Motorsport Off Topic Thread

Cavallino · 29 Jul 2013 at 20:55

Although Monti is within his right to say what he said... I would be very careful about alienating your star driver. After all, Alonso is driving the socks of that car and finishing the car further up the ranks then it should be.
Add to the fact that potentially two teams could be looking for a main driver next year (Lotus and RB). Monti is not doing himself any favours by making such comments, where infact, Monti's comments need to be directed at the team and specifically Dominicali, to step up and take what was nearly offered to them twice in 3 years (2010, 2012).

I cant see Alonso jumping ship, but the last time he was rebuked by his team "in public" it didn't go down well with the team (McLaren). So Ferrari management need to treat him delicately.

One things for sure, its a good thing this happened now at the beginning of the summer break, because come Spa, it will hopefully be old news by then and shouldn't destabilise the team severely.

Mr Men · 29 Jul 2013 at 21:08

deuse said:
I can see Alonso going to rb because he takes notice of stats and things like that
were as kimi just turns up drives and goes home. I would pick Alonso over kimi.

Alonso does not seem that bothered about stats? Maybe you confuse him with Vettel?

Alonso has said he would be happy to retire with 2 titles if he does not win anymore.

this_is_gav · 29 Jul 2013 at 21:15

Mr Men said:
Alonso does not seem that bothered about stats? Maybe you confuse him with Vettel?

Alonso has said he would be happy to retire with 2 titles if he does not win anymore.

Also said he'd happily not win another race this season so long as he won the title.

Vettel is the one who loves those "tokens" as Martin once described them, which is why the team are constantly trying to slow him down in the last few laps, so he doesn't try turn everything back up and go for fastest lap.

Dimi · 29 Jul 2013 at 21:22

I hope he leaves for RBR, he deserves better than what Ferrari have given him the past 4 years.

Teams at the earliest opportunity get rid of drivers, drivers need to look after themselves and go to where they have the best opportunity to win.

Minus Alonso, Ferrari are the laughing stock of F1. LdM needs to take a look at his team principal Domenicali first.

Mr Men · 29 Jul 2013 at 21:45

Dimi said:
I hope he leaves for RBR, he deserves better than what Ferrari have given him the past 4 years.

Teams at the earliest opportunity get rid of drivers, drivers need to look after themselves and go to where they have the best opportunity to win.

Minus Alonso, Ferrari are the laughing stock of F1. LdM needs to take a look at his team principal Domenicali first.

Well he should not have signed such a long contract if he wants to jump from team to team, doubt Red Bull want him anyway, why would they replace Webber with an even bigger problem for boy wonder

Alonso has probably got more praise for not winning titles than Seb has for winning them anyway in the Red Bull.

Cavallino · 29 Jul 2013 at 21:51

Mr Men said:
Alonso has probably got more praise for not winning titles than Seb has for winning them anyway in the Red Bull.

As funny as that sounds, it is very true.
Infact most team bosses rated Alonso higher than Vettel last year (didn't he get driver of the year or something?).

Duke · 29 Jul 2013 at 22:01

dannyjo22 · 29 Jul 2013 at 23:24

Very unusual for Alonso to make those sorts of comments, he's driven enough crap cars without making comments. Very strange while rumours are circulating. I can only see him swapping with Vettel.

DC made that curious article about losing Alonso if Ferrari didn't step up. At the time I thought where the hell would he go. I'm starting to think DC knows something...

JRS · 29 Jul 2013 at 23:35

dannyjo22 said:
I'm starting to think DC knows something...

Meh, a busted clock is right twice a day....

dannyjo22 · 29 Jul 2013 at 23:36

JRS said:
Meh, a busted clock is right twice a day....

Vettel/Alonso swap I'm going for. Webber would then regret leaving too

Flibster · 30 Jul 2013 at 01:10

cu3ed said:
Why would they make something like that public.....completely stupid by Montez..Utterly utterly stupid to only bring much more attention to it.

It appears that someone asked Alonso what he wanted for his birthday and he replied with "A Red Bull RB9" or something along those lines.

So Loony De Mentalzemalo is getting all uppitty with the driver who is actually providing results while letting the one who just seems to be there to get his cheque each month off scott free.

Could we see another Ferrari/Prost moment coming soon?

deuse · 30 Jul 2013 at 04:46

Come on guys you know it's not true till EJ says it is

Mr Men · 30 Jul 2013 at 08:09

Flibster said:
It appears that someone asked Alonso what he wanted for his birthday and he replied with "A Red Bull RB9" or something along those lines.

So Loony De Mentalzemalo is getting all uppitty with the driver who is actually providing results while letting the one who just seems to be there to get his cheque each month off scott free.

Could we see another Ferrari/Prost moment coming soon?

Yeah a joke throwaway comment by Alonso has rattled Luca Di's cage for some reason, could be something or could just be Luca being his usual bull in a china shop self.

Rybo89 · 30 Jul 2013 at 08:11

Why would SV want to leave a team that has given him nearly 4 titles to go to a team that is in a complete mess.

Mclaren and Ferrari are too much alike.

Mr Men · 30 Jul 2013 at 08:16

I would not say Ferrari are in a complete mess? As for why, well driving for Ferrari is better than winning with Red Bull

Ferrari have just taken far too long to fix their wind tunnel and adapt from real track testing to using computers.

MagicBoy · 30 Jul 2013 at 08:51

Cause it's Ferrari innit? Everyone wants to drive for them and anyone who doesn't is a fool. F1 wouldn't exist without Ferrari, blah blah blah, etc. (In Montezemolo's head that is).

Guerrilla · 30 Jul 2013 at 08:53

Well I suppose switching teams for next year is a bit different to previous years due to the regulation changes... I guess it would come down to which team you can see pulling it off straight away.

this_is_gav · 30 Jul 2013 at 09:06

Guerrilla said:
Well I suppose switching teams for next year is a bit different to previous years due to the regulation changes... I guess it would come down to which team you can see pulling it off straight away.

I've heard zero buzz around Ferrari's engine, whereas the Renault one appears to be comfortably the most expensive. Hardly concrete, but it seems Renault at least are very confident they'll have a strong engine. Obviously we can't read anything into the cars themselves until testing and even then, it's hard to get a decent picture.

While you'd expect Red Bull to have the strongest car (I think the only time a (non-Leyton House) Newey car hasn't been the fastest when a new set of regulations come into effect was in 2009, with Brawn's double-diffuser), some comfort may be afforded to other teams when I say that when Red Bull have been denied a well-developed diffuser, such as in 2009 and the start of 2012, they've not had the fastest car, and it'll take some rule trickery to get an exhaust blown diffuser next year!

Malt_Vinegar · 30 Jul 2013 at 09:27

Cavallino said:
Although Monti is within his right to say what he said... I would be very careful about alienating your star driver. After all, Alonso is driving the socks of that car and finishing the car further up the ranks then it should be

Drivers come and go, Ferrari remains...

Thats the philosophy there and always will be. Its part of what makes Ferrari what it is in F1!

dannyjo22 · 30 Jul 2013 at 09:36

Guerrilla said:
I guess it would come down to which team you can see pulling it off straight away.

Newey without a doubt. Just like any other time there has been a decent reg change. Even in 2009 they had the best car for a longer period than Brawn.

Alonso and Vettel would be awesome, sadly we know that won't happen. I'd take Hamilton and Vettel as consolation

We will get Vettel and the modern equivalent of Eddie Irvine