Fernando says the right thing - fair play to him for it

EG writes: Thanks to Ignacio for offering this translation of what Fernando said after qualifying(I'm pretty sure it was then). 

The exact translation for his words would be:
Q: Do you think your teammate deserves the title despite everything that has occurred?
A: I think so, he deserves it if he wins it at the end. One has to be realist in that and totally sportsmanlike. I think one needs to know how to win, how to lose, and if this year I don't win, it's because someone has summed up more points than me, and if someone has summed up more points than me, it's because he's done a better job. And even more, having a 12 points lead at the end means everything has resulted better for him. If it is because he has abandoned less races, because of decisions, because of whatever, he has more points and he deserves it.

The Asturian hero also has another real go at McLaren and Ron...read this...

Comments

[LWS]

He has said a lot about the team too, but I guess you won't like what he said, even if it sounds reasonable. It's a british team and you need to believe what Ron says in order to keep all the buzz around Hamilton.

May be next year, when you all get tired of Lewis on every commercial...

[SAM]

F1 will be better if drivers face their business. Alonso had spent too much time with his spanish press and advisers this year, thats why he has less time to improve upon his previous records. I believe next season he will learn to face his business.

[jordi]

Like it or not, agree or disagree, Alonso has been constantly saying the same things all year. Hamilton has not.

Alonso has never said a bad word about Hamilton, only about the "Team". In the other hand, Hamilton has been quite nasty and personal against Alonso, even Hamilton's Daddy had a few words against Fernando's Dad. (I've never seen Alonso's dad on Tv or giving a press conference).

ED: my question is,
If Fernando has been saying the same things all year, why is he now "saying the right thing" and before he was a cry baby??

I'm convinced that time puts everyone in his place.

[Oliver]

The truth is he has lost a lot of points because of that biased behaviour of FIA. SHAME! I think "The son of Anthony Hamilton" is going to be the winner in UK. But in the rst of the world there will be no champions in this fake season...

[Alex Artiles]

I really believe this championship is a fake, both McLaren and FIA have done everything possible to make Lewis win this year, even Ecclestone have already admited his wishes. All this devaluate this sport, even admiting that Hamilton could be as good as Fernando, there is no need to do everything we have seen this year to make him win. No doubt that most of the McLaren team wish Lewis to win this year, that could be clearly seen several times, specially on the last two races, with all this situation in and out the team is very difficult to win.

[ergo]

This excerpt appeared in last week’s Autosport issue. Lewis is worth $1bn.

quote:“I estimate he will be worth $1billion”, adds Currie (Chairman of the European Sponsorship Association). “He’s got so much going for him: he’s in an individual sport, he’s unique –he’s the first black driver to break into the sport in a major way; he’s also young, charismatic and good looking.
But to sit comfortably in the $1bn category, you’re got to dominate your sport globally for 3 or 4 years. Look at the examples of figures lie Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Tiger Woods. It’s quite hard for one person to come through and totally dominate a sport, but Lewis certainly has the ability and the right opportunity ahead of him”.

Has Alonso a chance to fight for the title and be an obstacle to the big bucks? NO.

McLaren did their best to only support Hamilton since Barhain when they realized that they have the car to win the championship and a black driver that was consistent.

McLaren only needed to sabotage Alonso’s performance when required (wrong tyres pressures, pieces that haven’t past quality control, bad estrategies and total lack of support inside the team) and fully backed up Hamilton, especially in the bad moments after his whinning and antics on track even if they were apparently against the team.

But when the plan failed, then race control and FIA came to the rescue to not only help Hamilton (crane, SCs, drivers punished) on the circuit but also to sully Alonso’s name. The British Press campaigns against Alonso, being systematically supported by McLaren management’s silence, have also sullied Alonso’s reputation with half-truths and false/biased allegations and had a big help in the whole ‘complot’.

