Fernando lets a rather large feline out of the bag

Fernando is quoted in Spain today as confirming what most of us had already suspected, that he has a clause allowing him to leave Renault and that he has his eye on Ferrari. From what I can see, Fernando implies that he could go at the end of this season.

Here are two excerpts: "I'm at Renault because we won in 2005 and 2006 and I want to get back to that, if not this year then next year. But as I have a clause that allows me to leave, I will try to be in the best car possible, and it's clear that Ferrari is one of the best."

"It's early to talk about moves and rumours, but Massa has had two bad races with mistakes and that has sparked speculation - it's logical, but like I said, it's too early."

This will certainly set that (newly-liberated) cat among the pigeons of Maranello, Sao Paulo and even the odd village in Switzerland. 

Comments

[Jean]

This is well known by everybody from the end of last season. The reason why Fernando is at Renault is because it was the only team that presented him a 2 year contract with the possibility of leaving after 1 year. Ferrari wasn't an option for 2008, but for 2009 (2010 at the latest). A shorter contract was something that most of the teams didn't want to afford.

[Anon1234]

Ed, I don't think he let anything out of the bag.
It's a well known fact that he was after a one year contract for this season. Both Red Bull and BMW, who wanted to sign, him would not agree to this and after protracted negotiations with Renault they agreed the get out clause mentioned in the interview which is based on the car's competitiveness (witness Flavio's insistence over the last weeks that the car will be competitive by Barcelona, he's not trying to convince you and me).I'm sure that most people who followed F1 (and not just one particular driver) over the winter will have known this.
Where he goes in 09 is subject to debate but the sensible money points to Ferrari. I know there are many who could put forward a hundred and one reasons as to why it will never happen, only time will tell.

[D]

^

Well, that degree of appreciation and commitment to the team that gave him two World Drivers Championships and then did the Prodigal Son routine when he got ejected from McLaren is really going to earn him the help and support of Flav and the guys in the factory. Just what they want to hear.

The only person who'll be delighted is Nelsinho.

Makes you wonder if, come November, Flav will be rather wishing he'd held on to Heikki...

[ALEX B]

This is very interesting and there is no doubt that Alonso moving to Ferrari in the future is becoming more and more likely. Massa can't seem to get the job done at the moment, Montezemolo's Ferrari dream team is apparently Raikkonen paired with Alonso, and with the presence of Jean Todt fading (the man who was not keen on Alonso joining Ferrai) it would seem the doorway to the Prancing Horse is becoming wider for Alonso.

However, Kimi might be the man to block Fernando's entry to the Scuderia. If he can cement his place in the team, perhaps with the 2008 drivers title. It would then be extremely unfair on Kimi if Ferrari brought in Alonso as his team mate. In my view it is impossible to have two drivers in the same team both fighting for the championship, one must have an edge and lead the team. Otherwise a scenario similar to the one at Mclaren last season will occur.

Although, I do not believe Mclaren managed the situation between Alonso and Hamilton very well. I believe Ferrari could do a better job, but friction and tension would still manifest itself.

If Kimi wants to continue to fight for world championships in his racing career after 2008, (which I sincerely hope he does) and Massa fails to convince this season, I think a young German called Sebastien Vettel might be flying round a grand prix circuit in a red car sooner than many people think.

Now that really would set the cat among the pigeons in the odd Swiss village!

[JoseBelgica]

Ed,
I guess you took a long holidays ;-) everybody was aware of this since Alonso started negotiations. One year and an optional second. As well as everybody knew that Massa got extended in exchange of last race 1st Position (Brazil).
Do you remember Todt smiling to Alonso in Brazil Ferrari celebration? He has done this only once before, with Kimi... so next year or the year after... Alonso could end up dressing in red. By the way.. if Hamilton does not win this year tittle, he will never do it. Why ? Kimi and Alonso in the same team, both champions.. unstoppable!!

[javiervivaespania]

Yuhuuuuuuu!
Next season our Chapion will be in front of everyone, sitting on the hindquarters of the Ferrari's horse.
I knew it but it is good that the English are accepting this as a fact!!!

[jordi]

Ed Said: -Lewis has been generally well-advised, Fernando not and, sadly, he has paid a high price for that-. Well Ed, Happiness has no price, and one year amongst friends is always better than a day with your enemy. He is not going to win the championship with Renault this year, but he wouldn’t with Mclaren either,seen what we saw last year.

[jordi]

I do not think that having Kimi and Fernando in the same team (Ferrari) would be a problem. There is only one Ron Dennis.

[D]

^

Of course, the get-out clause over the competitiveness of this year's Renault is not the greatest of incentives for Fernando to drive it as fast as he can, if he wants to be released...

It's Fernando speculating about it publicly that works to his disadvantage - and underlines Ed's point that he is unwisely managed and advised. Kimi, to his credit, was wise enough not to do that.

