Motorsport Off Topic Thread

Mike306 said:
It sure is a winning combination that they have there. I expect it was a rather lucrative contract he signed.
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Within reason, I'd pay him what he wants.
Allegedly, RBR have the biggest budget in F1, so why not pay them the best workers, the best wages?

I know a lot of people don't like him, for all the lies he tells, but he sure knows how to keep the team together. Ron Denis could've learned a thing or 2 from him. Had Alonso remained at McLaren, I'm pretty sure McLaren would've won the 2007 WDC, as well as a few more titles since then. Alonso definitely would've got them a WDC in 2012, in what is regarded as the fastest car of that season.

I can't help but admire the set up that RBR have.

I've witnessed the domination of McLaren in the late 80s.
Williams in early-mid 90s.
Ferrari in early 00s.

RBR's current form definitely ranks with those (elite) teams. The scary thing is that their driver Vettel is set to improve as he reaches his prime. And in 2014, when the rules change, Newey usually builds the fastest car. Vettel could well finish up as a 5 time WDC, at the end of 2014.
 
spot on - I wouldnt be surprised if Alonso was on 30m Euros inc personal sponsors.

Given how Merc are reputed to configure their contracts I wouldnt be surprised if LH was earning at least that (with a lot more personal sponsors than he was allowed at McLaren)
 
Housey said:
I liked this greatly.

Sorry if it's a report.
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Unfortunately its been ruined for me once I discovered the script has just been ripped, almost word for word, from Bruce McLaren's Wiki page.

The fact McLaren couldn't be bothered to write a tribute themselves for there founder to celebrate 50 years of the company is a poor show, tbh.
 
Skeeter said:
Unfortunately its been ruined for me once I discovered the script has just been ripped, almost word for word, from Bruce McLaren's Wiki page.

The fact McLaren couldn't be bothered to write a tribute themselves for there founder to celebrate 50 years of the company is a poor show, tbh.
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Which was taken from Eon Youngs book (I have it) seen as the best book on Bruce. I don't think McLaren relied on Wiki, but Wiki did rely on Eon's book.
 
sunama said:
, I'm pretty sure McLaren would've won the 2007 WDC, as well as a few more titles since then. Alonso definitely would've got them a WDC in 2012, in what is regarded as the fastest car of that season.
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one way or the other I think its fair to say they would have won 07 without the "external" events putting pressure on the team in 07 - and of course LH won in 08 anyway.

No relation to JB's win whatso ever , but McLaren were starting (relatively speaking) from so far back in 09, Im not sure they would/ could have won anything although because of the relatively lengthy gestation period of a GP car, I suppose even the 09 car can be put down to the team still feeling the effects of 07 while this car was being thought about and designed. They did finish the season well though , granted.

the '10 car (which I cant see at all having had similar '07 related issues) was a decent car but RBR was SO dominant by then, I cant see it making much difference. LH's well documented head problems in '11 would have been just the same so McLaren certainly wouldnt have won the Constructors title (unless JB was paired with Alonso by this time lol) and if anything his head could have been worse because of Alonso's probable domination of results.

Last season's car had too many technical failures (on both cars) to really mount a successful title challange - even after ignorning the few "personal" on track mistakes LH made in '12 , ie not pit/ technical related.

edit - now its arguable that IF McLaren had won both 07 & 08, then every subsequent car might also have been different - but that could also work in JB's favour in '11 ......so lets brush over that lol
 
FrankJH said:
Last season's car had too many technical failures (on both cars) to really mount a successful title challange - even after ignorning the few "personal" on track mistakes LH made in '12 , ie not pit/ technical related.
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Alonso is chomping at the bit to get his hands on the fastest car on the grid.
In a slow car which struggled to qualify in the top 10 (while McLaren were getting pole position), Alonso managed to almost beat the all conquering RBR/Vettel. In a fragile McLaren, he could definitely have racked up many race wins (albeit with more DNFs).

The fact that Alonso missed out on the opportunity to drive for McLaren is completely of his own doing, though. Had he not been so petulant, he could've made sure that he stayed put at McLaren, upped his game (as he did in subsequent years) and hammered Hamilton (if this was possible), in 2008 (and onwards).

McLaren of course, also missed out on Alonso, so Whitmarsh in particular, must regret this, as his job seems to be on the line, whenever McLaren don't win races.

Now that Button is the No1 driver in his team, it will be interesting to see how he drives. Don't forget that it is quite possible that McLaren could have the fastest car on the grid in 2013 and if Button does a decent job there is no reason why he can't reel off 5-6 wins in a row.

More realistically though, my money is on Vettel and Alonso finishing in the top 2 positions of this year's WDC.
 
sunama said:
Alonso is chomping at the bit to get his hands on the fastest car on the grid.
In a slow car which struggled to qualify in the top 10 (while McLaren were getting pole position), Alonso managed to almost beat the all conquering RBR/Vettel. In a fragile McLaren, he could definitely have racked up many race wins (albeit with more DNFs)..
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imo Alonso could not have won last season's WDC in a McLaren, he may well have won all the races LH and JB won between them , and possibly more but it was too fragile for the WDC where you need consistancy as much as out right speed (and thats without taking into account the Grosjean factor from last season also, which could just as easily taken a few wins/decent poiints away from Alonso's McLaren)

Its all hearsay and guesswork, and i know that - just the way I see it :)


sunama said:
Now that Button is the No1 driver in his team, it will be interesting to see how he drives. Don't forget that it is quite possible that McLaren could have the fastest car on the grid in 2013 and if Button does a decent job there is no reason why he can't reel off 5-6 wins in a row.

More realistically though, my money is on Vettel and Alonso finishing in the top 2 positions of this year's WDC.
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Im not saying it will happen - but IF an "outsider" did manage to rack up four or five early wins it would make for a Very interesting championship, which would entirely depend on who was in the 2- 4 spots in those races and how quickly the team / drivers in question could close the performance gap
 
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