Times" don´t understand Scott´s famus sentence: "Comment is free, but facts are sacred". It´s a pity your effort to put Alonso as the responsable of Mc´larens affaire.
Two last things:
1.- If Alonso had unlegally obtained information about Ferrari, do you pretend us to believe that Hamilton and Dennis didn´t have it? So, what is exactly Alonso´s "sin"? Not keeping is mouth shut? Not telling the FIA inmediatly what he knew?
2.- You persist on spreading the hoax "and stop complaining?" I´ve asked this many times before: when, where and how did you hear Alonso complaining?
"A journalist shall strive to ensure that the information he/ she disseminates is fair and accurate, avoid the expression of comment and conjecture as established fact and falsification by distortion, selection or misrepresentation... / ...A journalist shall not lend himself/ herself to the distortion or suppression of the truth because of advertising or other considerations." Do you recognice it? It is the code of conduct adopted by the British National Union of Journalists.

[INSIDER, FROM SUFFOLK]

Dear Ed. Latests news:
It now emerges that Alonso and de La Rosa want to be paid extra working hours. According to my sources, Alonso and De La Rosa were working in the car every night when everybody was sleeping. Hamilton, Ron Dennis and the rest of the McLaren team were completely unaware of this.
"We are shocked", said Anthony Hamilton this morning during an interview in Spa. "That's why Alonso still remains so close in the drivers championship", he added.
"Ron was absolutely distressed when he came to know all the dirty work that Alonso and De La Rosa were doing" said Lewis in the same interview. "I can guarantee you that Ron was not aware of the existance of those emails, and neither was I"
"We want the english press to be aware that Ron decided to pass the information to the FIA straight forward, as he is a true F1 man. It has nothing to do with his fear of being hardly punished when he realised that sooner or later the shit will hit", concluded his wife.

You are so funny

[Clark]

The whole thing is like a Shakespearean tragedy, too depressing for ordinary words.

As you say, the season started so brightly and was such fun. Now I remember why I stopped watching it.

[Miguel]

Hi Ed,

I believe you when you say you like Fernando. Actually, you both say the same. You say "In my view Fernando should not compete for McLaren any longer", and Fernando apparently has been blackmailing Ron exactly for that.

After all this, why does Ron continue to say that they have a contract with both drivers and that he wants them to stay?

I also find difficult to understand what kind of internal investigation did McLaren do before and after the first FIA trial. They obviously didn't ask Alonso for evidences, for they had to wait until Hungary's race to learn that Alonso had compromising emails, and only then they decided to tell the FIA.

Why didn’t they tell the FIA before they had been threaten by Alonso, if they knew about the emails?
Is McLaren as good at giving both drivers the same opportunities as at doing internal investigations?

Is something rotten in the state of McLaren? I don't think so, it should be Fernando paying the $100 million fine (this is irony just in case)

I quote you again “In my view Fernando should not compete for McLaren any longer”. In my view, McLaren should not compete in F1 any longer. So far they are the ones that have cheated…

Miguel

PS Alonso was wrong claiming he had improved the car 6 tenths. Much of the credit should be granted to Ferrari! I mean the team…

[ViscaCatalunya]

Mr Gorman Are you sure you aren't on the payroll of McLaren? It seems a huge Alonso damaging campaign has been initiated. In the case you are on the payroll of McLaren i hope there is still money left to pay you;).

[DaveM ( Canada )]

I imagine that Fernando has done himself permanent damage with the other teams and may find it a bit difficult to secure a seat right now.

Oh sorry, I forgot, Ferrari will have him!

[nico nuzzaci]

Please. Please Ed. See the bigger picture here. McLaren have no-one to blame. No-one besides themselves.

They cheated. And, then they lied. Repeatingly.

No worthy sportsman would like to be part of a team that cheats and lies.

If it's true, that Alonso "threatened" Ron to reveal the truth to the FIA, we should be thankful of the act of Alonso, and we should be disgusted that it required such an act to force McLaren to do the right thing and come clean.

