I wouldn't underestimate Renault, shrewd move by Ricciardo i think & becomes a number one driver in a works team.
F1 2018 Season
- Thread starter pauldyson1uk
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Alonso spent all that time slagging off Honda only for Red Bull to take a Honda engine and have a seat open up.
This is similar in some respects to what Hamilton did but the key differences here are Hamilton had only 1 year to wait under regulations, Ricciardo has 2 and Ross Brawn is one of the greatest team principals ever, Cyril Abiteboul is not. I suppose Hamilton may have retired by the time Ricciardo's contract has expired.
Mercedes had a huge budget and Renault don't, at least not currently as they are steadily building the team. When Hamilton joined Mercedes they were already planning their fancy engine, didn't he mention he got shown around and Ross Brawn showed him what was planned.
Haven't Red Bull turned down Alonso in the recent past in favour of their own younger drivers? The question is whether Gasly is good enough or could they poach one of the other teams youngsters like Norris.
I really hope Alonso gets the seat for a year at least, imagine how McLaren would feel.
Haven't Red Bull turned down Alonso in the recent past in favour of their own younger drivers? The question is whether Gasly is good enough or could they poach one of the other teams youngsters like Norris.
I really hope Alonso gets the seat for a year at least, imagine how McLaren would feel.
McLaren will be Alonso's last team in F1, whilst a great driver i don't think any team would want to take his baggage.
What ever happens to Alonso, I hope that he gets a car that can get him one last race win.
He is the best driver in F1 and has been since 2005, but his constant poor career choices since leaving Renault the first time have stopped the world from seeing that on a consistent basis. I'd love to see him back at Ferrari for one last crack, Lauda, Prost style, but I dont think Seb would be too pleased about such a thing occurring.
He is the best driver in F1 and has been since 2005, but his constant poor career choices since leaving Renault the first time have stopped the world from seeing that on a consistent basis. I'd love to see him back at Ferrari for one last crack, Lauda, Prost style, but I dont think Seb would be too pleased about such a thing occurring.
Going to McLaren in 2007 was actually a good move, trouble was he was too immature to deal with having a teammate who we obviously didn't realise at the time would become one of the best the sport's seen. He could've won a couple of titles there when they were still making good cars.
I mean, it was hard to predict the rise and dominance of Red Bull. Nobody won in those years, and Alonso still came closest. Mercedes' rise was a bit more telegraphed and that was the only one he might have jumped on. Still, staying at Ferrari the whole time would have been the smart move.
Alonso in a Red Bull vs Max would be great, do it.
He’s more likely to ride off into the sunset and go dominate Indy Car in his twilight years though. Love to see him get Indy.
He’s more likely to ride off into the sunset and go dominate Indy Car in his twilight years though. Love to see him get Indy.
I’d say the way Ron Dennis handled the whole situation was more indicative then the way Alonso behaved. Ron dealt with Senna and Prost and he should have learned from that to deal with Alonso and Hamilton. Instead he made the same mistake again. Funny thing is, if he had put his eggs in the Alonso basket, he’d have had another world title. Poor management.
Also I believe at the time, the opportunity for Ferrari was offered to him
before Raikonen which he turned down for McLaren. I understand that the decision was made in 2005 and Ferrari had a poor season, but they were always going to bounce back.
Ocon could be made way for Stroll now, Williams looks the easiest route in exchange for an engine discount by Merc.
If you have not seen it or just want to watch it again, Senna is about to start on ITV4.
I would say that Lance going there is almost certain, with like you say Ocon making way for him.
Its confirmed.
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/8/force-india-set-to-exit-administration-.html
So, Lance to ride at FI next season? Where do Ocon go next?
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2018/8/force-india-set-to-exit-administration-.html
So, Lance to ride at FI next season? Where do Ocon go next?
Some daft rumours suggesting driver changes before Spa. Doubt it, but says Stroll>FI, Kubica>Williams, Ocon>McLaren, presumably Vandoorne out
I’m off to Spa in a couple of weeks, anyone else going?
What a complete wank that was for anybody that knew anything about f1 during that time period.
Talk about complete revisioning of facts to suite an agenda. The term documentary should be used bloody lightly on that movie. Rush was more factually reliable than that shit show.
Sorry about the rant, I can’t remember off the top of my head the amount of stuff they excluded or flat out doctored but they might as well have made a 2 minute film saying that between 86 and 94, Senna won every championship and every race and he was the greatest ever and Prost was an evil Frenchmen who didn’t deserve anything bs bs bs.
