RON DENNIS: McLaren Has Two #1 Drivers (Politely, Bug Off Jackie)

(from autosport)

Ron Dennis has denied that McLaren want Heikki Kovalainen to drive in support of Lewis Hamilton's world championship challenge this season.

The McLaren boss was responding to comments made this weekend by Sir Jackie Stewart when the three-time world champion suggested that Hamilton should be supported by Kovalainen.

But Dennis says Hamilton doesn't need, and wouldn't want, special assistance from his teammate.

"I have enormous respect for Sir Jackie, he was one of grand prix racing's truly great world champions. Equally, we're always willing to accept constructive criticism and the affection felt in Britain for Lewis means lots of people are anxious to give well-intentioned advice," said Dennis.

"But the fact is that Sir Jackie retired from motor racing in 1973, which is 35 years ago, and the sport has moved on in that time. His suggestion that Lewis's world championship campaign depends on Heikki's assistance presupposes that Heikki's task is to drive in support of Lewis, and that simply isn't the case.

"The truth is that Lewis doesn't any extra help. He and Heikki are good mates but they're both highly competitive individuals and they take their own decisions."

Dennis also reiterated his stance that McLaren will continue give both drivers in the team equal status.

"We have a long history of giving our drivers equal treatment and opportunity, and that isn't about to change," he added. "Not every armchair critic will agree with that policy but it's the way we go motor racing. And, to be frank, it's the way everyone goes motor racing these days."

 

All the team's have a number 1 and number 2 driver, if they didn't then the two drivers on the team would be getting paid the same amount of money.

 

not to mention that the season is half over and heikki has absolutely no chance of winning the WDC, so he might as well drive to support lewis. i'll never understand why teams wouldn't want team orders and prioritized drivers.

 

Quick reminder for RD: German GP, hairpin, pitradio: move over Heikki!

 

+1000

 

We don't know that happened, RD says not, do you have some evidence to the contrary?

Last year was absolute proof that McLaren let their drivers race, if that were not the case would a rookie have been beating the world champion? The drivers may not be paid the same but that's got nothing to do with whether they have the same opportunity on the track - how much more than LH was FA paid last year? If it came to the crunch and one of the drivers was clearly out of the running for the championship I don't doubt that team orders would be applied, but that's a different scenario.

 

First of all, Jackie Stewart and all these other ex-f1 drivers need to shut their mouths instead of making so many, mostly stupid comments. Second of all, Ron Dennis must think F1 fans are idiots by saying that both his drivers THIS YEAR are equally number one.

 

What RD said was -

"We have a long history of giving our drivers equal treatment and opportunity, and that isn't about to change," he added. "Not every armchair critic will agree with that policy but it's the way we go motor racing. And, to be frank, it's the way everyone goes motor racing these days."

- your post adds absolutely nothing constructive to the discussion. Let's hear why you believe his statement isn't true.

 

RD himself said that right after the race Heikki was not happy at all with the move but later realised that it was the only thing to do (after some talking to). If there really were no team orders why would Heikki move over so quickly (Hamilton was almost caught by surprise) right after RD went on the radio? Why would Heikki be so pi$$ed off? RD tells the FIA what they want to hear: no team orders. Simply because it's forbidden. He will never admit publicly that he ordered Heikki to move over so your request for evidence I can't answer.

 

Another ignorant LH fan.

yupyup, LH was just so so so so fast that HK couldn't even give it a shot at blocking the inside line and had to almost park the car, put on some hizard lights (if there were some) to let LH go by...

-_-

Pathetic ignorance.

RD says this, RD says that.... yea RD said he knew nothing about spygate also, sure I believed him... NOT!

 

Man, You're out of your mind if you think HK didn't move over and let Hamilton pass -- whether he was told to or not. He put of less of a fight then Massa and Piquet Jr.

 

+1
I'm not saying that HK shouldn't help LH win the title, he should once he is mathematically unable to win it. I just don't think one driver could be so much slower than their teammate so far.

 

You need to read posts more carefully. Did I say I thought HK didn't move over and let LH pass? I don't think so.

 

Its was very clear last year that LH was, and still is, the apple of RD's dubious eye. It would have made him extremely happy to have a rookie beat out FA for the WDC, and to that end, I believe that he fully supported, and still does, one driver over another...