[cvt]

Alonso's contract with McLaren is an asset, with a value, to be sold or traded, like any commodity.Why would you give it away? Once Dennis et al decide what course of action they're going to take regarding an appeal, the pieces will fall into line.If the appeal is to be launched to defend their 2007 constructor's points, looking toward 2008 and all the ramifications, then keeping FA is an imperative, at least through '07.If their sponsors/partners accept the penalties from this going forward, losing the money and perquisites, then FA is toast and McLaren will not permit him the opportunity to win the driver's title.Now comes the question of value. Will Briatore find a sponsor willing to pony up the money to underwrite the '08 balance of FA's contract? Ralf already knows his present employer is laying in wait, fully prepared to write that check, given the opportunity.

[garforth]

Just read Autocar's excellent summation of the situation. No hyperbole, just a frank assessment of the injustice of Mosley initiated punishment. Incidentally Mosley's dad was the leader of the British fascist party. Sins of the father ?

[Mark (the other one)]

Good for you Ed. Not much pleasure this end either, but it's a story that must be told.

I'm not sure if Alonso should or shouldn't be driving for McLaren. All sides of this story should be heard first (though you are probably a couple of steps ahead on that trail).

You commented a few weeks back about the shock Alonso must have had when he realised Hamilton wasn't going to be a classic, mistake-ridden rookie. There, I believe, is the starting point of all this. Argue about set-up experience until the cows come home, but it doesn't take away a few basic truths; that McLaren as a team has a long standing policy of "no preferences", that Hamilton has proven to be an excellent driver way in front of a nromal learning curve, and that Alonso has behaved like a spoiled brat. It gives me no pleasure to say that. It just seems pretty damned obvious.

Ed, you are a credit to your profession. Kudos.

[David]

Ed,

I have come around too, my opinion of Alonso has changed. What Alonso has done is destroyed his team and his own chance of winning the championship because he was afraid of being beaten by Hamilton. I have read Alonso saying that Senna was his childhood hero and reason for wanting to join McLaren, but Senna would not have done this to the team. He would have upped his game and beaten his teammate. Sad that 1 man could have done so much damage to McLaren, F1, and himself.

[JM]

Ditto. I am with you.

I like Alonso as a driver. For me, the best one of the 22 in the grid. But I am really disappointed on him, after all the information is coming up, and that seems to be true.

I don't understand why he was given a car in Monza last weekend!! Maybe because the WCC was still in play? But that is not true anymore, so...

JM

[IDR]

¿Bad Friday?

Be prepared for much more.

Ron Denis, McLaren CEO:

Not being able to manage a relation with a 26 years old guy.

Not being able to handle poperly his own team

Not being able to manage his tutored rookie

Not being able to know a big conspiracy inside his Team and not notifying FIA when he discover it.

Not being able to handle "alleged,supposed, underlined..." threatens by one Driver, taking the innitiative to be punished with the biggest fine ever.

Not being able to handle his relationship with FIA representatives.

And now, "switching on the ventilator" to spread as much as possible all the shit McLaren gets from FIA.

I assume that, after reading your article at The t
Times, and this blog, you must be well informed by R Denis.

And what about F Alonso? I guess you have not contrasted all of this with him. But, in any case, you (The Times and you) have sentenced F Alonso.

The truth, has more than one face. And journalism has to view the "figure" in perspective.

I guess that tons of shit are still to come out.

We will see. I don´t know if we will have the opportunity to see it here or in other media, but I am sure that will be a shame for this Sport.

McLaren is the biggest waps's nest ever, and is not clear who should the "litle bee" inside, but I am sure that R Denis is not.

We will see.

[JM]

By the way, I think that Fernando's threat, after Hungary's Q3, should have been: I'm either #1, or let me leave.

But using blackmail as part of it... you can't fall lower than that.

JM

[Alfredo Nieto]

I find this attempt to make Alonso the scapegoat for McLaren's cheating really pathetic.

So Ron Dennis himself went to the FIA and asked them to fine his team with 50 million dollars because one of his drivers wanted to blackmail him? Wouldn't have been cheaper and easier to let him go or simply fire him? Isn't giving credit to that story a petty way to call Dennis stupid?

