Lewis says NO. APRIL 9, 2017 Hamilton doesn't want Alonso as teammate Lewis Hamilton has given a **strong sign** that he doesn't want to share a garage with Fernando Alonso. Actually, the pair were teammates when Hamilton was a rookie and Alonso was the reigning champion in 2007, but it soon turned to acrimony. But now, Spaniard Alonso is almost certainly on the market for 2018, and Mercedes has a vacancy thanks to Valtteri Bottas' mere one-year deal. When asked about the prospect of a Hamilton-Alonso pairing, however, Hamilton said in Shanghai: "It's not going to happen." Before Finn Bottas, the Briton spent four awkward and acrimonious years with Nico Rosberg, and Hamilton thinks the balance at Mercedes is finally right. "If you have got two kilos on either side, and then take the two kilos off and put four on, what is the point? You need the balance," he said. Mercedes inked Bottas' one-year deal clearly to leave its options open for 2018, but boss Toto Wolff indicated the 27-year-old is doing what he needs to stay. "Again here he is only two tenths behind Lewis, which is a strong performance given how great Hamilton's (qualifying) lap was," he said. "I am also very happy about how well Lewis and Valtteri work together." But that good working environment could be because Hamilton is narrowly but clearly ahead of Bottas so far. F1 legend Alain Prost thinks the Finn could push closer to the triple world champion this year. "There are drivers who are strong in a smaller team and then weaker after changing to a big team," he told Bild am Sonntag newspaper. "But with Valtteri I have the impression that it could be the opposite."
Mercedes may just have to overrule Lewis. The start of the season shows they need a very strong driver pairing with how stiff the competition from Ferrari is and others will likely be in the future, but it's clear Bottas just isn't cutting it so far. Intrateam driver drama be damned, the team and their WCC must come first.
FA is the best driver on the grid. I can see a number of top teams considering him. He is good and more than capable to continue and win.
Ha! FA and LH are the two most volatile drivers, Merc would deserve what they got if they were that foolish.
And here goes the argument how Hamilton would race everyone in the grid and never use a veto like Vettel or Alonso do
MB would not touch Nando with a 10 ft barge pole...they will never forget the 'Spygate' fiasco. Ferrari to take him back? you cannot be serious! Red Bull prefer to grow their own. Renault might be possible (again) if they drop Palmer.But the car is XXXX ? Williams maybe but can/would they pay him big $$$$? I honestly think he should bow out after this year and try to find something he enjoys a bit more.He was (is?) a great driver but nothing lasts forever.
You are probably right. After 3 years of internal warfare, Toto must be enjoying the peaceful atmosphere in the team. Why he should wish to jeopardise that by recruiting Alonso, I don't know.
+1 As for Ferrari...Why create guaranteed chaos with Vettel and Alonso locking horns? 1 of the 2 will get beaten and there WILL be fireworks. As you say, Red Bull grow their own, why get Alonso for 30, 40 million when they already have at least 1 top driver and can get a good #2 for sweet **** all. Renault will have him, but I'd rather wait it out at Mclaren if you're going to gamble which car will be better at some point. Williams can't afford him, unless he takes a massive paycut. Stroll will look like a complete and utter amateur next to him so not sure the Stroll's would actually agree to it at all! Mercedes, same reason as Ferrari really.
I think that after 3 years of lacklustre performance at McLaren, Alonso's market value has gone down significantly, therefore Williams may be able to afford him. Or Renault may want him for a third time?
I think it is real ,reason being that Lewis knows full well that MB just don't want Alonso.So he can say he would welcome him back ,as in the first article, knowing that is 'won't happen' as quoted in the second article.
Carlos Goshn would probably not accept to pay the usual level of wages of Fernando...furthermore, Renault has made abundantly clear last year when they were teased about Massa that: "we do not want the drivers who were winning Grand Prix in 2008 or whenever in the past, we want the drivers who will be winning Grand Prix in 2018 and further". I think you can rule it out, even if "never say never" is prudent in F1. Rgds
I don't think Alonso's performance has been ****. It's Mclaren, simple as that. The teams that would have him (Williams/Renault/Force India) are not going to pay him much more than 15m presumably (unless Alonso somehow brings a massive sponsor with him)...the question is, would Alonso collect a much bigger pay check at Mclaren but not win titles...or will he collect a much smaller paycheck but a shot at the odd podium here or there (since none of the teams will actually be fighting for titles).
That is like our left winged party always voting against the increase of the parliamentary allowance knowing that they are overruled anyway...so they can take the higher salery but still say they voted against it
As said above, all the "noise" coming from Renault so far tend to say that they would NOT be interested, and certainly not for 15m a year. Rgds
Being in a bad cars for years, but happy to stay in the team because he gets a good retainer throws a cloud over Alonso's motivation. Alonso is one of these drivers who has gone around the top teams with various success, and now there is not much left for him to do.
since there is not much left for him to do, Alonso's motivation has/will diminish therefore he should take the good retainer or retire.