Here is another example of race control intervention to help annd keep all under control as it should be and happened in Fuji:

According to a German press report – http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...07382_13987.hbs

quote:“..In the F1 drivers circle there are suggestions about the existence of a “LEX HAMILTON”. According to Information filtered out by Renault - The race commissioner (Whiting) ordered Heikki before the Re-Start, not to drive too close to Hamilton. However, it was clear that it was not Heikki driving too close to Hamilton but rather Hamilton’s fault as he was driving so slowly”

McLaren favoritism towards Hamilton and the way McLaren manipulates and lies are so evident that the case of the Safety Car in Canada 05 commented by Mark Hughes in his column of last week’s Autosport is the perfect example fo how McLaren and his policy of favouritism works well.

quote:The reality is that of all teams McLaren is the one most devoted to –and best-equipped to provide equality of opportunity.

Yet even at McLaren then comes a point when equality has to give way to necessity of the moment. During Montoya’s time it happened during 2005 Canadian Grand Prix, when qa safety car gave the team the perfect opportunity to spring title chaser Raikkonen into the lead – at Montoya’s expense. Montoya was not a championship contender and Raikkonen was, so it was simply common sense regardless of the cover story the team used for an explanation afterwards.

Yet even at this stage Montoya still has faith in the equality if the team, refused to believe that McLaren had deliberately disadvantaged him. He reckoned anyone who believed that way a fool. He’s probably less certain now. The point is he did appear to try harder to fit in there than Alonso has. Had Alonso been in the same situation, you can be sure he could have believed the worst.

The question is: will Hamilton’s cause be aided by the team? Given the acrimonious background-that the team might have justification in feeling betrayed by Alonso’s actions in threatening to use the email evidence on his laptop – might the team be tempted now to do what Alonso has accused them of doing all year? Absolutely not. Unlike at Montreal’ 05, this time there is no competitive reasons to favour one driver over another. There may be emotional reasons but if McLaren boss Ron Dennis was going to allow them to determine his course fo action, he would surely have done so in Hungary. Now, unless something disastrous unfolds, it’s a case of which McLaren driver wins.

If they did that to Montoya in Canada 05 when Kimi was thirty something points behind Alonso and had little chance to win the championship and lied to Montoya unescrupoulusly, what McLaren wouldn’t do to favour his long term investment and $$$ boy when the chance is there.

I have not doubts that all problems that Alonso had suffered this season has been done deliberately to favour Hamilton to become WDC. I have also no doubts that Ron, Martin and Norbert are all liers, dishonest and lacks integrity.

In Fuji, all that hard work against Alonso ripped off and achieved the aim: the first ever WDC to be a black rookie driver, with a reward of $1bn.

Congratulations!

[Santiago]

ED.

He also said his confidence in the team is zero, and questioned why? responded, becouse I´ve been here 9 or 10 moths for.

Questioned about the 6 tenth down, his answer was I dont know, I thought I got a quite good lap without a simple mistake. Was a big surprise to me.

Asked about his future in a team were the confidence is zero, he said at the end of the season they will talk about, it seems that they dont want me either, so.... I dont think there will be a problem to leave the team without problems to anyone (This last is mine).

Anyway, if he is not overfueled, good to know what went wrong. I,m sure that even you all were delightfully surprised when he crossed the finish line.

[AJ]

Sam, I can say with almost absolute certainty that you don't read the Spanish press.

The truth is that Alonso is the person that has talked less to the press, and much less than Dennis and Hamilton, that's for sure, while they kept blaming him for everything, he kept quiet.

But patience has a limit, he has been a gentleman so far after everything that he has suffered inside the team and everyone talking against him, most of it thanks to Mr "Equality" Ron Dennis, the last straw: he blamed him for his silence!. As he said in the interview: "Tell me what you brag about and I will tell you what you lack".

[Santiago]

SAM

He did not spend a minute with any press, except for telecinco the channel wich gives the GPs, and only for a couple of minutes before every grand prix. That is his main defect. He does not have a PR. Also he has a great zeal of his privacy, that is why he has not the whole support from most of the media. In others words, he does not feed the meat.

I dont blame him for it. In fact I applaude it. The media with their opinions are poison to the sport, but also are the great deal of organizers. It would be much better if they only inform, we are grown up enough to make our opinions.

[jordi]

Alonso has been saying the exactly same thing all year.