Especially considering that McLaren's image has been heavily damaged with the sentence?

I see it rather as the traditional british attitude: blame the foreigner. Well, in my opinion Alonso shouldn't race with a bunch of cheaters and thieves either, because it is a blemish in his -so far- impollute curriculum. Not when the team has shown absolute devotion for Hamilton. Not when Dear Lewis can tell his boss to "never do that again in your f*cking life" and nothing happens.

I know you've run short of british drivers capable of handling a F1 car, but as Coulthard said quite plainly, "give Hamilton a Toro Rosso and let's see if he manages to get to the points". Enough of the bull-Hamilton-shit

So I sort of agree with you but the other way round: Alonso, leave that rat-hole and find some other place to run!

[Steve MacLaughlin]

This entire story reads like bad fiction. If someone told you about all the twists and turns, then you probably wouldn't believe it.

Alonso's days with the team are probably numbered. And the same can probably be said of Pedro De La Rosa too. That's too bad.

PDLR has been a solid test driver and his racing stint with McLaren last season were spot on. But clearly he must have known that something wasn't proper about the information he was getting.

And the fact that he shared the info with Alonso, and not Hamilton, can only fuel the conspiracy flames. Was Pedro just trying to help a fellow Spaniard out?

[TG]

As tactful as ever, Ed, but I don't blame you.
From my p.o.v. the media never made this guy into this year's villain - they didn't have to, as he was more than willing to do all the legwork himself. Beaten by a rookie, preferred whinging about it instead of driving, then topped it all by trying to black mail his boss - That's the legend of Fernando Alonso, two time world champion. And as much as any of his fans would like to think, no one is going to remember the glorydays now. Can't wait to see him sulk off to America for Indycar or, better yet, Nascar where he can join another world champion whinger called Jacques Villeneuve.

[Graeme]

I agree that the whole political saga that is developing at the moment is damaging a sport that we all obviously enjoy. And it distracts from racing. But has anyone considered it from another point of view? Does it not make it more exciting? You already have fast cars, good circuits, talented drivers. Now we also have internal struggles, political influence and a result that nobody knows! It really would make a good film: you have the players (Ron, Fernando, Lewis, Max etc) and a whole bunch of lawyers. Who wins? And motor racing is supposed to be about fun. And Spa is possibly the best circuit in the world?

[J. Perez]

Excuse me, Ed,

But has the story been confirmed beyond any doubt? Is it just a rumour?

Please, bear with me and allow me to doubt that you Alonso at all.

[DG]

It seems obvious that Alonso will be heavily criticised for his petulance and for making such demands and threats to Dennis. Quite rightly too. However, if he hadn't made such demands (which were then refused by Dennis) and threats, it seems unlikely that Dennis would have told the FIA about the emails.

So this row and Dennis' subsequent exchanges with the FIA, were crucial to the reopening of the investifation before the end of the F1 season. Hopefully, now there will be an element of closer, rather than the gossip and speculation about cheating, that would surely scar the championship even more. So, maybe, in a strange way, Alonso should take some credit for being the catalyst in all this.

[mark t]

Fire Alonso. No matter what his nationality, he's a blackmailer and a cheat.

He should be banned for life.

[Ian Abrahams]

Which all goes to prove that Alonso is nothing but a silly little boy who got given the Earth (or rather, Mega$$$ and a championship winning car) and wanted the Moon and the Stars as well.

[Carlos]

hi Ed

i have an habit of reading information from different sources before developing my own opinion on a given matter. what you expose in this post is not confirmed but i have already seen it in several different media. seems is the right account of the facts.

i'm spanish and by extension, i support Alonso but more than that, i have been following F1 for many years before Alonso arrived to the sport. what Alonso did the previous two years was truly inspiring, and i could see him in the same level of the likes of Senna, Prost, Schumacher...