Senna may have been the most naturally gifted driver of all time (Gilles might dispute that) but his race craft was nowhere Schumacher or Prost or even peak Alonso. He was pretty much James Hunt on steroids and by all accounts a flat out bully. Prost v Senna was the Ronaldo v Messi of that sporting era and usually the one that doesn’t give off the lovable personality is the one who cops the raw end
Arguably in the discussion for best driver of all-time. Sad to see him go out with McLaren, but he's still class.
One of my favourite drivers. I just feel it says a lot about the sport and competitiveness but the switch to Renault engine power was the last throw of the dice and it was inevitable he wasn't going to be a champion again so it's time to move on.
A fierce competitor which has ultimately been his own undoing.
A fierce competitor which has ultimately been his own undoing.
I'm gonna miss him a lot. Such a great driver whatever thrown at him.
This comes as no surprise, its a waste for him being in that McLaren this year.
With all the talk of Alonso being one of the greatest drivers of all time (not disputing it) - it makes me wonder has any pavement racing car driver ever made a successful move into WRC (or any WRC drive successful going the other way)?
Sebastien Loeb is probably the only one that comes to mind
So, who the replacement? Kimi? Norris? Kubica? Ocon? Perez? This make drivers market interesting afterall.
What a waste of talent. Seems strange to say that about a double world Champion but he should have double that
Alonso. 
Sad to see him go out without one last run at the top, though that was always a pipe dream sadly. Fantastic driver and probably my favorite of all time, certainly currently.
Sainz I would have thought.
Sad to see him go out without one last run at the top, though that was always a pipe dream sadly. Fantastic driver and probably my favorite of all time, certainly currently. Sainz I would have thought.
Maybe that's why Red Bull didn't announce Sainz and immediately ruled out Alonso.
Sad day for F1. Grown to like him alot over the years and respect him even more. I don't think he is second to anyone of the current drivers. Hope he smashes it in Indy or wherever he goes. Legend.
So; Sainz to McLaren and Norris to replace Vandoorne?
McLaren killed Alonso's love for the sport. Useless team.
Kubica and Raikkonen all had stints in WRC/F1, but TBH the pay gap is so huge compared, doing WRC for an F1 driver is purely for the hobby/Challenge.
But its Alonso who took the best out of that crappy car all year long. Most likely he doubt about McLaren prospect for next year and no offer from big 3 obviously.
Alonso absolutely destroyed Mclaren. Half the job was done by Ron Dennis who vetoed Red Bull from using Honda engines back in 2015. which made them blind to their own issues and slowed down any progress for Honda.
Then Alonso made Mclaren ditch those free engines and 100 mil €/season in sponsorship money to get the mediocre Renault engine. It didn't work out so now he is running away from mediocrity and Mclaren are frimly on their way to becoming new Williams.
You couldn't make this shit up.
He still keeps shady Flavio Briatore (the crashgate man) as his agent, which says a lot about his ethics. The guy gets zero respect from me.
Then Alonso made Mclaren ditch those free engines and 100 mil €/season in sponsorship money to get the mediocre Renault engine. It didn't work out so now he is running away from mediocrity and Mclaren are frimly on their way to becoming new Williams.
You couldn't make this shit up.
He still keeps shady Flavio Briatore (the crashgate man) as his agent, which says a lot about his ethics. The guy gets zero respect from me.
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Very sad news for F1. If arguably the best driver on the grid is leaving because he can't get a competitive car then it says a lot about the direction the sport is heading.
He's leaving because the guys with the competitive cars do not want to offer him a place in their team. Whilst a great driver, teams just don't want the drama he brings.
Sainz has been confirmed at Mclaren as Alonso's replacement. Guessing that means Gasly to Red Bull is a certainty. Wonder if Mclaren are going to go for Norris as a partner for Sainz or stick with Vandoorne and let Norris go to Toro Rosso.
Will be interesting to see how Vandoorne does vs Sainz. He was never going to be able tp match Alonso. Either way, no signs of an ending to this very public and protracted decline of the this once great team. The switching of Honda engines to Renault, with RB going the other way could prove to be the fly on the shit cake.
Might aswell go with Norris next season because Vandoorne clearly not work so far. Either Vandoorne or Norris are a gamble for Mclaren next season