So ED, why exactly did you accused him of bad sportsmanship before and now according to you he is saying the right thing???

[Santiago]

The Asturian hero also has another real go at McLaren and Ron...read this...

ED YOU MUST BE JOKING.

Next year with the new rules LH is gonna set the car up. His advantage is the new car´s controller made by McLaren and going to be fitted in the rest of the cars, so engineers will have to accomodate the piece in them.

So we all will see his mastership. Dont try to keep FA again.

[Oliver]

Alonso thought he was joining a serious team and now he's realized McLaren is just a joke...

[James Hunt]

Face his business? His business is driving, but in McLaren may think his business is to teach Hamilton and do the hard work seting up the car for the baby.
In other times, long long time ago, I was fan of McLaren and a great british driver, James Hunt, and of his rival Lauda too, even if he was in Ferrari. Now the circus even has his own clowns, like Withing, Ecclestone, Antonhy Hamilton, Ron Dennis et al.
MMM, lok they are all british... Curious

[Dave B]

I guess after coming 4'th in qualifying he had to take a pop at someone, but that type of whinging at the team really isn't going to garner him any favours. If someone doesn't pay for him next year (enought to take a sizable sum out of McLarens fine perhaps) then I think that these outbursts make it highly concievable that he'll be sitting on the sidelines next year.

[FLB]

I wish I read Spanish, There are probably nuances that are not coming across. As it is, I find it very, very hard to argue about some of his criticisms.

What comes across is that his disagreements with Dennis aren't linked to the cars, but much more related to moral support (to quote him, 'Not a double champion, but a normal person').

[marti]

it´s a shame, Hamilton a marketing english product will win at the end. He doesn´t deserve this championship, but next year won´t have Fernando´s set-up and come back to Q3 again. It´s a pity, is being a dirty championship.
For me, the most important moment in this year was Hungaroring and the unexpected penalty against Alonso, there weren´t any law to blame Fernando and this kind of things are quite important for a concentration. Hamilton accused his team, hit team-mate, his daddy ron. If I were Alonso tomorrow I´d put Lewis out and Kimi would win the championship (Schumaher philosophy).

[Ross]

I was a Michael Schumacher's fan since the time he won against Damon Hill, and I didn't like Alonso at all, especially last year because I think he turned very arrogant after winning his first F1 title. But Hamilton achieved the impossible for me: to become an Alonso's fan!

[Joseote]

Ecclestone:

"It is painfully obvious to me that the right guy to be world champion is Lewis. In fact my main fear would be if he didn't win it. Kimi Raikkonen barely talks to anyone and as such has done little for the sport, and as for Fernando Alonso, in his two years as world champion he has done nothing. He hasn't really been an F1 campaigner at all[...]"

Please, continue "talking" about fairness, sportiveness, and equal treatment, by all means.

See more here: http://sport.guardian.co.uk/motorsport/story/0,,2184903,00.html

[willy]

Out all the important things that Alonso said about MR. Ron Dennis and his "lovely" Mclaren Mercedes team, Ed Gorman came up with what Alonso said about Hamilton as the headline of the story!!.

You should be ashamed of your self!.

Is the end of journalism as we speak!!!.

There's a lot of biased in journalism today, but you must be in the top three mate!!.

It's pathetic to see people celebrating a tainted victory,just because there's no way you can achieve that in a fair-way.

I guess you have been for such a long time in the looser's bench, that you will take anything that is benn given to you..Really PATHETIC!.

LONG LIVE ENGLAND!!!!.

[f1aroo]

I looked up the word 'disruptive' in the dictionary and there was a picture of Fernando.

[Sela]

Fernado is a horseman and in the heart of all we (no England) he is the true champion. It disappoints Dennis to me, disappoints Mc Laren to me the equipment wanted it to use it in favor of its favorite, I believe that this had it very well glided because the car always prepared Alonso. Hamiltón has recognized that the one of mechanics does not understand. And today them vió everything to the right as alonso after going all along of first in the Q3 without having errors is left 4. This is not normal, nobody is created nor the FIA but as everything is a Mafia beginning by Eccleston then todfo is going here to follow equal. I congratulate to Hamilton we are going to see next year without Alonso that prepares the car to him that does. Alonso vetoes of Mc Laren do not know to deal with horsemen

[DR. O]

I'M SINGING IN THE RAIN....!!!