he is an inmensely talented driver, but if what the papers are saying is true, he has damaged his own reputation to an unknown extent. if that was true, what he has done to the team that pays him and to himself is really bad and an act of selfishness beyond belief. He has been part of the spy-gate role, his e-mails with DLR have been key to the FIA decision and on top of that, he blackmailed his boss to gain an advantage and in the process, destroyed his future at the team and taken with him De La Rosa as well, who was close to a seat in Prodrive next year (i´d be surprised if DLR either drove for Prodrive or kept the testing role at Mclaren). i can not believe Alonso and DLR worked on their own, there must have been engineers working along them but i do not think Ron Dennis was aware of it.

the bottom line is that Alonso played a role (even if minor, as the drivers do not manage the projects related to car developments) in the spying scandal, and instead of keeping quiet for the team sake and his own good, he threteaned his boss to go to the FIA.

i'm out of words, the only thing i can think of to somehow find some kind of poor explanation is that Alonso lost the plot and overdid it, he possibly felt under a lot of pressure, a two times WDC being beaten on the track by a rookie, and instead of showing in the track that he was the master, he chose the wrong way.

he has shown fatal flaws on his personality and if i was a team owner i would think twice
before signing him up, because yes, is a driver capable of winning championships, but if things do not come his way, he is also capable of bringing down with him the team that feeds him, the team of 1500 people dedicated to produce a winning car for him.

there must be something else we don't know Ed, because like you, i can't understand why he is still driving for Mclaren, i imagine sponsors have a lot to say on that.

if all this is true, the only way for Alonso to leave Mclaren in a tidy and smart manner, is just to keep driving these four races and help Hamilton win the WDC so he can somehow help to repare an small part of the damage he's done.

i will continue watching F1 races, but with some emotional distance, just like i did before Alonso arrived to the sport and there were no spanish drivers about.

[Gonzalo]

Assuming what you wrote is true. Let's remember how this saga started...

Hamiltom ignored team orders and asked for punishment for his own team(mate)... He got it(that's why he is still ahead in the WDC) with no known consequences. I'm glad to see you don't have a problem with that behavior.

What about Dennis? What a great management touch !!! Either he knew everything from the very beginning (what an honest man!) or he had no idea of what's going on within his own team (what a moron!). And all this to protect "his baby".

If Alonso is such a piece of crap, why not letting him go next season?

Are you seriously suggesting that only Coughlan, DLR and FA were on this? The FIA did not agree:

"Mr. de la Rosa explained to the WMSC at the meeting of 13
September 2007 that when Coughlan responded with the precise details in
question, he (de la Rosa) decided that the weight distribution was so different to
the McLaren car set up that it would not, in fact, be tested in the simulator. Mr de
la Rosa says that thereafter he regarded the information as unimportant. It seems
highly unlikely to the WMSC that a test driver would take a decision of this sort
on his own."

If I were Vodafone's, Mercedes' or Santander's CEO I would not let McLaren drop Alonso this season or their companies are going to face a very long winter in Spain.

[Pedro, Pamplona, Spain]

Ok. I thought it was absurd (and it is, indeed), but it seems that facts bear out the rumour: Ron Dennis was the informer. Wow... What a great strategist he is.
I can imagine him managing the situation during the Cuban missile crisis in October of 1962. None of us would be here now. Nor Fernando Alonso.

[JOSE RAMON]

Hi Ed,
First of all if this is true, which hasn't been officially confirmed by anyone at McLaren, Fernando's behauviour in this particular case would have been wrong.

But this story does not begins on August 5 at Hungary. As well as you say you can't understand that Fernando is still driving for the team, me I cannot understand how Lewis is also doing it after what he did in Monaco when he was asked to turn revolutions down as Fernando, he didn't and then complained of his own team resulting in a FIA investigation and in Fernando not being allowed to choose is own strategies anymore and in Hungary where he again disobeyed team orders and Ron Dennis is particular and went against the team again on the subsequent investigation.

If Ron Dennis had managed this well from the very start, as many other minor details as team members obviously supporting Lewis at any chance we had never come up to this situation.

But now you want to focus all the issue in Fernando because you know that he's going to leave McLaren for sure and you also know that in real equal conditions he will beat your Lewis is the WC.

