Hamilton Vs. Alonso, Had Enough Yet?
Written by George Katinger · October 14, 2007
With less than a week to go to the final race of the 2007 F1 season I promised myself
to stay out of any more Hamilton-Alonso-Dennis commentary. So much for good intentions.
There have been some withering comments in our F1 forum over the FIA’s “extra” scrutineering of the McLaren team, all in the effort to ensure poor, abused, Fernando Alonso is done right for the race weekend. The latest pronouncement from Hamilton makes me ill. He intends to visit the grave of Ayerton Senna, to pay his respects. Of course he won’t do it until after the race. So why announce it now? A blatant suck up to the Brazilian press and fans. As a loyal and I think objective fan of team McLaren, I am at my wits end over the entire gamut of team travails foisted upon us by the boys from Woking. And I’m not even focusing on the “Stepney-gate” hoopla.
It’s all Lewis and Fernando 24-7. I have been quick to defend Alonso and slow in coming to grips with the manipulative Hamilton Duo of father and son. After all, this is the cr
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Let me preface my comments by saying that I am a F-1 fan, but I enjoy all the various forms of automotive competition. That said, both Alonso and Hamilton have done a tremendous job this year, but how many races has Kimi won? (Can eitherMalaren pilot claim as many?) And crownng the points winner the “best driver in the world” may be a bit pompous, considering that there are two of those F-1 boys trying the good ole boys from NASCAR, and not doing all that great. I think maybe the best open wheel driver may be more appropriate. And what about Bernie and his attitude towards an American GP. He thinks the US isn’t a market worth pursueing, but Turkey or Hungary is? If that is the case, why are so many internantional drivers coming here? The good news is that he is old, and maybe will die soon, and someone with an entrepenural attitude will take over.
Sorry this is so off the subject, but the US needs to have a GP race, maybe at a venue where one can actually see the race. (Not Indy)
I hope I have my facts at least close to reality, as it is late, and I am tired and old.
George, that was funny. Rooting for a Ferrari to win. LOL
I was thinking just the opposite, I hope Alonso wins it. Has the universe turned upside down? Pretty soon we’ll both start rooting for Villanova in nascar. NOT!!!
Sorry mo, there is a method to my madness. A Raikkonen win would take away any incentive for Ferrari to hire Alonso, wouldn’t it?
He has become a pariah (in my mind anyway) with no place in the series. Let him count his money and go home.
I too am bored with the whole thing. As for Alonso, if he did not have the brains to demand - as Schui would have in the contract - #1 status that he craves, then he can shut up. I am astounded that a double WC finds it difficult to compete with a rookie team mate in equal gear. His bitching that he has been the victim of a McLaren conspiracy has lost him my respect.
Lewis & his Dad have shown shrewd, conniving & cynical handling of the Brit press. However!!! Hamilton Sr & Jr are in for a nasty surprise, Fleet St is notorious for building up a hero & then crucifying him. Look at Brit press darlings Mansell & Hill, one day they were the epitome of everything British & then next day they were painted as pariahs. If Lewis takes the WC for 07 I guarantee by June 08 the knives will be drawn & his father will be crying “Don’t pick on my lad” I could even see him playing the race card.
07 has been a great year of racing tainted by the above b/s & the appalling handling of the Stepneygate saga by the FIA. Throw in Ferrari’s bitching from the sidelines with every backdoor appeal they could muster & F1 has shot itself in the foot. While Max can’t be blamed for the Hamilton/Alonso feud he is accountable for all the shortfalls in the governance of the sport this season.
I think that all blame falls squarely on RD shoulders. He should have handled Hamilton’s rise a bit better without alienating FA. However, FA should have handled it better by doing less bitching and complaining. The reality is that no team today can afford to have two top drivers. One more thing for all FA haters out there, at least he has not involved his family nor he resorted to snake tactics as LH has done.
It’s Rons fault for being soo cough fair…
http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,18954,3213_2801625,00.html
Somebody is going out on a limb…
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=33186
It might take next year to prove the critics right or wrong. With Alonso on a different team than LH we will see even better racing than this year, and more fair. Only after a move to a different team and a lack luster year will I be slamming Fernado as the inferrior driver. I pitty his replacement.
It’s the car - stupid!
Put fernando in a Toyota and he sucks as bad as shumi jr. Same with hamilton.
As for NASCAR, put montoya in Hendrucks and he would beat the pants off the pansies they have now (’lil bro excluded - he has 2 big ones!)
The ONLY reason Indy is out is because of the HUGE tony george ego!
He needs MORE - and he has met his match in ego at F1. Does anyone doubt he ruined USA open wheeled racing in 1996?
Lastly, I respect only Ferrari because only they were born and remain an in house engine and car combo. EVERYONE else has had the motor tech farmed out at one time or another.
It’s the same reason I love Jessica Alba - all her parts are HERS!!!
“EVERYONE else has had the motor tech farmed out at one time or another.”