[Marc Sales]

I'm not an Alonso fan. Actually, I don't like him. But F1 is not a sport anymore since Bernie Ecclestone shows his preferences for Lewis Hamilton so clearly. Poor favour for the british, who is already in doubt because of McLaren behaviour this year.

The F1 circus has become a joke.

[Mike]

I hope Lewis does it tomorrow. At the same time, desptite the vitriol, the spanish comments on here really crack me up. Genuinely. As in genuine laugh out loud moments. Keep it up guys, you should have your own show.

[Andy]

Putting all of the off-track politics asside for a moment: is the suggestion of all the Hamilton detractors here that Alonso is actually better than him? Because surely you can't say, with a straight face, that Alonso has driven better than him this season?

[Augusto Baena]

Well this has been the largest gap in qualifying Hamilton-Alonso in the whole season. Considering Alonso didn't have any visible failure, such as tyre locking, run wides, etc (as he has had in other races) and assuming he is not on a wild fuel strategy (that we are aware off, as it completely lacks any logic) it is VERY WEIRD.

The largest gap.

Even when Alonso made visible errors, the gap had been smaller. E.g. in Canada, according to autosport:
"Hamilton's first flying lap put him straight onto provisional pole with a 1:16.316, but it was swiftly beaten by Alonso's 1:16.163. However when it came to the final shoot-out the order was reversed, as Hamilton lowered the benchmark to 1:15.707 on his last lap. Alonso was fractionally quicker in the first two sectors, but an error at the hairpin cost him critical time and pole position."

Despite running wide, gap was 0.4s

In Bahrein, 100kg lighting equipment fell over Alonso's car. The team denied any problem with the car, but it clearly underperforms all weekend. Out of the 10 best race laptimes, Massa has 3 (including best), Raikkonen 3 and Hamilton 4. Alonso, none. Weird. Well, even under those conditions, the gap in Q3 was 0.2s.

In China, 0.6s.

Unless Hamilton is stopping 5-6 laps before, I just can't believe this.

I hate conspiracy, but 0.6s is just too much of an error-free lap.

The largest gap ever.

Regards

[Augusto Baena]

Dave B: "If someone doesn't pay for him next year (enought to take a sizable sum out of McLarens fine perhaps) then I think that these outbursts make it highly concievable that he'll be sitting on the sidelines next year."

Alonso's got a contract in which it specifies he'll drive an official car. He can't be put in the dry dock or as a test driver. If he continues in McLaren, he will drive. I think both parties are trapped in a contract they can't break except by mutual agreement or through a hefty compensation nobody wants to pay each other.

Alonso wanted to leave and he wasn't allowed out of fear he would make another team stronger.

Now it might be the other way around.

[Bhai Baldeep Singh]

Interesting, isn't it? All of it..
Next year? Perhaps, Alonso and Button at Mclaren, Hamilton sold for a big fee to the highest bidder. They all love the money. If LH is eventually the WDC it will be a 'perfect sale'. For me, he is not worth more at all. If you have a good car most of these drivers can win, that too, in a sensational way, we all know that it is the car and not just the driver, as the drivers are already certified to race at this level.
I still feel, returning for a moment to this years last two outings, that there is going to be more drama still!
Eagerly, I await.....
bbs

[Luis de Expaña]

I hope Alonso goes to Ferrari or BMW next year......... .

It is the best for Alonso, not for MacLaren-Mercedes.

A 2 WCF-1 do not deserve to be the car fitter of LH.

[Colin Henderson]

This becomes more and more hilarious. I have followed F1 for 35 years. There have been arguments, fights, innuendos, good cars, and bad cars, but at the end of the day the better driver wins. Forget all the stuff about sabotage, tire pressure changes, blah blah blah.