[DANIEL]

Dear Ed:
1) I can undestand your point of view.
2) This is absolutly NOT mine.
3) You say: " I find it incredible that a guy can be given an opportunity in life like Fernando has, and then behave like this. Why didn't he just get stuck in, beat Lewis and stop complaining?
and i ask you: could you be the best sport journalist in England, for example, if " The Times" were all the day against your interest, ang giving favours for another??, even when, recognizing or not, you ARE the number one and the other is just a rookie??? think about it,please.
could you win the wolrd championship when if u make the thing alonso made in hungary the FIA penalizes you and when Hamilton makes ( better say " you dont make it") the thing he made in the first corner of monza the FIA does not penalize Hamilton?
could you really win the championship 2007, if you were Fernando, if all the team want to win Hamilton?
Who is the treacheraus, mr Gordman???
4) you say:" I just find it incredible that Fernando is still driving for the team. I find it incredible that a guy can be given an opportunity in life like Fernando has, and then behave like this", but I answer you: " Do u think that after what Hamilton made to his team on Saturday in hungary is normal that he continues driving for the team??
And finally, Mr gordman,
If you were Alonso, being so competitive as he is, What THE HELL you were made??????.
Be honest, please, just BE HONEST.

With all the respect,

Daniel, from Madrid.

[juan]

as you can guess by my name and my English, I am not from Blackpool, and therefore my views on Alonso are somewhat sidetracked, but I must regard this piece of news as false, because otherwise, as you say, I don't understand how McLaren allow him to continue racing, unless they have let him in order not to disturb even further their appearance of legality during the FIA hearing last Thursday.
However, if it is true, Alonso will become a national disgrace, and will be swiftly punished by forcing him to become a flamenco dancer and entertain British vacationgoers at several beach hotels during the summer. If it is not true, he will continue to win races and championships despite his lack of neck but obvious driving talent.
What I really hope is that his news is not one of those tabloid-spun manipulations caused by bigotry and Hamiltonmania.

[Jaime Fernandez Garcia, E&UK]

I agree, Ed. If this is true, and it looks like it is, Alonso's position at the team will surely become untenable. Hungary seemed like such an odd weekend, now it is put into perspective, as is the prolonged breakdown of communication between RD y FA.Hoping for a supermajor battle on the track this weekend! Keep up the good work, Ed.

[Pedrín el de Morcín]

Opportunity?What? Fernado was two times world champion when he came to this cheating team. Don't forget about Hamilton's betrayals and insults to Ron (you've got a fragile memory). This is the example of English team. If you want to see what we, in Spain, call a team, look at our basketball players (I know that in the whole GB there is nothing similar, you prefer envy, cheating and betraying your own fellows).
If I was English I would bee really, really embarrased for the image that McLaren is giving of the country in the whole world.

[Joaquin Carrasco]

If Hamilton was able to report McLaren to the FIA in Hungary, why not Fernando? The same comment was done in the Spanish newspaper after GP Hungary.

I hope, as Spainiard, Fernando leave to McLaren and we can see what Hamilton can do alone.

[Romero]

You lies more than you speak, come on! You only want Hamilton´s Championship, It doesn´t matter how to get,...
One year throwing rubbish...your blog is an english joke.

[SALVADOR]

Fernando was given a great opportunity?... Give us a break, he is two times champion of the world. It is a privilege for poor old Ron and all of you blind british fans to have him in your team.

[johnny boy]

perhaps alonso knows even more about this, maybe the involvment of highup mclaren people? or even mr dennis himself?

whatever the case i can't believe that ron was stupid enough to risk it and go to max about this new information. he must have known alonso was bluffing about the emails -especially considering the emails directly implicated alonso.

[Cap]

Ed, did Ron tell the FIA about the emails because he'd just found out about them, or did he know about them before, and was forced to report them by Fernando's threats? The answer will tell us the truth about Ron's involvement in the spying.

Also, if McLaren benefited in the way the FIA judgement implies, both drivers should have been penalised.

[SoTMaR]

I can't believe what I'm reading.

"I just find it incredible that Fernando is still driving for the team."