To digress very slightly, I'd be interested to read other people's opinions on what would have happened if Kimi had remained at McLaren for 2007 (which was an option available to him) and had been joined by Fernando!

I would see it as a situation against which the Alonso/Hamilton drama would have seemed pale in comparison. (Although it would have at least spared Fernando the indignity of being out-paced by a rookie.)

Would it be impolite of me to suggest that as being perhaps worthy of discussion, Ed? It does have relevance to the suggestion of them being paired at Ferrari in 2009.

I have always presumed that it was the prospect of being teamed with Fernando at Mclaren that was the deciding factor in making Kimi press the button on his Ferrari option - and thereby confront Michael with the same dilemma.

And, faced with it again, would probably prompt Kimi to make the same decision as Michael did. The spectre of Fernando as a team-mate seems to follow Kimi around like a bad dream.

Unlike JoseBelgica, I can't think of a bigger favour Ferrari (or anyone else) could do for Lewis Hamilton in a McLaren than to pair Kimi and Fernando together in the same team.

That's certainly - from what they have both stated in the past - what Sir Frank and Flavio think.

^
ED > (In case it's not visible on your IBM ThinkLump's radar screen.)

There's a rather glaring typo in the title line that you might want to give Wapping a kick up the backside about.

[Txus G.R.]

That's my dream!

My favourite drivers (Kimi & Fernando) racing for my favourite team (Ferrari).

But I think that isn't going to happen.Not because the Ferrari team can't manage two champions in the same team.More because it will be very expensive.Around 30 millions € each per year...That's to much even for Ferrari.

I see more probably that they sign Vettel,or other young driver, first to replace Massa,and in two years Fernando to replace Kimmi.

Anyhow,I think Kimi & Fernando could play together in the same team, under the same rules,if they let them choose their own strategy for the races to try to beat each other on the track...

They seem to have a good relationship,off and on the track,between them based on mutual respect:

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=fERl4A5AdSk&feature=related

And both never had big problems so far with their team mates, excepting Fernado in the last season with "the golden boy"...

kimi's team mates:

Nick Heidfeld,(Sauber) 2001
David Coulthard,(McLaren) 2002-04
Juan Pablo Montoya,(McLaren) 2005 & '06
Felipe Massa,(Ferrari) 2007 & '08

Fernando's team mates:

Tarso Marques & Alex Yoong,(Minardi) 2001
Jarno Trulli,(Renault) 2003 & '04
Giancarlo Fisichella,(Renault) 2005 & '06
Lewis Hamilton,(McLaren) 2007
Nelson Piquet Jr.,(Renault) 2008

To "Luca Cordero di Montezemolo":

Please Mr.Montezemolo,make that dream come true!

Can you imagine beating McLaren,in both champs,with two drivers that they had first and didn't know how to manage?...That would be magnificent!

Yeah,very expensive,I know...But the face of Ron & "the golden boy" after beating them year after year would be priceless!

Please,think seriously about it.

Regards.

[Antonio Xixon but in UK]

Yes, I agree with the previous posts about the fact that everyone knew that Fernando was to stay in Renault only, and only only if he couldn't get to Ferrari. I don't know if the contract specify "Ferrari" or any other better team than Renault, but I think that it is a fair exchange: Fernando gets back to a team where more less everyone is happy with him, and to Pat S. his favorite race engineer, and more than that, friend. And Briatore a specialist in evolving cars, thing that Heikki (with all my respects) and Piquet Jr. were not going to do at such extent. If he stays, fine, and if not he has shown the way forward.

In respect of Alonso being compatible with Kimmi...well, Massa is enjoying the same opportunities, and it is his fault that he's not taking advantage of them. Last year he was the one who was meant to lead Ferrari after Michael's retirement...but he didn't stand to the challenge. If he would have done, maybe we'd be talking about another Kimmi-Felipe fallout...or maybe Ferrari has another way of solving this problems without hitting the auto-destruction button.

Anyway, surprised that you didn't know Ed.

[A Parker]

If I was managing any F1 team, I wouldn't touch Alonso with a barge-pole. He's always blabbing his mouth off and is utterly disloyal. Flavio went on and on about welcoming him back into the fold, only to be stabbed in the back. Gosh, imagine if Lewis did that to Ron Dennis - not only would he be compared to Hitler on these pages, the comparison would stretch to Genghis Khan and Stalin.

[A Parker]

I must say, Ed, you have a lot of tolerance allowing all these "know it all" posters on here: "this is well known by everybody", "it's a well known fact", "everybody was aware of this", etc etc. There's an element of na na na-na na in the tone of these posts. I bet you're quaking in your boots in fear of losing your job, eh?

[IDR]

Ed,

Don´t read the Marca.