And they are the oldest continuous operating F1 team. But Honda, Toyota, Renault, and BMW are now engine/chassis teams. And with MB owning 40% of McLaren, you can include them as well.
As for Ms. Alba, I’ll have to take your word on the origins of all her parts. I haven’t had a chance at “scrutineering” that chassis!
As for Lou’s comment, I agree, who will partner the Whiz Kid next year? And heaven forbid if he’s as fast or faster than Lewis, what then?
Enzo was Fiat in the beginning - but since Ferrari was born they have always done it ALL in house. How can you say EVERYONE, like you include Ferrari?? Site your rationalization. Even if you site that Ferrari created a motor dept. - it was still in house Ferrari!
Sorry George,
I just noticed the ‘else’ after your ‘EVERYONE’
My bad.
Can girls play this game?
I have always prided myself on not rooting for Ferrari as it is too easy. I’ve tried to follow the lesser-equiped teams; however, this whining and all this Alonso and Hamilton finger pointing actually has me wearing RED. I.e., I, too, would like to see them take each other out and have Raikkonen win . . .
Welcome aboard Sally, weigh in on any topic or posting that peaks your interest.
“but since Ferrari was born they have always done it ALL in house.”
That’s not entirely accurate, when the old man finally bit the aero bullet he got John Barnard & 3B to do the design & development outside of Ferrari. Barnard was based in the U.K the entire time, refusing to leave England. Barnard defected from McLaren at the time.
Every team has had parts made all around the world. It’s a matter of degree. Ferrari has done all building of engine and car in Italy. Sure, parts were projected in other parts of the world, but no team has been built in house like Ferrari. I always laugh at the McLaren fans of the Ayrton years. What would have become of them without the millions invested by Honda over those years. During that period Ron could not even communicate with 9/10’s of his engine team.
I will always have a greater respect for Ferrari for this reason. Talent is international - and Ferrari has never been so stupid as to ignore this. But even Shumy learned Italian.
My turn to poke a stick in your eye Doug. ALL of Ferrari’s recent success have been brought about by German, English, Japanese, and French nationals.
Shumacher, Brawn, Rory Byrne and Todt have been the core of the team for the last seven years resulting in five driver’s titles. Not to mention near exclusive attention from Bridgestone. Sure, there are qualified Italian engineers available, but whenever the Italians are left to themselves they seem to muck up the works.
So it may be an Italian team, and it’s made in Italy, but I think most of the success should be credited to the gentlemen mentioned above.
I don’t think I need to say that I am rooting for Lewis to win. While I admire Fernando for his strength in defeating the Red Baron two years in a row, I hate it when he whines! It casts a pall on his aura and I don’t even look at him as being worthy of the championship this year.
LH vs FA is not the worst driver spat we’ve seen. Jeez, Nigel Mansell vs Nelson Piquet was worse than this, not to mention Senna/Prost. As for the FIA appointing some goober to ensure “equality,” within McLaren, well that just stinks. The team should be allowed to determine who their #1 is, and if they believe Lewis is the man, then they should support him as such. The FIA did nothing when Hakkinen and Coulthard were clearly delinieated, did they? It is ridiculous.
The team should be allowed to determine who their #1 is….
The team was not allowed to hold Lewis Hamilton up in the pits for those seconds, as puinishment after disobeying (cheating his team-mate out of fuelburn)the chief ron, followed by alonso with 10 more seconds…even in the face of the team saying it was their decision…FIA intervened. Cost the team points??? like that was a team player..
That cost Alonso 7 points easily. It would have been an easy win from pole for anyone, minus the 2 points for LH geting second vs. first. In fact the whole year has been 1 sided not only from Maclaren, but also from the governing body. Untouchable comes to mind, ask David C. Craned out of a gravel trap, eractic behaviour in terrifying conditions behind the safety car, bold lane changes on a few starts (only to whine like crazy when Alonso did not let him pass the outside of a Chicane). We may not see this favouritism next year as clearly LH will be the teams number 1 and whoever gets seat 2 will know this before excepting the position. NOBODY drove 2nd to red baron unknowingly….FA did not except the drive, “knowing” he would be the clear number 2 with a huge tactical race disadvantage…big difference. When Alonso is too close in the fight…FIA makes it the way they want it to be…Alonso is whining for good reason…LH would whine with 30% as much BS that Alonso has endured. Perhaps the likes of a Montoya would just have flat QUIT with this kind of BS…maybe Alonso should have quit after Monaco instead of being forced into this situation of keeping the fans watching a race that allready has been predetermined. Whining aside, no Alonso and the dog and pony year would have been fanless. No one would have put up with this..quit or whine was the only 2 options. How much respect does one get if they keep quiet while being screwed over? Perhaps the media would be sympathetic (or even pity) to him instead. For me the whining is no biggy, it has not affected me one bit. Baseless whining is different, but I really see him having legit complaints…so this is where the LH camp differs. Maybe from this side it seems like baseless whining.