Have you forgotten Hamilton's behaviour in Hungarian GP, the conversation between Hamilton and Dennis after the qualifying session and its consecuences for the team?

English media at its best.

[Santiago]

Dear Ed, you wrote this,

"I just find it incredible that Fernando is still driving for the team. I find it incredible that a guy can be given an opportunity in life like Fernando has, and then behave like this."

And the answer is, becouse you dont know the whole history, and because your biasing informer wont tell you ever as a whole ( I´d like to think that the biasing informer or messenger from McLaren isnt you. That would be disturbing). Try to get written agreements from the very early contract with FA. Or on the other hand, try to get more proves of what the real implication in the spy saga McLaren was.

Dont you think that McLaren people, at the very top, are stupid. If by now they could have fired FA, he would not driven the car from now on.

Dont you think so?

[Andy]

Speechless. Games between drivers are one thing (and neither LH or FA are blameless in this area) but this is something else entirely..

To betray the entire team, to essentially attempt to blackmail the CEO and subsequently to bring down the unprecedented FIA punishment....

I can only see FA moving to a rich team that will make him #1 and yearns for success (toyota?) or slinking back to Renault.

Shocked and saddened.

[JB]

I have to say that I am quite unhappy with this unnoble young man is representing our country in one of the world's most conspicuous shows. He has none of the values or traits of our most beloved champs, Rafa Nadal, Pau Gasol, Contador... or in an a most superior realm of champs, the awesome matador José Tomás. He shows no humbleness, no friendliness, no warmth. He doesn't even convey the joy of playing a sport at divine levels of performance. He just bickers, and now, as we have known, he blackmails. Only Joseph Conrad could think of a plot to redeem such an innoble and shameful man. This said, GO FERNANDO! VIVA ESPAÑA!

[Charles]

Luis P, in the light of our current knowledge, it's interesting to reflect on the reports throughout the season regarding Alonso failing to share set-up information with Hamilton. Looks like he was inadvertently doing him a favour by not sharing his tainted information.

[J. Perez]

I will put it plainly for Alonso's fans:

Since McLaren is no longer a contender to the title, their main goal now is that Hamilton wins the Championship. So, it can be expected some sort of "incident" that will ruin Alonso's hopes.

Of course, that "incident" will be justified by Alonso's betrayal, as reported by the British media.

Most likely this post will remain unpublished.

[deincognito]

Ed,

I hope that, as a journalist, you have double checked your sources, because your affirmation is very serious.
Do not forget that all McLaren drivers were asked to collaborate and it was only then when Alonso and De la Rosa decided to grant e-mails to FIA, as Hamilton decided to give up.

[Oliver Cromwell]

Quite hard to believe that "story about Fernando rowing with Ron and allegedly threatening him", Ed. Would the World Champion act like that? Would a driver that wants to win the championship again with McLaren-Mercedes act like that? I can't imagine, for example, Ed Gorman threatening his editor-in-chief like "make my Blog the most visited site around here or...". And I cannot imagine Fernando Alonso (or Lewis Hamilton, or Felipe Massa, or Takuma Sato, or...) threatening his boss, against his self interest.

FIA asked Alonso, Hamilton and de la Rosa to show the e-mails. WHAT ELSE COULD THEY DO?? At least, two of them obeyed their superiors... Oh, no, no... Sorry. I didn't remember that Hamilton NEVER had access to that information. Yeah... Good guy. He deserves a cookie.

I don't like Alonso, but all this **** reminds me to the Spanish Inquisition. I see the bad boy but I can't distinguish the super-hero. Maybe Sebastian Vettel, yeah...

[Azimut]

Ed, I completely agree with your comment that Alonso has been poorly advised this season. That's probably the reason underlying all this sad affair. NOw his own future as a racing driver is going to be under suspicion. HOwever, it seems that there are some issues hanging like the FIA-MOsley vs Dennis dispute which are quite beyond him or his racing capabilites. That seems to have tarnished things quite a lot. I agree also in that Alonso has been ungrateful to Ron Dennis for providing him with in his own words after winning in MOnaco "such a fantastic car". Having said that, the perception that he was not given enough recognition after winning in arguably the most difficult track and generally, it seems that somehow he has been "used" in order to act as a trampoline for Hamilton's rise as the next "Jackie Stewart/James Hunt /Fangio" or whatever the British press want to make of a great hope and it seems, reality, but he's still got to beat the twice world-champion to the overall drivers championship.