[Joan]

Fernando Alonso has always had big trouble when having to deal with his team mates' success. Regardless of what the Spanish propaganda says, FA took really badly the start of 2005 season when Fisichella won in Australia. For those of you who can read Spanish I recommend looking at
http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2006/10/05/motor/1160042509.html
when FA was fussing Giancarlo one year later.

His real opponents have always been his team mates and his teams themselves. FA is well know for hurling helmets around.
With these credentials he is being offered the promised land of Ferrari by the "well-documented" an "influential" Spanish press.

I do not see FA as a real option for Ferrari, but I do not care anyway. I just find the Spartisan crew hillarious when it comes to write so seriously: "Ed, you must have been on holiday, everyone knows that FA is going to Ferrari next season" It looks like a bunch of five-year olds playing in the sand and building castles and saying: "You know, this castle will rule the Middle Earth".

For the time being I will focus on enjoying Hamilton, Räikkönen, Kovalainen, Kubica, Heidfeld, Massa and the rest of grown-ups.

FA might not be as bad team player as he tries to be, but he is definitively very badly advised, as Ed says: by the Spanish press, by his Spanish friends, by his manager, by the hooligans supporting him.

Ferrari would be in danger of becoming Spanish public enemy number 1 if FA happens not to win races with them: they will be certainly conspirating against him... because he is Spanish!!! And not Italian!!!! UUuuuuh!

It is interesting to see how victimism and the use of excuses sells so well in the Spanish society. If you do not have an excuse when you lose, you are a loser. That is why FA is so popular in Spain, whereas someone like Rafa Nadal is despised because he is always the first guy congratulating those who beat him. And he never has excuses, only praises for his opponents. Spain is basically the land of excuses and victimism. Ergo Salve Alonso!

[Felipe]

By the way Ed, are you going to make a comment about A. Parker making personal insults to poor Alonso? or is only to defend Hamilton?

By the way, A. Parker you are entitled to your opinion.

Though I think Flav knew what he was getting into, so not sure that's backstabbing. They were desperate to get him. He's still probably the best driver in Formula 1. We'll see if Hamilton has the overall abilities to better him.

[jordi]

A Parker, What are you going on about? If there is a clause allowing him to leave in his contract, that contract has been signed by both, Fernando and Briatore, so no back stabbing here I'm afraid.

Talking about back stabbing and hamilton, you wonder what would happen if Hamilton did something like that, Well Mr A Parker, He did, at Hungary qualifying. Here is what Ed wrote as the number one most dramatic moment of 2007.

-Ron Dennis, the team principal, tried to offer an explanation for what became known as “pitlane-gate” but few were convinced. Hamilton did not even turn up — something unheard of in McLaren — while Alonso sat in silence eating a pear with single-minded ferocity. Eventually after Dennis had been called away to the stewards, Hamilton appeared and contradicted almost everything his boss had been saying-.

That was a rookie F1 driver that didn’t win anything yet, back stabbing his mentor and boss for the last 10 years.

[Johnny P-)]

As usual, some anti-FA (how disturbing is this plain idea) bloggers seem to know exactly what is in FA's mind. How well may they know exactly what he is actually in for.

As some other Spanish bloggers know, it was notorious that FA has just signed a two-year contract with an option to decide what to do after the first season.

As far as I am aware of, while MM impeded him to reach an agreement with whatever team he wanted by managing FA's timing until RD was sure he was not able to head for Ferrari, BMW or Toyota. This way, RD forced the current status for just one year, while FA felt happy to be back home and out of hell for the next season.

As (maybe) the most professional driver in the paddock, I strongly disagree from those comments that may show wicked intentions from FA.

Instead, I feel both parts are committed to develop the car to it's best, while trying to offer FA a competitive platform for 2009. As this year's season evolves, they will make a decision on what to do for next season. What I'm sure is that there will be business, tech, sport and emotional ingredients influencing both parts' criteria.

Ed, as a correspondent you should be able to carve the backyards deep enough to reveal some more useful info, instead of "hiding your hand after throwing the stone".

Ed, as it's my first post this season, I will tell you: there is a bouncing car that reveals your favoritism, but worst of all, who you deprecate too.

But don't worry, we Fernando's fans know you welcome rivals at this blog.

[antton]

dont you all think that it is too early to especulate about those things?

I think it is normal to try to have a contract always open to leave for a better team... that´s the condition that any driver will dream to have... same as we have or would like to have in our own companies...

in the other hand the conditions appeared to be clear for the two sides of the contract so there is no espace for lies or treason... only benefits and opportunities for the future...

Kimi might get the 2008 champ. and then it will be proeved that they do not need another golden boy in Ferrari. Also have to see where Renault´s car development is at the end of the season...

all drivers (not only alonso) will be looking for their best performance at the end of the season that will open the best team´s doors... this news is not a big deal.

[Johnny P-)]

Please Mr. Parker, Would you please be more specific prior to criticize this man further on?

And please, get better and deeper information before putting us to blame with your prejudice born from your ignorance.