At least next year is up front for everyone…whoever stays, or replaces will know where they stand as number 2…there will be no complaints from whoever the poor sole is.
Don’t ya think that since Hungary FA has had the entire establishment doing all they could legally do to favour Hamilton…and in these ridiculous conditions the points spred narrowed…not expanded. This feat is much larger than many can imagine. A good car with bad tactics is brutal in a game where you CAN NOT PASS. It is not for any other reason than fuel that LH has been faster only in Q3 on the final lap, but slower in Practice, Q1, Q2, and even at times fastest lap. Look back, and the co-incidence is remarkable. How many times has FA been faster all weekend right up to Q3…about 7 times now only to lose the pole. Last race was a joke 6 tenths slower yet faster all weekend…thats 8 tenths difference from the same car, and a very good lap from Alonso. This people is the power of the team vs the car. (of course in race Alonso had the faster lap this day also…right behind Masas…LH was 4rth) Gotta go puke…later
Poke all you want, George.
Ferrari is Italian.
Yes, they have had every nationality work for them at one time or another, but they remain Italian. They are based in Italy. They are owned by Italians. Even Jean Todt speaks Italian. My point cannot be refuted.
They have always done it in house - always have. They are the only team to have done so. For this they have my respect and support. By pointing out that they have always gone after the best international talent only proves my point!
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63371
Prost goes so far as to suggest that if Alonso had been number one then the Spaniard would have already wrapped up the world title - and Hamilton would have been well prepared to battle hard in 2008.
I agree with Prost….too bad the other non brit multi WC’s could not throw their 2 cents in as well. Actually many allready have.
I have to agree, after traveling this long winding road of driver sagas and alleged spying that our boy Ron bears 90% of the responsibility. Not for any direct involvement but how he handled, or more pointedly mishandled, all of the situations this year.
But no matter how badly he seems to screw the pooch, he manages to somehow rebound, witness his signing of Fernando out from under Renault after JPM and Kimi both left the team. Maybe this will be the year his teflon has eroded sufficiently to suffer the consequences of his mismanagement.
Some German publication has come out with the story that M-B’s board of director’s has voted Alonso off the team for ‘08. They should vote Ron off along with Fernando.
The world must be turning backwards george. Again I totally agree with you. There is no bigger culprit in every one o this years debacles. From not supporting his prize catch double wolrd champion to lying to the FIA about Steponyouremployergate. It amazes me that the germans have put up with so much, knowing how strained the reltionship has been, with the build of the SLR to the engine melt downs of previous years. It’s just a matter of time before ronnie is gardening full time.
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/19102007/58/brazilian-gp-hamilton-under-fia-investigation.html
Hmm, I knew there was a reason Alonso did no practice laps in practice 1 session. LOL. He did 1 formation lap then sat out to conserve the car.
Wanna bet he knew LH was breaking the tire rule and let it happen, maybe even the “fair” play overseer appointed, turned the team in. 3 racers were caught. Luckily for the other 2 no grid penalties are likely to come down to the untouchable one. (if you are going to break a rule in FIA, bring LH with you) Ecclestone again said today he wants LH to win the WC as he brings in the most viewers/$$.
I agree with Lou, if you are a BE favorite, then you will protected, unless the transgression is flagrant. Last year with the championship on the line, the lenalized Alonso for holding Massa, when it was very noticeable that it was not the case. This year similar situation and no penalty. Why, because it was Kimi and not the BE favorite LH. I agree that in both cases no penalty should be awarded, ust le then race and these are the consequences of the qualifying rules, thus the one hot lap, not as good for spectators and TV, was more fair to the drivers. Also, if it was Kimi doing it to LH he would have been all over this on the press conference and he would have inticed the FIA to investigate. Just my opinion and I hope Massa takes him out in the first corner. Sorry, but I would like to see Kimi or FA win it to shut up BE.
The year that RD gave away. Well he backed the wrong guy, he raced the wrong guy, and he lost both championships….looks good on the guy.
Better yet his 2nd rate driver beat his golden boy. RD and the team could not beat Alonso on this day/year.
Clearly if Alonso had a name like LH(favourite) then he would have been 20 points clear of all the field. Perhaps the 3rd place Hamilton this season would even have had a better year in 2nd…HAHA Irony at its best.
I must retract. both at 109 and LH with 5 2nds to Alonso’s 4 2nds. SO LH indeed is 2nd this year.
I guess mi wish came through and maybe Dennis learns next year that you can’t buy experience. I hope FA is not on a McLaren, but a competitive car to see a three way battle for the chamionship. Also, I think this loss will hopefully bring some humbleness to LH and he truly becomes a champion that we can root for. Oh, one more thing, I hpe the Toad, Max Mosley leae the sport forever. It will be hard for any team to win with these two in there.
I am glad that it is all over.