 

I think the problem is, the press corps is over-populated and under-fed. They're always looking for a story--the more controversial the better, right?--and as a result sticking their microphones under the noses of anyone who was/is someone from the sport. Anything that spills from their mouths is fodder for print. Sir Jackie catches a lot of heat for his comments, but I think a lot of times it's because he dares to utter the stripped-down truth rather than the candied-up politcal-speak we typically get these days (read: Ron Dennis). Lauda is from that same era as Stewart where they are strong enough to speak their minds, whether it matches the public sentiment or not.

Exactly. These guys act more and more like politicians all the time. It's as if saying something enough times will make it so.

 

In which part of your post did you indicate otherwise?

Unless you are saying that we don't know because we did not literally hear RD say it over the radio. In that sense, you assumed that it is HK's decision to move over?????

I would stop right here if I were you because you will really make a fool out of yourself if you continue.

 

Are you suggesting that because I didn't indicate that HK moved over and let LH pass I must believe the opposite? I also didn't say I wasn't a gay transvestite, but that doesn't mean I am.

I was responding to a post that suggested RD ordered HK to move over. I simply said we don't know who said what to whom. I don't know whether RD told HK to move over or whether HK did so of his own volition and neither does anyone else on this board. However, unlike some, I didn't make any assumptions about what happened.

 

As a racing driver you would expect HK to fight LH over position and not to give an opponent (even if he is a teammate) his position so easily which is why people think there are team orders. Although you are right in saying that we don't know what was said if anything at all.

 

The post to which you refer to was just as constructive as yours. That's why this is called a forum.

I was not privy to radio communication at the German GP, so I can not state with any certainty, that Kovalainen was asked to move over for Hamilton. Actually, if he was, that would be a smart move on the behalf of all concerned.

I would also suggest that for the first half of an F1 season, other than salary differences, there probably isn't a clear #1 or #2 for most teams, at least not for public knowledge. That would be a violation of the sporting rules. But after that, the WDC points determine that status. At this point in time, I would think Hamilton is McLaren's #1, Kovalainen is now #2. Unless Heikki suddenly catches up and passes Lewis in points, this will be the "team status" for the balance of the year. I am also going to suggest that Ron Dennis' comments are for the public, but it appears most race fans realize he is just shaking their swizzle.

I won't be surprised if Heikki moves over a few more times this season.

By virtue of points, it seems that Ferrari is the only team that still has no clear #1 and #2. Except for salary. Ferrari will support whichever driver aids the team in winning the WCC, and if it helps their driver win the WDC while winning the WCC, even better.

 

Off topic slightly, maybe this is just my perception, but it seems all of these retired F1 drivers are only jumping on the Hamilton commentary bandwagon. I do not recall hearing any constant quotes from Lauda or Stewart that Kimi should this, or Felipe should that, or about Robert and Nick, etc. For these guys to respond to these topics tells me they like the attention and the publicity, that's about it, and Hamilton's the vessel with which to get this publicity. You would think that Schumacher would be constantly interviewed and quoted, but he is not, same with Prost and Mansell, multiple WDC winners. Those guys just do not seem to want the publicity.

Ron Dennis politely did say in his response that Jackie Stewart had no idea what he was talking about as today's F1 is much different then 35 years ago.

For that reason, I do not take anything these retired F1 drivers say seriously.

 

HK was clearly a good deal slower than LH at that point in time; if he wasn't why was HE not passing Massa and Piquet?

 

You are correct, Kovalainen had damaged the underside of his car during an off track excursion early in the German GP, there was no way for him to pass other cars that were having their own problems. Hamilton was just faster, no reason to delay the inevitable pass.

 

I should have said so far this season.

 

RD stated in the German GP McLaren post race press release that "Heikki's time will come". Sounds pretty much like #2 driver to me.

 

Just because there is the burden of proof doesn't mean that it didn't happen. Obviously, that's what RD is trying to do (same as your mentality) - since there is no proof, I am going to act like there is no team order; bite me.

It doesn't matter who said it over the radio or if any at all; the fact is that HK moved over for LH and RD acted as if there were no team orders. He didn't have to make those meaningless and untruthful comments; he could have shut his mouth and move on, now he made a fool out of himself.

He is either on drugs or he really wants to sleep with LH; maybe thats why his wife left him