[Melanie]

Every driver on the grid wants the best car that is noting new.

But Alonso at Ferrari? That is a bit more complicated, there is a lot of the inner workings in any team that we as the fans simply don't understand.

Alonso has driven with teams like Renault and Maclaren, both of these teams have extensive driver programs to help the driver. However Ferrari doesn't have any such programs, the driver is just expected to cope by himself. The question is would Alonso be able to cope and work like that? For someone like Kimi it is absolutely perfect because Kimi likes to do his own thing, which is one of the reasons that he finds life at Ferrari much more to his liking.

Then you have the mechanics and engineers, Kimi currently uses the same team that Schumi used, how will Alonso feel about using Massa's team? (Ferrari will not change this even Michael himself had to use Massa's team when he and Kimi recently tested together.)

Which bring me to my next point, few people have really appreciated the way Kimi has settled himself within the team. Many people seems to forget that he properly had one of the toughest jobs last year, he had to fill Michael's shoes. Micheal is still very much apart of the team, will Alonso like it if he constantly has to work with Michael do debriefs and testing with Michael, and to be compared to Michael, or to have Michael looking over his shoulders? Like I said most people doesn't notice it but Kimi has actually been handling these things very well, (so well in fact that people doesn't even notice it). Kimi has a maturity and mental strength about him that is very hard to replicate or to find in F1 these days. He just makes things look easy, that isn't necessarily the case in reality.

By the time Alonso joins Ferrari it will be Kimi's third year in the team, he might even be a two times world champion by then. But even if he isn't, Kimi is already very well liked and loved by the team and even Italy for that matter. Kimi will be very used to team, so it is not inconceivable that Alonso might lose to him especially in the first year, will Alonso be able to accept that?

Kimi of course wouldn't care if Alonso is his teammate, he has even recently come out and said that. But it is because Kimi doesn't care what his teammate does, he basically ignore them. For someone like Alonso that might be frustrating, Alonso likes to play mind games but if someone just ignores you it is usually much more frustrating then someone who plays along. Which I suspect is also what is troubling Massa at this stage, and it is exactly the same thing that happened between Kimi and Montoya.

Kimi has stated many times recently that he enjoys F1 much more then he ever has, and he is allowed to do anything he pleases, and he can renew his contract at any time and he has said that he might very well do so. Why would he leave if he is winning and can do anything he pleases?

A kimi and Alonso partnership sound good and exciting, as a F1 fan I wouldn't mind to see it. It would be like the Prost and Senna partnership of modern F1. But out of practical reasons I can also see why Ferrari would think twice about it.

[YAMI]

Ron Dennis says he has rebuilt Kovalainen!?
This guy really thinks he's God almighty!

[Anon (original)]

I'm sure that Alonso and Kimi in one team would be an unstopabke combination.

Last year we saw Kimi be outpaced by Massa. they were in a struggle and were much more closely matched than Alonso and Lewis. I remember that for sixc races, they would constantly alternate positions in the championship. One day Massa would be on top, the other it would be Kimi. Kimi had to face the youngster whose manager's father was the team boss. He had to face the guy who was taking counsels from Michael Schumacher. He really had a handful-n and there were never any problems. Kimi is soft spoken and a hard worker. Alonso in a sense is the same thing. He did not rant a lot at McClaren, especially in comparison to Dennis. Alonso and Kimi would get along fine. they would have a professional relationship.

And Lewis would never be able to get CLOSE to them.

What would be truly ineresting is to see who would come out on top between Kimi and Fernando. kimi has speed, but Fernando is a great setup artist and has wonderful overtaking skills.

As to the point in actually saying what he said... well, in a sense, Renault know that they have a horrible car and that part of the contract says that they must provide him with a good one. Briatore is not naive and knows not to take such things personally. And to be honest, Briatore might like it. At least Alonso has a goal to fight for this season. he must prove himself worthy of a Ferrari seat, which he has done so far. Any damage to his repuation will soon be fixed. And that comment is probably making Massa trembling in his boots.

Which brings us to Massa. To be honest, I can see Montezemolo fuming over the fact that Massa is still in the team. Raikkonen-Alonso sounds so muuch more concrete and unstoppable than Raikonen-Massa. It just is that way. Massa will need to jump back out to the forefront. He can do it- he came back pretty severely last time (6th, 5th, 1st, 1st, 3rd,). But now the ante is so big, can he pull it again? And Kimi seems so enamourously invincible after his rough start..

If I were Ron Dennis or Lewis, I would tremble at the thought of Fernando in a Ferrari with Kimi. Even if you believe that Lewis is better than both of them, will Heikki actually be good enough to hold them off in the constructors? I don't think so. And I think that both Kimi and Fernando are better drivers. And I think I'll stop talking now.

[Nadie]

Please, post a link to the interview in its complete original version, so we the spanish speakers may judge by ourselves.