[Abad]

"Opportunity in Fernando's life"?
Dear Ed, I can not believe what I read in your mail. Just facts:
1 - Fernando has got in his pocket 2 Championships won with a Renault, that was not the best car in the track, or yes?.
2 - Where was McLaren in the last 8 years? I'll tell you: in the shadow. There is no place for the second in the F1 hall of fame
3 - Alonso and Hamilton have arrived to McLaren and the team wins. Coincidence? NO in F1. Only if you have the best drivers and the best car you can win. Hamilton is a excellent driver, a winner, but without Alonso, this season, the car would have never been developed to be the first.
Alonso still drives because McLaren has scandals enough this season and Denis is a clever manager. There is a lot of money behind Alonso in McLaren. Don't you agree?
And, by the way, Fernando has stopped complaining. Now he's driving fast...veyr fast.

[MP]

Ed,

I really have to agree with you.

I *was* a great Alonso fan and was looking forward to this season enormously.

However, I started feeling concerned about Alonso's attitude quite early on, especially after Hamilton did so well. I mean Alonso was ragged at times and making a number of strange mistakes. Like he wasn't in 100% control anymore.

Then came the comments (English team...) and it was abundantly clear that he was very unhappy in the team.

Soon after came the Hungaroring incidents (and we now know more of the truth behind them), and it was absolutely clear that Alonso was not thinking straight.

Now the questions that I would love to know the answer to are:

-- Does Hamilton still truly(!) want to win the WDC in a tainted season ?
-- Would RD (& team) want H to win it, or just 'let' Alonso win it just to prevent Ferrari from winning both ?
-- What will happen to Alonso after this season is finished ?
-- Who and what team would want to associate themselves with Alonso, if even half of the above true?
-- What does the "bringing the team into disrepute" clause say in Alonso's contract ?
-- Will Alonso, Pedro de la Rosa and Coughlan be sued by McLaren and its sponsors ?

[Cousin Pedro]

Ed you must be scared to write that alonso is the villin. dont you know that alonso is the most successful driver in formula 1, mclaren have never won a championship (formula 1 began in 2005 you know back when you were sailing man) Where is your jounalist integrity Ed. the truth is the fia wanted hamilton to win the championship so they make up these emails to slow down fernando but alonso is KING OF THE WIND.

/satire

Matt

[fonsi]

I doubt this information is true.
In my opinion, why will Alonso threaten Ron to be the number one, when the team could be kicked out from the competition? It has no sense. Now that Mclaren can not win the constructor's champ, why are they gonna bend to Alonso's requirements?
The team will centre their efforts in Hamilton for sure.

Anyway, if it's true that Alonso threatened Ron with this, it's funny to see how both pilots (LH and FA) always think on themselves before the team.

[Mario]

Dear Ed

I appreciate patriotism and to have to write about the squallor and lies of your best F1 Team must be hard to swallow. The facts are, Mr Dennis knew about the Ferrari files, used them, and when the situation got to hot because of Alonso, he panicked and in an attempt to show good judgement called the FIA, well too late, too little, the Fia judgement has shown how much being British mean to F1, if the table was turned the other way, disqualification would have been a minimum. Mr Lewis might well win the Championship and nobody denies his abilities, but his title if it happens will always be remembered for the wrong reasons.

[Luis P.]

Ron Dennis, you CHEATED... All that happened in your team, what a poor leadership... Of course there are many people to be blamed (including Alonso), but I see the final responsibility ends in Dennis, right? The buck stops here, Ron. You knew about this, no doubts after the FIA hearing. He should be the first to leave. Mercedes, ask for Ron Dennis head NOW. Poor, poor, poor leadership...