To all the Spanish [ I am Scottish]: take a deep breath, and watch Alonso next year. That will be the measure of a true champ. He is unquestionably a top driver, but he's got Latin emotions. Get over it, and prove he is a good driver, as Hamilton must do next year too, wearing #1, as did Alonso in 07.

[Oliver]

Business wins. Sport loses.
Politics win. Journalism loses.
Marketing wins. Racing loses.
Favouritism wins. Equality loses.
Ron Dennis wins. McLaren loses.
FIA wins. Supporters lose.
Hamilton wins. Hamilton loses.
Formula 1 loses...

[John Sharp]

ERGO, Spot on!

[Orphebus]

All this should not be a surprise to anyone. Alonso belongs to a English team, with an English manager, in a Englishmen managed sport.

Now, add a new English greatly talented driver to the cocktail. I find it quite natural that he is favored by his team and by the FIA.

Lying and personal offenses through media is not that natural, but it speaks very clearly about the moral quality of the people involved.

Whatever, it's clear that nobody is comfortable with this situation. IMHO, it would be better for McLaren to release Alonso and hire an expert driver with no winning ambitions who can help in the set-up of the car for Hamilton. That would also be better for Alonso, since it semes he can't compete against Alonso while in McLaren.

[REDDWARF]

Dear colleagues, it´s quite clear.... Ecclestone, the old b*****d has said it again: Hamilton is a black handsome british driver that would mean lots of money for F1. And that´s all. This sport is not fair at all, but this is the challenge for Alonso. He had to beat Schumi and he will defeat HAmilton, although maybe not this year. In any case, he will prove he´s a better driver. It´s simply to diffucult to do it in the same team and qith the same car as your rival, when you have no support from your own people and when you are punished withour deserving it. Or when your rival is not punished and when he gets the support of the owner of the circus. Alonso has no PR, is just a driver that doesn´t like the press.....

[SAM]

AJ!
Are you referring to the yellow press (AR - AnaRosa, Diario de Patricia etc...) or the other media? Well, I enjoy the Yellow Press and read the others very well. Typical Spanish yellow press will backup claims with polygraph test! Other media will leave you to wonder about without answers to your curiosity. I mean on the average investigative journalism by the Spanish sensational media score 8 and the others 5!!!

If you still doubt me, tell me about the dramatized next general election. Have you read those simile-metaphor stories? Rajoy is like Alonso...

Few hours ago on Telecinco News, Alonso confirms he has no confidence in his team and he was there to demonstrate his smartness in card trick - gambling with his Antonio Lobato of a "PRO". I am sure he will be better off as a card gambler than coming to GP with his all time miracle desire. F1 need drivers who will contribute to its development and not trailblazer.

[jordi]

What ever the outcome of this year championship, there is a few things to think about.

A championship that generates millions and millions of pounds, top world class engineering and design teams, record breaking publicity deals, where drivers risk their lives every race, is not serious that the constructors title has been decided by a guy from a photocopy shop and the drivers title could had been decided by a japones fan video, in youtube.

[Charles]

How easily some people forget the way Dennis gifted Alonso his win in Monaco and initially defended his behaviour in the Hungarian qualifying. The advantage has gone Alonso's way on several occasions.

Alonso has been stirring discontent since the early part of the season. This whole season would have been far more enjoyable if Alonso had kept his mouth shut from the first day. Maybe if he'd concentrated more on his performance on the track he wouldn't be in the position of being humiliated by a rookie.

[Andy G]

WHY DO WE HAVE FREE SPEECH HERE?

It just means that 20 very unpleasant, deluded and worthless Spanish loudmouths (and several smart, decent, well informed ones) come here and add nothing, simply shouting vituperative nonsense about the usual subjects.

Why do we want this here? They can do that back home. It is not interesting, useful, uplifting or proper.

They are showing up and abusing the blog with their rabid commentary.

[Weasel]

Perhaps, just perhaps, Alonso is now paying the price of his attempted blackmail, not through conspiracist hyped unfair tactics at Mclaren, but in self inflicted damage to his image and marketability as an F1 driver.