[IDR]

"I'm sure that Alonso and Kimi in one team would be an unstopabke combination."

Yeah, Anon(original) and very expensive too!

I'm afraid that if somebody ask Montezemolo for that combination, his reaction should be more less the same than Steve Balmer had when he was asked about the launch of the iPhone, after the keynote of 2007 MAC event.

You can watch it:

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=C5oGaZIKYvo

60 M$, yearly?

[CHIUNDA]

For the pro-Alonso fans (JonnyB, Jordi et al) whining about A Parker, you are just getting from A Parker what you dish out - It gives a balanced feeling to the vitriol we receive against Lewis day in day out. You asked for it guys so stop throwing tantrums.

[Juan]

No one here mentions the fact of having to pay about 15 million euro if FA wants to get free of his contract for 2009.

Joan, like all anti-Spain-guys, is not with Hamilton or Heidfeld or someone else. It´s just poor anti-spanish victivism, having to show his deep hate/frustation against FA. Poor of you, guy.

Kimi said in a past interview it´d no problem having Alonso as teammate. These 2 guys are friends and I dont think Alonso will pray for being first pilot, when having a 2-world-champion (he will win this year, too) near to him. Same opportunities for both and let´s race.

Sorry, I doubt Hamilton will never ever touch the championship. At least for 3/4/5 years.

[B Cave]

Joan, excellent well researched and thought out post. Couldn't put it better myself.

[B Cave]

Chiunda, re. your comments about A Parker, I think Alonso's frothing at the mouth fans can't accept any criticism about their extremely flawed hero and only want this as a forum for Hamilton hatred. It's a shame but maybe that's all they get in Spain so they're not used to people who like and defend Hamilton. I saw this on the BBC 606 forum talking about Hamilton haters and thought it very apt:

"These guy's days seem to basically go:

1. Wake up
2. Start article saying Hamilton can't drive/is thick/is dangerous/is a cheat etc etc
3. Go to bed
4. Rinse, repeat.

[john o'doe]

You guys spent all of last season speculating about where FA was going in 2008. Are you really going to spend all of this season slavering over where he's going next?

[Nadie]

I'm going to quote some guy in f1-fanatic who read the original version of the interview:
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2008/03/25/flavio-briatores-risky-gamble-on-fernando-alonso-may-not-pay-off/

I haven't read for myself, but it clearly smells like sensationalistic crap. I think you, Ed, are not being fair with Fernando despite you pretended the opposite in your last post.

#
7 cs 25 March 2008 at 8:47 pm

I’m with Santiago, I’m quite surprising how the BBC has written the article in particular the title. I also read the original on Sunday and it was consistent with all the interviews that Alonso has given since winter testing (its going to be hard to get into Q3, we won’t get podiums, I’m going to fight for every point but the reallity is the car is not competitive, the team is doing what it can etc..), which I’ve always assumed to be an attempt on his part to manage the expectations of his diehard fans (not whining which I guess is the preferred interpretation for many).
The quote on Ferrari was an answer to a direct question from the reporter, it was not a case of Alonso stirring up trouble and putting pressure on Massa which seems to be how its been interpreted on the internets.
As to him leaving at the end of the season, I think everybody knew that.
The other thing that surprises me is why this is news or reportable now when its what he’s been saying it for some time. Far be it from me to be cynical, but is it an attempt to distract what could be perceived as a bad weekend for Hamilton by bringing out the bogeyman?

[Felipe]

Hi Joan, I'm actually offended personally by your comments. Don't know what your issues are, but you have insulted a lot of people that have done nothing to you. Actually a whole nation based on the ramblings of some misguided spaniards.

By the way, I also don't think Alonso will go to Ferrari. Why would they risk ruining a team. Massa might not be good, but that's perfect for them. They have a 1 and 2 driver right now, and it's probably the best strategy. Massa will improve, it's only been two races. Also, I think Alonso grew up a hell of a lot last year, the hard way. The only way that Alonso will go is if Ferarri have problems and don't win the title.

Also Ed, I do agree with the spanish bashers, people have over reacting to this article. And though I think that sometimes your articles are a bit sensationalist, you haven't yet reached the standards of Marca and As, and print every rumour you hear or invent. Keep it like that!!!!

Good luck, I think you'll need it.

[Carlos. S.]

I would like to add one point to Joan's comment.

Dear Joan,

Victimism is a behaviour of nationalists inside Spain, that "see red" when they have to pronounce the word "España" (may they be Catalán, Basque or Galician).

In fact, the media-situation has not changed for this season. Some "correspondents" making their personal campaigns, ignoring a lot of facts and simply looking for points of Attack - And a crowd of Anti-Alonso-hools, clapping hands at each of this attacks.

