Is Fernando Alonso for real?

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Originally Posted by janneppi

race aficionado, I heard that comment in connection with Alonso after driving last years Macca.

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thanks janneppi.
If I recall correctly FA was not allowed to get into a MacCar after contract responsibilities with Renault - or something like that . . . . the fact is that he had to wait a while before he was allowed into one.
So did he drive a Mac that was under development or did he drive an old version that happened to be in the garage?

I just ask this because I would like to believe that FA had a lot to add in terms of making the car what it is today. Just by listening to him talk to the engineers and thank them at the end of the race, it is obvious that he is involved and aware of all the hard work in setups and all.

:s mokin:

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Originally Posted by Mark

It's the nature of rule changes that quite often teams have to take a best guess as to how to adapt to them, some teams will get it right i.e. McLaren, some teams will get it horribly wrong, i.e. Honda.

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So a team with no bridgestone experience over the last 6 years, benefitted more than all other teams, including the ones that had been on bridgestone for years?

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Originally Posted by race aficionado

thanks janneppi.
If I recall correctly FA was not allowed to get into a MacCar after contract responsibilities with Renault - or something like that . . . . the fact is that he had to wait a while before he was allowed into one.
So did he drive a Mac that was under development or did he drive an old version that happened to be in the garage?

I just ask this because I would like to believe that FA had a lot to add in terms of making the car what it is today. Just by listening to him talk to the engineers and thank them at the end of the race, it is obvious that he is involved and aware of all the hard work in setups and all.

:s mokin:

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If I recall correctly it was related to another comment, he supposedly made. When he first arrived to McLaren he was under contractual limitations from Renault so he could not drive the car. It seems he tried the simulator machine and he said to the engineers he needed a better machine because that one was completely rubbish. After driving the 2006 car in December he talked to the engineers again and said that the simulator was perfect it was the car which was entirely wrong, and he then said "no wonder Kimi couldn't beat me on this"

yes

Alonso is a great driver, no doubt. But I think anyone who says he is the reason the car is so good is living in a fantasy world. My guess is that kimi had a lot more to do with the car than Alonso. I am sure Kimi told them what was wrong with the old car which would have influenced the design of the new car.

Maybe you're the one who live in a fantasy world.

After Malaysian GP finished, Alonso had a two and a half hours meeting with the engineers, to talk about the race, the recent improvements (how the new front wing did), the weakest points, and how all this would be facing Bahrain. By the time he left Sepang, Kimi (is an example) had left almost two hours before.

In words of Martin Whitmarsh, his dedication to the team has been an inspiration to everyone in McLaren. They were simply not used to this level of feedback from their recent drivers.

That's what right now they're missing in Renault.

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Originally Posted by raphael123

What dirty tactics?

And Hamilton was damn quick until he got infront of the Ferrari? You mean the first corner? Before that, Hamilton was nearly 1sec slower than Alonso in qualifying. Or do you expect Hamilton to be at Alonso's level after 1 GP race experience?

And were you expecting Hamilton to say 'I don't want to win' after finishing second? I just think it's Hamilton saying what he's done even before Oz, he wants to win races. No one else 'translated' it quite the way you have.

The only thing I agree is when Hamilton said he forced Massa into a mistake was quite arrogant. However I'd rather have him say that, than be all politically correct. We need a character, I hope McLaren let him show us his personality, not just his racing talent.

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What dirty tactics? Ok here we go, on Hamilton's first stint with Massa and Kimi on his tail, Hamilton was dropping almost a sec. a lap to Alonso. After the first round of pit stops, Kimi came out about 10 sec back of Hamilton, on that stint Hamilton was actually faster then Alonso clawing back to I believe less then 8 secs to Alonso. After the last set of stops, After Hamilton cleared the Honda's he was about 20 secs back of Alonso, but cut it to about 17 after he was pushed by Kimi. So there is no way your gonna convince me that Hamilton was almost a sec a lap slower then Alonso in the first stint without being told to hold up the ferraris (Hamilton did set fast lap of the race remember...)

And Ron Dennis almost confirmed as much after the race anyways with:

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team boss Ron Dennis' hints to reporters after the race that both Alonso and Hamilton contributed "tactically" to the victory
http://www.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlin...09161844.shtml

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Yes I know Haug denies it in that story, but who would believe that when lap time say otherwise, and Ron has other things to say:

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“He was very, very committed and clean, and of course withstanding the pressure of a charging Kimi. He could have gone quicker, but the key is to finish and get the best result you can, and it’s not about by how much.

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/36560/

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And As I suggested, the only way I can imagine he could have forced anyone to make a mistake would be to drive a tad slower, and then speed up so that Massa couldn't get back to the racing line. And I would also like to note that Hamilton had a pretty good wheel lock up when Masse flew by and off track...

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Originally Posted by PSfan

What dirty tactics? Ok here we go, on Hamilton's first stint with Massa and Kimi on his tail, Hamilton was dropping almost a sec. a lap to Alonso. After the first round of pit stops, Kimi came out about 10 sec back of Hamilton, on that stint Hamilton was actually faster then Alonso clawing back to I believe less then 8 secs to Alonso. After the last set of stops, After Hamilton cleared the Honda's he was about 20 secs back of Alonso, but cut it to about 17 after he was pushed by Kimi. So there is no way your gonna convince me that Hamilton was almost a sec a lap slower then Alonso in the first stint without being told to hold up the ferraris (Hamilton did set fast lap of the race remember...)

And Ron Dennis almost confirmed as much after the race anyways with:



Yes I know Haug denies it in that story, but who would believe that when lap time say otherwise, and Ron has other things to say:



And As I suggested, the only way I can imagine he could have forced anyone to make a mistake would be to drive a tad slower, and then speed up so that Massa couldn't get back to the racing line. And I would also like to note that Hamilton had a pretty good wheel lock up when Masse flew by and off track...

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I concur with all your points, however I don't see the "dirty tactics". Hamilton was driving a smart race for himself and Mclaren, wouldn't you say?

McLaren has finally made a reliable AND quick car, like in 1998. I have to say though that last year I was thinking that Alonso is absolutely stunning driver. Now he has problems against a ROOKIE. So he is not that special after all. However talented Hamilton is, with Alonsos supposed greatness, there should be more difference between them. But there is not.

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Originally Posted by Shalafi

McLaren has finally made a reliable AND quick car, like in 1998. I have to say though that last year I was thinking that Alonso is absolutely stunning driver. Now he has problems against a ROOKIE. So he is not that special after all. However talented Hamilton is, with Alonsos supposed greatness, there should be more difference between them. But there is not.

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I'm not so sure. Hamilton has had quite the upbringing in the ranks of open wheelers. He's a very experienced multi-champion.