***Official 2010 F1 thread***

[philjohn]

Teflonso to Ferrari

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8280566.stm

it's been the worst kept secret in the sport, glad it'll finally be announced and we can get onto other things. Want Kimi back at McLaren too.

Interestingly Glock hasn't had his option picked up for 2010 I've read so looking more likely that Toyota are going to do a runner.

Also whats with "Teflonso"? Have I missed something?

It's what Brundle called him on the grid walk this week.

 

[sunama]

Nothing seems to stick to him (McLaren spying, Piquet crash etc...)

Thats because he's the best driver in F1. If you are the best at something, you can quite literally, get away with murder.

F1 personnel are fiercely competitive and this supersedes everything else. If you don't fit that profile, then you are probably don't belong in F1 (as R.Denis found out, when he tried to play happy families in 2007/8, got rid of Alonso, brought in Heikki, just to keep his adopted son happy. He later resigned. On a related note, during the F1 Forum on BBC, after the last race, Whitmarsh said, his main aim is to have the 2 best drivers in F1, in his 2 cars - my question: so why the hell did you get rid of Alonso?)

 

[SteveOBHave]

Whitmarsh said, his main aim is to have the 2 best drivers in F1, in his 2 cars - my question: so why the hell did you get rid of Alonso?)

Because Hamilton is the golden boy and he was throwing his toys as was Alonso - I imagine that it was a fairly simple equation with the time and money invested in Hamilton, Alonso was the logical one to go.

 

[Dutch Guy]

Nice, I hate Ferrari and I hate Alonso, a match made in heaven.

 

[PinkFloyd]

So how do people expect Massa to compare to Alonso next year presuming that is the driver lineup for Ferrari?

 

[Dutch Guy]

So how do people expect Massa to compare to Alonso next year presuming that is the driver lineup for Ferrari?

ANother question, who is #1 driver and gets the best stuff and priority?

 

[flat-6]

So how do people expect Massa to compare to Alonso next year presuming that is the driver lineup for Ferrari?

I think Alonso will easily beat him. Even this year you can see Alonso is up there with the all time greats, he manages to consistently score in the Renault in a car that's at best middle of the pack. I don't particularly like him, but I looked on Betfair last night to see if there were any odds on him for WDC 2010 (couldn't see any).

Strikes me that its all rather too accepted that Massa will come back and perform at the same level as before; with that sort of injury there must be a good chance that something will be lost, whether that is reaction time, vision, or fearlessness.

 

[spoonz]

Alonso will make Massa look like Badoer

 

[Flibster]

ANother question, who is #1 driver and gets the best stuff and priority?

Alonso will have the no1 clause in his contract.

McLaren wouldn't give him the no1 clause and he went all infantile - Ferrari will bend over and lube up.

 

[FrankJH]

Whitmarsh said, his main aim is to have the 2 best drivers in F1, in his 2 cars - my question: so why the hell did you get rid of Alonso?)

Surely RD was still in charge of the team when Alonso quit / was sacked (even if it was widely rumoured that he would step aside in favour of Whitmarsh, this was still a few months away from happening)


How long will it take for Alonso to get the car to be exactly how he likes it - "just" the winter? One season? will it make any difference?

(Fisi is far from the best driver, but he is kind of proving how hard inparticular the Ferrari is to drive compared to some of the other cars .......after all Luizi outqualified him in an inferior car that he had never driven before (in anger))

 

[JRS]

Alonso will have the no1 clause in his contract.

McLaren wouldn't give him the no1 clause and he went all infantile - Ferrari will bend over and lube up.

Will they, though? I mean, it's not as if Alonso has many options for top rides in F1 these days. McLaren is out, Brawn seem to have a gameplan that doesn't involve hiring Alonso, RBR are very happy with their current pairing....Ferrari is really his only option to get back to a team up near the pointy end of things, he can't afford to be picky about clauses in his contract.

 

[PinkFloyd]

Even if Alonso isn't number one driver in name, I really couldn't see him helping Massa out in any shape or form - Alonso will be there to try and win.

 

[deuse]

Will they, though? I mean, it's not as if Alonso has many options for top rides in F1 these days. McLaren is out, Brawn seem to have a gameplan that doesn't involve hiring Alonso, RBR are very happy with their current pairing....Ferrari is really his only option to get back to a team up near the pointy end of things, he can't afford to be picky about clauses in his contract.

I agree with JRS on this one.

 

[Glaucus]

I agree with JRS on this one.

Alonso has got number one all over it. Ferrari like a number one and alonso will be it. Massa has shown although he is a great driver he isn't a number one of Ferrari stanndards.