- I am an Alonso-Fan
- I am happy with Alonso at Renault allthough I would have prefered to see him at BMW (specially regarding to Norbert Haug from Mercedes)
- I did not and do not expect Alonso to win the title this season.
- I am spanish/español and have no problem with other nationalities, but problems with idiots that talk about other nationalities in general.
- I don't like Lewis Hamilton as a person, nor do I like Ron Dennis.
- I have no special preference for Ferrari and if Massa has problems there, it is an internal problem of Ferrari.
- I want to see Fernando Alonso fighting for some race-win this season, and see him fighting for the title next season. At Renault !!!

So, where is the victimism you accuse spanyards to have?

[JoseBelgica]

TO PARKER:
Your comment:

"I must say, Ed, you have a lot of tolerance allowing all these "know it all" posters on here: "this is well known by everybody", "it's a well known fact", "everybody was aware of this", etc etc. There's an element of na na na-na na in the tone of these posts. I bet you're quaking in your boots in fear of losing your job, eh? "

It is not tolerance, it is freedom. That is what this blog is all about. Even if you do not like others opinions, it is nice to see that not everybody thinks alike. :-)

The fact is that in Spain all the newspapers were talking about this move for a long time, before Alonso joint Renault. Alonso has a one year contract with Renault with one more year option. Fair enough.

To Joan:
As always you get out of the post matter and start criticizing the whole Spain. Well done, you took on popular Spanish man and you reflect his behaviour with attitude of a whole country. Is this not generalizing? You mentioned if Alonso wouldn't win a race with Ferrari we will be taking about conspiracy against Spain.. are you serious? If you are frustrated about the fact that Alonso has an Spanish flag on his helmet (your country ? isn't) please do not take it against him.. he just feel Spanish that's all. Would you be happy if he adds the Catalan flag? (no offense either)

[D]

^

This has been a marvellous debate with some great contributions: I’m anxious not to de-stabilise it.

I would, though, just like to remind everybody what ultimately happened the last time somebody put two prize bulls in the same field. It all ended in disaster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0IigAg00xY

It was probably the memory of that nightmare at Suzuka in 1989, and the prospect of again seeing double glory turned to dust, that was running through Ron Dennis’ mind when he ordered a sulky and demanding Lewis Hamilton to curb his selfish ambition and back off in the closing stages of the Monaco Grand Prix last year while Fernando Alonso was delivering the goods in a flawless performance.

Whatever their great talent as racing drivers, I had personally lost all respect for either of them as men by the end of the season.

To me, the spectacle of a racing driver switching teams four times in four years, in pursuit of an elusive prize, conjures up the vision of a sucker playing the three-card trick.

Or, perhaps more kindly, that of a twice-divorced man eyeing up a fourth wife on the second night of his third honeymoon.

Michael Schumacher achieved what he did by digging in at Ferrari and weathering his way unfalteringly through all the ups and downs that occurred over eleven years. Ferrari gave him more than a few serious dogs to drive but he never wavered in his commitment nor once voiced a word of criticism of the team in public. For that he earned my tremendous respect. And that of many others.

Much as I agree with most of what Joan argues so cogently, I believe that Fernando Alonso’s real enemy is the demons that torture him within and manifest themselves in the form of paranoia when provoked by adversity or a fast team-mate.

What Fernando really needs most of all is the loving care of a clinical psychiatrist as part of his personal team. (And that’s not a criticism of the poor guy - he’s a man who needs some serious help with a condition that’s not his fault. We all have our frailties and the cauldron of Formula One exposes them and tests them to destruction.)

It is my personal belief that Flavio Briatore understands better than any other team principal how to manage the things that eat away at Fernando from within and that Briatore (for as long as he continues himself - which is another factor) will give Fernando more of a comfort-zone than any other team will afford him. That is what Fernando needs if he is to deliver his impressive best.

To that end, Fernando would be best advised to direct his attentions towards establishing the degree of long-term financial commitment to Formula One that Renault has and then making best use of what it can offer him, rather than being seduced by the glamour of a lady whose temperament he may not be able to handle himself.

If he does not, he may find that his third divorce proves even less wise, and more damaging, than his first two.

Sometimes it’s best to settle for what you’ve got and invest in its potential.

[Pinaster]

No problem, A Parker, you have the same chances of managing an F1 team, than a drunken chimpanzee directing the National Museum of Science and Industry, and the same chances of getting close to FA than Police Chief Clancy Wiggum to Osama bin Laden.

[CHIUNDA]

Autosport.com quotes Massa thus:

"We've had since the end of last season to get used to driving without electronic aids and, as you have seen in the two races so far, it does seem to have provoked more incidents, spins, and off-track excursions.

"It's made life harder than before, but I don't think that was the reason I went off the track last Sunday. I had different problems not linked to traction control."

So what is Massa not telling us? If Ferrari say it was not the car and Massa says it was not traction control, could team orders have already come in and a big red button punched to spin the hapless Brazilian? Are we seeing Schumacher-Barrichello reincarnated? If Number 1; Number 2 driver policy is still alive in Ferrari, i surely want Alonso in Ferrari with Kimi in 2009 - that would just be the best combination for McLaren.

