Ron Dennis Sends His New Years Greetings
Written by Marc Boland · December 30, 2005
Those of us that follow the F1 circus know many of it’s personalities, on occasion, become infected with a case of oral Montezuma’s revenge.
The most prominent, if only because of his position as F1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone dropped his medication and went off just prior to the British Grand Prix for example.
Oral Montezuma’s revenge being a viral infection hits many. It doesn’t discriminate between the top of F1 and some further down the food chain such as McLaren Team boss Ron Dennis:
The Woking-based team principal said that while Renault and Alonso ‘did the job’ from the word go in 2005, Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya perhaps had more to do with McLaren’s early problems than once thought.
‘Our drivers,” Dennis told the ‘Guardian’ newspaper, ”psychologically overreacted to problems at the first round of the world championship and definitely didn’t respond to the pressure.”
Ron Dennis is many things, but I seriously doubt he is qualified, or licensed, as a psychotherapist or psychoanalyst. But I bet he can afford to purchase a very expensive endangered species leather couch for his charges to recline on.
Dennis went on to note Kimi Raikkonen’s performance during the Malaysian GP where, through no fault of his own (a tire valve failed), Kimi had a poor finish.
Ron said in the English ‘paper: ”It was all a bit frustrating. In most seasons, 10 race wins would have been good enough to clinch the world championship quite early in the season.”
That may be true, it’s also true if just one, or more probably two, of the four engine failures Kimi suffered during qualifying - and resulting in a ten spot starting penalty - the constructors championship would have been more hotly contested, if not won by McLaren.
I’m not a psychotherapist or psychoanalyst but feel strongly those four McLaren V10’s “psychologically overreacted” and puked their guts all over the tarmac due to abuse, and or neglect, back at the Woking engine factory.
But that’s just me (and I don’t have to lay on Dennis’ couch to figure it out), what do you think?
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11 Responses to “Ron Dennis Sends His New Years Greetings”
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My question as expressed in our forum, is why would he choose to antagonize both his drivers now? With Alonso on board for ‘07, I think he is pressing Kimi to extend his contract now, or be left on his own. Either that or Ron knows Kimi has signed with Ferrari for ‘07 and is trying to goad that hypocrite DiMontezelmo into announcing also. We all heard about Luca’s opinion concerning McLaren’s announcing of Fernado: “It’s nothing Ferrari would do.”
Can’t wait to see how this one turns out!
Happy new year Marc, to you and yours!!
I believe what Luca was refering to was that Ferrari would not “announce” a driver contract that far in advance. It’s the knowledge of a driver change-up that causes problems within a team as much as the actual driver change.
If Kimi has already signed with Ferrari, it does no good to announce that change until near the end of the ‘06 season. The knowledge of Kimi changing to another team would put him at odds with the McLaren team during the upcoming season, if it isn’t already common knowledge within the team already.
Just ask Juan how well things went at Williams in ‘04 when everyone knew he was going to McLaren. It will be interesting to see how well the Renault team treats Alonso in ‘06.
Ron is only adding fuel to the fire by making such outrageous comments that he really can’t defend.
i just find it strange that all of the four failures occurred with kimi’s car. maybe ron is pissed about that. plus, montoya made too many mistakes when he was actually not healing from his broken shoulder.
i’m just saying, i can see why ron is so annoyed that neither of the championship belongs to him last year.
I agree on your observation on Luca’s perspective with one minor variation: If and when it is advantageous to sow some dissension in the McLaren ranks next year, Ferrari will leak the word of Kimi’s signing as opposed to any “announcement”.
Ferrari can put Machiavelli to shame on any given day when it suits them, and choose to play the “sportsman’s” role when it is also to their advantage when castigating Ron Dennis.
Ross “The Rat” Brawn didn’t earn his nickname by playing the gentlemen’s game either.
Say it ain’t so! Politics in F1?!
You’ve got a point, George. I used to enjoy watching the teams jockey for position off the track and behing the scenes, but it’s getting a little tiresome. Ron Dennis makes my point. You can’t keep that kind of comedy funny for very long. ;)
Maybe it’s the huge sums of money involved that’s making some of those backstage plots seem more desperate? It’s worrying to think what Ferrari will do considering how poorly Fiat is doing.
I just read somewhere on the net that Marlboro’s newest contract is worth $180 million a year to Ferrari. With that kind of sponsorship I don’t think they worry about Fiat at all!!
I’m not sure what Ron is playing at, is he planning on dropping JPM or is he anticipating Kimi leaving? I don’t see how Kimi could have already signed for Ferrari because it would require Schumacher’s retirement & that could never be kept quiet for long, if it had happened it would have leaked. Schumacher also strikes me as somebody who would retire towards the end of a season, not at the start of it, so I doubt he has made any decision. What is going to be really funny is if the German decides he is quite content & wishes to race for a few more seasons. Talk of Michaels “imminent” retirement started with his fifth title.
I tend to side with the crowd that thinks Kimi and Ferrari are a done deal. If Michael chooses to continue the odd man out will be Massa. No doubt he and Kimi can coexist. Whether Michael elects to retire hinges on how well Ferrari bounces back in ‘06. I don’t think he is interested in fighting for third place and just may take a final season or two at McLaren. At least I’d love to see that!
Massa was the “best” available/unsigned driver for 06′.This year may very well destroy his career in F1.Schumacher will destroy him like no other previous team mate, he may not even see out the year. Massa will be the Ivan Capelli of the 00’s.
Hang me out to dry on that prediction at mid season if I’m wrong, but I’m willing to wager he wont be there in 07.
I would agree with your assessment of Massa but for one question: The true capability of the ‘06 Ferrari package.
No doubt Ferrari will focus their attention on King Michael, but don’t expect Massa to roll over and play dead for Schuey ala Rubens Barrichello. What’s to gain? I would expect Massa to be totally aggressive and I would not expect him to roll over and play dead. Why would he? If he can out point Schuey the same way he did Jacques his stock would rise considerably.
Does he have the mentality to be that strong? I think that’s your question in a nut shell Peter. And frankly I would hope so for the reasons stated above.
I think that ron dennis was pressuring his drivers because they need to be pressured they are not living up to the standerds of maclaren.