 

[sunama]

I have to agree with AcidHell on this one. I'm pretty sure that he will have No.1 on his contract (or at least implied). At the end of the day, Ferrari want to get back to the top again. This is why they have gone for the driver who beat them and MS in 2005/6. They want the best and are no longer willing to faff around.

They certainly arent going to hire Alonso and then mess him around, especially when they know what he expects (ie. No.1 status). He will probably get the same treatment that MS received and to that end, most of the car development will be centered around him. Remember, Ferrari will need to be in top form as they will be fighting for the title against a McLaren team which is centered around Hamilton. There is no way that they can support Massa and Alonso and still compete against Hamilton, unless they produce a car which is totally out of this world.

What will be interesting is the relationship of MS and Alonso. MS is super competitive and may find it difficult to fully/honestly support the guy who beat him 2 years in a row. MS wasn't used to losing. Perhaps MS will do all he can to assist Massa?

I fully expect Ferrari and Alonso to be attempting to win the WDC in 2010, with Massa being asked to help Ferrari win the Constructor's title.

Providing Kimi moves to McLaren, the battle between McLaren and Ferrari is a mouth-watering prospect, as these 2 teams will unquestionably have the strongest driver lineup, with (hopefully), decent cars.

I am seriously looking forward to 2010.

 

[sunama]

Surely RD was still in charge of the team when Alonso quit / was sacked (even if it was widely rumoured that he would step aside in favour of Whitmarsh, this was still a few months away from happening)

Now you mention it, it is quite possible that Whitmarsh was being honest when he said he wants the 2 best drivers. You are right in that Denis was still in charge when Alonso left.

In the late 80s and early 90s, Ron Denis seriously wanted the best drivers in his cars. He wasnt interested in playing happy families. He wanted Prost and Senna (who were constantly at eachother's throats) and also wanted to keep Senna, despite him publicly stating that he wanted to move to Williams and would drive for Williams for free.

Unfortunately, in his old age, Denis changed his priorities.

How long will it take for Alonso to get the car to be exactly how he likes it - "just" the winter? One season? will it make any difference?

(Fisi is far from the best driver, but he is kind of proving how hard inparticular the Ferrari is to drive compared to some of the other cars .......after all Luizi outqualified him in an inferior car that he had never driven before (in anger))

You cannot mention Fisi and Alonso in the same category. Alonso will deliver if only because he will want to prove that he is the best driver in F1 and as such, he won't allow someone like Massa to be faster than him (by fair means or foul).

 

[stockhausen]

...
Unfortunately, in his old age, Denis changed his priorities.
...

What

I take it you mean Ron Dennis, and still what

 

[Glaucus]

Unfortunately, in his old age, Denis changed his priorities.

having two great drivers is fine if they get along. But with Alonso threatening to shop the team in and the pair fighting at a detriment to both WDC & WCC it's not surprising one went. They do want two great drivers and I'm sure Hamilton doesn't mind a challenge.

 

[sunama]

Oh and another thing to look forward to in 2010, is the possible pairing of Rosberg and Button. Button will hopefully have the No.1 on his car and it will certainly look odd if Rosberg is beating the guy with No.1 on his car. In fact, the last time this happened was at McLaren in 1989, when Prost beat Senna (1988 World Champion), when they were team-mates.

 

[sunama]

having two great drivers is fine if they get along. But with Alonso threatening to shop the team in and the pair fighting at a detriment to both WDC & WCC it's not surprising one went. They do want two great drivers and I'm sure Hamilton doesn't mind a challenge.

In 1989, Ron Denis was able to keep both Prost and Senna, despite them not getting along.

Management of drivers is an important skill and in the late 80s and early 90s, Denis was the best at this. (Frank Williams was notoriously bad at losing his World Champions and being unable to re-negotiate contracts).

Even when one of his drivers publicly announced that he wanted out of McLaren asap and wanted to drive for Williams, for free, Ron Dennis persuaded him to stay in 1993. And even when Senna moved in 1994, Denis stated that he will do everything he could to get Senna back, by improving the car. Now that is what I call a manager/boss who is prepared to do everything to win, ie. employ the fastest driver, no matter what.

The Ron Denis who got rid of arguably the best driver in F1 in 2007 is the not the same guy who did all he could to keep hold of his drivers in the late 80s and early 90s.

With regards to Hamilton liking the challenge: I believe that he would much rather have a slow driver like Heikki, than somene who is capable of beating him and making him look ordinary. Most top drivers are like this (MS, Alonso, Prost, etc). The only (top) drivers who come to mind, who were prepared to go up against the best were Senna and Mansell.