posted May 23, 2007

To be honest - I don't really think a lot of this is valid. You, me and 99.9% of the rest of the population will never know how the drivers are viewed in terms of favouritism, priority, team tactics etc. regardless what we might think or surmise to be true.

Personally I don't see any eveidence of either driver at McLaren or either at Ferrari being given preferential or detrimental treatment in any regard. Why would either team want either driver to do worse than the other at this early stage of the season (or at all for that matter!) when that would result in potential missed podiums, points and indeed championships!

Later in the season when things have panned out it could be a relevant issue, but right now I'd have to say what's being suggested here is pretty much 100% nonsense.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted May 23, 2007

Oh, also should have said, you do realise that the 'ghost' of Schumi hanging about that you speak of also offered to give advice to Kimi, but Kimi rejected the opportunity, so there was no preferential treatment there either.

I believe that Alonso made the right choice for his long term future going to McLaren.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted May 23, 2007

I don't agree with anyone who thinks any conclusions have already been drawn by the teams.

Any team will help a driver who's got a clear shot at the championship. Who cares who's been with the team longer. Maybe the mechanics are more partial to one driver over another out of affection or personal bonding, but nobody in the pitlane will tell you that mechanics' affections are what decide race outcomes. Team principals are much harder nosed than that.

If Kimi showed more focus and commitment, the team would likely favour him.

At the moment, you've got a passionate Massa who makes mistakes but also constantly seems to be punching above his weight. There's no questioning Massa's determination, so if were a team principal having a guess as to who's got the better shot RIGHT NOW, I'd likely pick Massa.

Kimi could change all that, but he needs to work hard at it. He needs to stop falling asleep at restarts and sloping off to watch hockey when things go wrong and his race finishes early. Is he not getting paid enough to do better?

I think Kimi is ultimately the better driver of the two Ferrari drivers, but based on what we're seeing right now it's Massa who's actually the better shot at the title. It's all down to motivation.

Likewise with McLaren. Ron Dennis is not going to be so soft and cuddly as to let affections get in the way of his (almost pathological) drive to win a constructors' championship and driver's championship. I think the picture at McLaren is cloudier because you've got two very high performing drivers, neither of whom can be accused of a lack of motivation. I think over a season, Alonso is the safer bet, if only because he's had the ups and downs of an F1 career and has some reserves to draw on which Hamilton just won't have yet (but someday likely will). It's hard to tell who is ultimately quicker. Maybe it's just that Hamilton's loose rear style is getting the better out of the McLaren than Alonso's loose nosed style. Alonso's had teammates who are quicker than him before, at least over a lap (Trulli). He wins by being a more complete package.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted May 23, 2007

When Kimi walked away from Barcelona, he, for that moment, was not there with the team.

F1 is a team sport with a huge emphasis on two individuals, but reliance on many hundreds more. In walking away from the circuit, he sent a message that he was not prepared to fail with the team.

In some cases, this can work by aggresively motivating the team, however, I think in this case Kimi would have been well served to stay in the garage and watch the conclusion of the race with his mechanics, and cheer on his team-mate. He wouldn't have solved anything mechanical with the car, but he would have got closer in with the team.

Schumacher built the relationships around him to have the team function ultimately for his benefit. Kimi is not doing that, and that I think is a mistake.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted May 23, 2007

Alonso will only get better as will Hamilton and Raikonnen this season. The problem for Massa is that he has been with Ferrari for a while now, so he will be expected to perform. Whether he can deal with this pressure or not, especially as the other drivers improve, is another story. Still this is going to be one of the most exciting F1 seasons for a while. Last years was exciting too mind.

I agree that Alonso has more of a complete package than other drivers, that's what Hamilton needs to and will hopefully learn off Alonso. It's good to see McLaren back at the top.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted May 23, 2007

I've said many times, even before this season started that the playing field would be levelled for Hamilton by the new tyres and new tyre rules.

It seems that Alonso and Kimi are having issues getting to grips with the new tyres.

Do Massa's results show that he, and/or Ferrari have got to grips with the new tyres better than Kimi and Alonso?

Did MacLaren take a gamble on Alonso? Wasn't it unsure for a while if Renault would continue in F1?

Which other driver would Hamilton learn more from? Schumi? Coulthard? McLaren have done the best possible thing in pairing Hamilton with the only F1 WDC currently driving.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted May 23, 2007

I think both Fernando and Kimi have just had a couple of bad races which have coinsided with the success of Massa and Hamilton.
I expected Ferrari to support Massa because since 2003 they've been training him up as Schumacher's replacment. So the team want to use a driver who has been associated with Ferrari for some time. They want the best from Raikkonen but I sence no great drive to make Kimi the next champion. I guess we'll just have to see

add comment | complain about this comment

posted May 24, 2007

People are jumping the gun about Alonso. He's a fantastic driver, and as good as Lewis is i still cannot see past Fernando for the title

add comment | complain about this comment

posted May 24, 2007

bretdrfc,

I aqgree wholeheartedly. People seem to think when I say this that I'm having a pop at LH, but I'm not. I've made my feelings clear that I support LH and that I think he's made an amazing start to his F1 career - definitely a future world champion.

LH could and might do it this season, but I just have a nagging feeling that when Alonso is finally completely settled in the McLaren he will have just that little bit too much speed and consistency for LH.

LH has been consistent so far - incredibly so - but his driving style (ie with a very loose rear of the car) will not suit every track and I think it's only going to be so long before we see a spin.

I just think that Alonso will be marginally too good over the course of this season, and next year could be LH's year.

Could be wrong of course - I have been before!

add comment | complain about this comment

posted May 24, 2007

"I am beginning to doubt if Alonso's move to MacLeran will produce the kind of results he desires"

Personally I believe he has made an excellent choice in switching to McLaren.

Firstly, there is only one team/car that is faster than his at the moment.

Secondly, he probably wouldnt achieve the results he wants if he stayed with Reanult for this year.

Staying at Renault for this year would probably result in a disastrous season for him, so if he wants a 3rd successive WDC moving to either Ferrari or McLaren was the best choice. And don't forget, 11 years ago one M. Schumacher joined a Ferrari team that was a shadow of its former self, and after a few years of hard graft, helped it to the period of most dominant success in the sports history... and I bet there were comments like this at that time too

add comment | complain about this comment