[javiervivaespania]

Ed, we should all relax watching this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZA628N0RxI&eurl
In fact, it would be nice if you write your next post on this subject.

[JoseBelgica]

Hello Ed,

Why can't we post in ?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article3621662.ece

I have noticed that I can only make posts on the Blog but not on the article itself?

Any reason? So far I think I has been polite ?

[jordi]

What's all the fuss about?

Alonso and Renault have a contract, and Fernando said that he can leave at the end of the year, so what?

Both, Alonso and Briatore sign this contract, so what's your problem guys?

If Fernando said, I want to go to Force India, hey! tha's news, but he said he wants to drive the best car. Who wouldn't?

What I don't get is how the Hamilton fanatics dare to talk about back stabbing.

Back stabbing is when at Monaco (27-05-07) A few laps from the end, the team ordered both drivers to go below 19.000 r.p.m. L. Hamilton, refused to obey his team and tried to overtake his companion. Not succeeding in doing so, he complained to the FIA and the British Media.

Back stabbing is also to denounce your own team mate to FIA, at Hungary. Consequently, Alonso lost 5 positions on the starting grid,following the application of an inexistent rule,and McLaren also lost its constructor points earned during this race. (Hamilton apologized after, and that makes him Mr. Nice)

or when a team mate says that he wants the other team mate out of the team, as Hamilton did last year. Remember that? Now, that's back stabbing!

-September 30 2007
Current championship leader Lewis Hamilton has stated to the press that he wishes his current McLaren team mate to leave McLaren at the end of the 2007 season-http://www.f1network.net/main/s135/st121460.htm

To Joan: victimism and the use of excuses? Wasn't Hamilton crying about the pit stop that cost him 10 seconds? Blaming his mechanics but forgot to mention his mistake after Q3 that cost him 5 positions on the grid, (did he had time for a beer there?) How do you think his mechanics felt about that?

BTW: Where is Fisichella now?

[ASTURIAN]

Joan This is a blog about F1 if you want to insult Spain just because you are Catalan go out and start burning pictures of the king and stop intruducing politc shit in an sport blog. "Spain is basically the land of excuses and victimism." Do you really think this is something you can write in a british blog of F1?

[ELCROWLEY]

If Alonso could, he could race for free in Ferrari. Money is NOTHING for Alonso. He just wants to race. He declined a BMW offer last year because his future partner will be a german guy (Heidfeld) and he'd be at a german team. Bad combinaton for a foreigner seeing what happened with Macca.

Guys, Alonso HAS A DEAL WITH FERRARI FOR 2009. I keep it from last october.

[D]

^

Jolly good! We've done racism, we've done nationalism (to death), we've touched on ageism and skirted religion. So now let's do sexism and start a Spanish civil war!

Here's what my taxi driver had to say about it all, this afternoon:

"It’s those Xenophobians who are causing all the trouble here, in my opinion. We shouldn’t have let them in, should we? Send them all back home where they belong, I say.

Have you ever been to that Xenophobia? Went there with the wife, last year - had to go somewhere where you pay for everything in cash, if you know what I mean. What a dump!

Stayed in the capital - Wankk. The sewage doesn’t work: turn off the main drag and there’s raw prejudice running through the streets. Hotel was a pit, too. Asked for a proper English breakfast ‘cos I wanted to watch the Grand Prix on telly and they brought me a Paella with mushy peas and chips, topped with Goats Testicles and covered in HP sauce.

Had one of them Xenophobians in the back of my cab, last week, too. All he could talk about was that racing driver of theirs, Tiger Magic or whatever his name is. Went on about it till he was blue in the face, he did - all the way from Heathrow to Shepherds Bush (via St. Paul’s Cathedral - I wanted to show him the sights, if you get my drift).

When he gets out, he wants to pay me in that Funny Money of theirs - half a million Bigots to the pound, or whatever. Huge banknotes printed on rubbish paper - got a goat on one side and a picture of General Whatsisname on the other - and the coins are triangular with a hole in the middle.

Well, I wasn’t having any of that, was I? Took him straight round (well, not exactly straight, of course - thought I'd show him the Thames Barrier and the three branches of Harrods on the way) to the Embassy and told him to get it sorted while I left the meter running. Came out half an hour later waving their bloody flag. That’s got a goat on it as well. Then he wanted me to take him to Silverstone! I ask you.

Just hope that Tiger Magic doesn’t win any more bloody races. Have you heard their ruddy National Anthem? I thought the Finnish one was bad enough but “Xenophobia The Mighty” is even more dire and it’s so long it makes that Ferrari anthem seem like like a ringtone.

Bring back Michael Schumacher, I say. He may be a kraut but he’d make this lot look like a bunch of amateurs. Knows how to park, too.

