Hamilton: Rosberg, Kovalinen or Sutil as possible second MCL drivers

http://www.spiegel.de/sport/formel1/0,1518,515223,00.html

Hamilton said that the above mentioned pilots would be candidates for the second MCL cockpit. "I don't favour a specific driver, I just want a team player".

Now what the hell does SUTIL do in this list? He and Hamilton are very good friends; judging from interviews, he's a nice guy, but as the second driver of a top team?! Er, no. Or does "team player" mean: "Someone who isn't a danger to me"?

 

Sutil is German and Mercedes pays the bills at McLaren.

Obviously the same argument applies to Rosberg, but he'd be harder to get out of his Williams contract.

 

Would McLaren be dumb enough to pick up Ralf? He is German, has a big name, and has won F1 races before.

 

I think that could happen and I wouldn't necessarily call it "dumb". Ralf knows how to race. He just needs some motivation and a top car might just bring that.

I don't know whether Hamilton is any good at car development (that's not a criticism, I simply don't know). With Alonso gone, they might need somebody technical. Rosberg or Ralf would fit that bill. Possibly Kovalainen, but I doubt it.

 

+1

did Ralf somehow know that Fred is leaving Mclaren 1 month ago? remember he said he was talking to Mercedes..

 

I agree that the team player comment simply means someone who won't want to be allowed to win races when hamilton's car is still on the track. I think it would be cool to see Ralf in the McLaren then everyone can start hoping for an 8th world title by a Schumacher

 

I think it didn't need a crystal ball after Hungary to see that Alonso would leave. Besides: Ralf's time at Toyota was up, Alonso or not.

 

Mclaren might pick up Ralf, if Ralf gives them $10 Million

 

Massa is likelier to win a WDC than Ralf...and my grandmother is likelier to win one before either of them.

 

There is no way Ron is dumb enough to hire Ralf.

Ralf will much more likely be at Force India or whatever.

Ron Dennis has arguably the fastest and most reliable car on the grid at the moment. When Ralf did have a fast car (Williams) he pulled an Alonso and whined at his team when things didn't go his way.

I don't know why people would think Ralf is any sort of good R&D driver. What cars has he driven that have started to go quicker after he arrived? unless a team assumed Ralf can call his more talented and smarter brother whenever a problem arises, I don't see what he brings to the team at all.

Mac would be way wayyy better off with any of those listed in this thread title, especially Rosberg.

 

I would like to see Rosberg in a McLaren but I don't think it will happen. Perhaps Heikki if Alonso goes to Renault or JB if he goes to Honda but I suspect McLaren will promote one of their test drivers.

 

the second seat at McL is a poisoned chalice

LH is the favoured son so anyone going there would be a fool

 

If Hamilton had any sense at all he wouldn't make a comment on this. Why is he giving an opinion?

 

Because he thinks that he is God and can do whatever he wants to.

 

I hear Heiki a lot, but I think it's probably presumptuous of people to think that it has to be a straight up trade. Alonso is a hot commodity and he's "worth" more than Heiki. So more likely Ron can have almost any driver he wants and wouldn't need to take the extra driver from whatever team Alonso goes to. So for example if Alonso went to Renault and Heiki got the boot, I can see Heiki going to maybe Williams and Rosberg then going to McLaren. Or Flav could take Alonso and just dump Heiki to the open market.

But I think that seat at McLaren is the best one on the whole grid at the moment, so likely Ron can afford to be picky.

 

I would love to see Rosberg in a winning car. It's too bad that a Ferrari seat is out of the question right now.

Besides, if Heikki went to McLaren, who would be with Alonso at Renault? Surely there aren't dumb enough to keep Fisi.

 

think about this guys,
........wouldn't it make the most sense for McLaren to just move DeLaRosa into the second car?...he's already there, he's cheap, he'd be a good #2, and it would keep the Spanish sponsors happy........ 2008 is gonna be a very rocky season for them, as they will be under the microscope, they'll have less garage space, and less than optimal pit position........it makes sense to focus on 1car, 1 driver......why bring in another big name when you already have a very capable Hamilton and a good #2 in DeLaRosa....?

 

Hungary? i thought Fuji lol.

anyways, i wonder if Mclaren offer Ralf race-by-race contract...would there be another Schumacher WDC?

 

actually, i was thinking about that yesterday too. but, can DLR actually race? he wasn't that impressive last year, apart from HUngary.

 

i think, they'll keep Fisi, they need a proper car developer, but what happens to Piquet?

 

I don't think so, I think Fisi is long gone... If Heikki & Alonso switch seats then it'll be Alonso & Nelsinho at Renault. If Nico goes to McLaren (and Alonso goes to Renault) then you could see either Heikki or Nelsinho "loaned" to Williams.

 

It was at Hungary that the RD - FA relationship ended and they quit talking. After the race Alonso was interviewed about his future and he said "he doesn't know where he'll drive in 08". It doesn't get much clearer than that. He had made up his mind, that he would leave McLaren.

 

If Dennis sticks with his mantra that the drivers at McL are both driving for the championship, this will not happen.

If Dennis really really really wants Lewis to be WDC, then De La Rosa is a possibilty. But would he really be that obvious in his support of Lewis?

Look at the advantages. De La Rosa already is intimately familiar with the Fcars and he knows how to use email.

 

LOL. It would need to be GBP50.2mn at least I figure. Ralf is so far past the sale by date that he smells

 

Like the second seat at Ferrari was during the MS glory days? Not so bad, a few wins, a lot of seconds. Better than driving the wheels off of a Toyota for a well-earned and hard fought 12th