Not true. The reason Renault kept Fisi around was because Fernando has no interest in setting up the car. He just wants to get in the car and drive, but has no desire to understand how the car works. This comes from a very reliable source in F1. We'll know this is true if... A) McLaren put an experienced driver next to FA or B) Hamilton gets the seat and out-performs FA
By mid-season he might be. Hamilton was significantly quicker than DeLaRosa in the test a few days ago. If FA doesn't set the car up well, and Hamilton learns the ropes. Fred might be in trouble. Personally, based on what I know.... I question Alonso's technical work ethic. If he decides he wants to understand the car. He'll win more world titles. If he doesn't... He's finished after this year.
The first race that Ferrari was actually quicker than Renualt was in Germany which was the first race after the ban. Before that they were even or Renault had a slight advantage. After the ban the Ferrari has been quicker. Your statement that the Ferrari had been quicker for several races is not correct. If MS were to win the title, to me, and a bunch of other people, it would be tainted. The FIA screwed up this year's title chase for the sake of the show.
Not sure where some of you get your information, but neither Alonso or Raikkonen have been involved in car development as has Schumacher, and one is not better than than the other in this area. They both just show up and drive. Renault's car development comes from Giancarlo, and McLaren's from Pedro.
I believe that MS set the fast time of many races prior to Germany, and prior to the ban. The Ferrari has always been the faster car, held back only by its tires.
And Brundle beat Senna quite a bit in F3 also. FA will win more titles - it may take 5 years - but he will. I don't see anyone REALLY BETTER than him next year, now we wait and see on tires...
A fastest lap is one thing, overall race pace another. In terms of general race pace the Renault seemed faster or equal to the Ferrari till Germany.
How did he win this year then? Because he relied on Fisi to do the setup? Why can't he rely on Hamilton or some other racer to do the setup. Alonso still is blindingly fast.
Knowledge of technical aspects of setting up a car is an advantage, I'd think. But I also think that someone that lacks such knowledge, but can wring a car out like Alonso can is an even bigger advantage. Also, the limiting factor in future WDC's for Alonso isn't Alonso, but McLaren. If he was at Ferrari, he'd be dominant on the level that Schumi was...the kid is just that good. He's got the pure speed of Schumi and Kimi plus the brains of Mika. The only downside is that he whines like Jacques. I don't really like the guy anymore, but I can see in him the same bits of racer that's in Schumi, Kimi and Mika. Too bad he's joined the Evil Empire, and I hope Ron Dennis doesn't turn him into a McLaren Replicant.
So Ron, by your own reasoning, MS had an easy go for many of his Championships. BBC, I saw yesterday, has the same feelings about MS's legacy
Like who is as good? None of the young guys have proved anything yet. I can understand you may not like Alonso, but I would think you would respect his skill. By the way all those people who think FA is too emotional, maybe some of his comments have been, but not his driving. If anything MS has made more errors over the season than FA.
I think he will win another two championships. He's only 25 years old now, as this year and next year he will be the guy to beat. What makes FA so good is his consistency. If he doesn't win he finishes on the podium. For me, KR is the fastest but FA is the best next year.
He certainly will. AFTER his years at the Gulag, err McLaren. Hopefully by then (2009, 2010?) he'll be driving for the Scuderia and win a couple of titles for us. Although by then competition will be fierce coming from Kovalainen, Piquet, Rosberg and Vettel.
In a word.... Yes. I'm not knocking his talent. But if you've got a god given gift, why not work your arse off to get every possible advantage you can. The greatest of the greats did it. If Alonso ever wants to really move into the next league of drivers, he better study and learn about the cars.
I don't think FA has a chance next year. I believe he'd be better off with Honda than with McMerc. He may be talented, and I stress maybe, and next season we will see what he does with what has to date been an inferior machine. - Chris
I think he will win another WDC but not in 2007. But it will be with McLaren.. Other than Kimi and Alonso ....you have a bunch of young guns who can probably compete with them in the years to come. Kubica, Rosberg, Piquet Jr., Hamilton, Kovalainen, Vettel. And you have Button, Heidfeld, Massa, Webber who can probably win a title if everything is perfect.
Perfect as like no other cars running? Glad that finally somebody on here picks up on Vettel. While in Europe I read a newsletter in a German mag where a fan writes that Vettel is overrated and Glock is a lot better. I never heard of Glock. Any comments?
Glock has only 1 F1 race experience under his belt. He drove at the 2004 Canadian GP, finished 7th in the pos Jordan.(Heidfeld 8th in the other Jordan) Pantano couldn't drive, money issues? Then Timo went in America (Champ Car) and this past year in GP2. Now he's a runner up for the 3rd BMW seat.
Here's the way I look at it. The FIA has ruled that the mass damper system is illegal. They did not penalize Renault for using it earlier in the year. If it did provide an advantage, then Renault has benefited from using an illegal device. Apparently, Charley Whiting of the FIA realized that the FIA had made a mistake by not earlier declaring the system illegal and Renault was a major beneficiary of the FIA's mistake. So if anybody's title should be tainted, it should be Renault for being allowed to use an illegal device on their cars.
If anybody is to blame, it's the FIA. a) for not writting the rules properly b) for letting people 'interpreting' the rules c) for not checking that the cars are conform to the rules d) for only investigating after other competitors complaints e) for not sanctioning infringement of the rules The 'illegal device' was only officially illegal after the FIA ruling; before, it was just ignored. Same with 'flexi wings'.
+1, The FIA is lame, doesn't anyone remember Malaysia 99 when McLaren pulled the Barge Board nonsense on Ferrari?