Now whose actions caused this anti Alonso backlash in the first place? A bent out of shape by his unexpectedly talented team mate primadonna, throwing a little tantrum in Hungary and making a foolish threat perhaps? I don't think Hamilton threw a tantrum, nor apparently did Ron Dennis, so I ask again, whose little hysteria was it that set the ball rolling?

But now you don't like the consequences of your actions and want to reinvent yourself as Mr. 'My feelings are hurt' Nice Guy, Mr. Poor Me 'They are being mean to me'? Sorry, this is so sanctimonious and hypocritical.... You make your bed, you sleep in it. You made yours in Hungary.

As for the 'conspiracy against Alonso at Mclaren' theorists - any of you geniuses actually got incontrovertible proof by any chance? What, it's just baseless hypothesis you say? Thought so.

[John Sharp]

Andy G: there are also 20+ stupid english bloggers posting here (and several that do behave).
This is not about englang vs spain my dearest friend.

From Shanghai

[John Sharp]

Weasel, your comments imply that you believe whan Ron says and disregard Alonso's point of views.
I firmly believe that Ron Dennis & Co knew all about the emails, he could build a Ferrari himself and fullstop. FIA has penalised McLaren because they thought the same.

Show me the evidence supporting Ron's lack of "involvement"? I think your proof is: "because Ron, who is english like me, says so."

And don't tell me that FIA are against Hamilton: don't make me laugh. Nobody believes that.

When in Japan Hamilton launched the race after the first safety car left, he did suddenly break causing Alonso to nearly overtake him. Now, Hamilton can choose when to launch, but once you accelerate you cannot break as he did. That alone was a clear violation of FIA F1 Regulations that curiosly did not cost him a 10 sec pit stop in Fuji. That was also video evidence being examined by the three FIA officials esarly in the week: an englishman, a german and a chinese. This is just a joke: is like having an english referee in the football world cup final between England and Italy. So, don't be pathetic.

Blah, blah, blah

[Oliver]

I hope you don't have to write an article about fair play after Interlagos, Ed. But I'm sure Ron, Ecclestone and The Greatest and Fabulous Anthony Hamilton (he's got wonderful powers) will do everything they can to sabotage Alonsos's car. This is Alonso vs. McLaren, FIA and British press. Above all, Alonso vs. Hamilton and Dennis. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

[Chema Chote]

ANDY G: I know the truth is awful, and that a British soul may be very deeply hurt when there are accusations of favoritism, cheating, unfair play and so against an "environment" in which your nationals are soooo present, but let's admit it and face it. When Ecclestone states his favoritism towards Hamilton, the crane incident, Hungary, Monza... and then, the non british press cheering up when Hamilton went off the track and all the drivers on the grid claiming for sanction. On top of that, those maFIA statements saying "no one is to repeat this things or will be penalized".

Give us break, please. As FA said...

"He (Dennis) didn't promise me anything. You are always hearing about that so called equality in the team, but tell me what you brag about and I'll tell you what you are lacking".

[robert müller]

i've been an f1 fan since the the day i first laid eyes on it.

i've supported senna, mansell, and schumi... one thing i can't be acussed of is being an alonso supporter... but i can only say that i´m sure alonso's car has been properly doctored by his own team and that the all mighty FIA has clearly chosen their winner.
the evidence in favor of the conspiracy is just too appalling as to be even remotely deniable. the sport is tainted to a degree that it will make it difficult to win its true fans back. the crane, the this is forbidden from now on's, hamilton's father claims for support after hungary's Q3 (with a penalty for alonso that simply was never on the books), FIA's overlooking hamilton's rule challenges in japan and china... sorry, it's just too much for any decent fan to deny.

i'm actually german, so i'm definitely not taking sides here.. just saying what i honestly believe.

to be honest, i don't want a german in mclaren next year. maybe when mercedes runs the show, but going to an english team, with the dennis/hamilton due at the helm would be a career suicide for anyone in that position (though it would probably speed up the mclaren/mercedes breakup, that i fear might not come soon enough otherwise.

schumi, you're deeply missed :(
alonso, best of lucks (feel you'll need as much as you can get... but remember who you beat last year. hamilton, even with all the mclaren/fia support won't be that tough)

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