Thanks, chief: that’ll be 15 quid. Don’t need a receipt, do you."

http://www.difesa.it/NR/rdonlyres/AC4EF0E2-4D53-430E-B6A6-8A52BC40E7E2/0/italy.mp3

[jordi]

D, you crack me up!! You lucky guy! How did you manage to get the same taxi driver than Ed??

[jlk]

What a disappointment! Not one mention of "racism" or "xenophobia" until the end at which time those two incredibly inappropriate words pop up again. Oh well, at least it was "tongue in cheek".

For my two cents Kimi is the fastest guy in F1 and he probably could stand having FA as mate but not vice versa. Not much seems to bother him anyway so maybe he is the perfect partner for a volatile hyper-talent like FA.

I also don't understand all the venom against Hamilton. Seems like a nice kid to me. And I don't see how his actions are any worse than FA's petulant holdup in Hungary or the (alleged)attempted blackmail of his boss. Both guys are super- focused competitors so why the double standard?
JLK

[Anon (original)]

To IDR: Good point about the price, but I think that when you're Ferrari and you're paying Massa, paying Alonso won't e out of you reach. In other words, I think they could pay both. And I think it would be worth it. They don't want Alonso ending up at BMW, Williams, or an improved Renault.

[D]

^

It's worth pointing out, to those who want to go for Ed's jugular on this, that the English language version of the story was sourced from the news agency Associated Press in Madrid.

The Times and just about every other English - and English language around the world - newspaper printed exactly the same story in pretty much exactly the same words.

http://article.wn.com/view/2008/03/26/Alonso_linked_with_move_to_Ferrari_for_2009/

If something got lost in translation, it is to Associated Press and not to The Times (nor Ed) that people should direct their anger.

Handy though it would be, it's not part of the brief of the Motor Racing Correspondent of The Times that he has to be able to speak Spanish (nor German, nor French, nor Italian, nor Polish, nor Finnish, nor Brazilian Portuguese, nor Japanese).

Particularly with only one Spaniard on the grid and - more importantly - no Spanish-based constructors nor engine builders in Formula One.

Despite all the remarkable amount of noise that gets made on here, Spanish involvement in Formula One is extremely marginal - and without Fernando Alonso (and the occasional contribution by Pedro de la Rosa) it would be none whatsoever.

The population of Finland is about a tenth the size of Spain's but its contribution to Formula One (and rallying) has been about ten times greater than Spain's.

But Finns do not pile on to here and try to drown out everybody else whenever somebody takes a swipe at Kimi Raikkonen.

These are points that Spaniards would do well to consider before sounding off endlessly and vociferously in English newspapers.

The fact of the matter is that most people outside Spain don't give a toss about Fernando Alonso and his largely self-inflicted problems.

(And I'm sure I'm not the only Briton who doesn't give a toss about Lewis Hamilton's.)

[Verbal]

For your own information Ed is not a Spanish speaker and it is clear when you read the original interview in Spanish Alonso has been misquoted and the translation manipulated to make a story that did not exist. Ed has previously (October 2007) apologised for mistakes made by his translator and corrected by a reader here, maybe we can expect another apology
If Alonso already has a contract with Ferrari then whats the relevence of Massa's performance ?
Secondly Ed ...how many race cars do Ferrari have next year 4 ...5 ??? Only in Malaysia it was Vettel going to Ferrari, now Alonso is also going Kimi and Massa have contracts for next year and quote my words simetime during this year Hamilton will also be linked to Ferrari. The person and presure at Ferrari is the new principal he has under performed so far.

LETS HAVE MORE INTELIGENT AND FACT BASED DEBATE

[D]

^

Verbal makes a good point.

What's clearly going to happen is that Jean Todt is going to take over the presidency of the FIA from Mad Max.

"Napoleon", who, usefully, is French, will then bring about some much-needed changes at the FIA and streamline the whole organisation - selling the Place de la Concorde premises to Bernie so that his wife and daughters can use it as a pied-a-terre when they go shopping in Paris - and shifting the whole FIA operation to Maranello, where it can be run out of the Press Office at Ferrari.

Ron, Sir Frank and Flavio will be pensioned-off: Stefano will be promoted to vice-chairman of Ferrari; Mario T will be reminded of his Italian ancestry and be put in charge of running Ferrari's racing division.

This will enable Ferrari to run ten cars - some of which will incorporate remote control of key functions to deal with problematical drivers who forget what they are being paid to do, and by whom.

Ferrari sales will rocket and this will fund the additional running costs - allied to the fact that drivers will be told that if they can't get by on $1m a year they can compete on their own bicycles.

Bernie will sell his Formula One television show to Silvio Berlusconi after negotiating a contract under which Tamara E can run it without being obliged to take her clothes off. He will then buy the Premier League and get Michael Schumacher installed as President of FIFA.

It's all pretty obvious when you think about it.