Alonso 2007 WDC at McLaren?

I think it is possible given the fact that Alonso will probably spend a lot of time testing the car before and during the season, something which Kimi was not inclined to do. I just don't see Kimi putting in the effort to develop and learn the Ferrari the way he ought to. He will be faster than Massa but less consistent during the season.

 

You wish! :}

I doubt if Alonso finishes higher than 3rd in the points, and with that, I am being really generous. If he is not in the best car on the track, he is absolutely not the best driver, and he will not be in the best car in 2007. He will not be remembered as a World Champion in the class of a Stewart, Lauda, Prost, Senna, Mansell or Schumacher. He will be remembered more like a Scheckter or Piquet.

Next year, there will be many different faces on the podium, diluting the chances of drivers like Alonso, Kimi, Button. I believe that at least five different manufacturers will place a driver in first place. At least 6 different drivers will win a GP. I am estimating that only three drivers will win more than two GP's, and Alonso will not be in that group. That group will include Massa, Raikkonen, Button. Fisi will win a race, as will Trulli, Heidfeld, and Kubica. And at least one of the rookies will also win, probably Heikki.

In my opinion, I do believe that Honda will show strength, and that BMWSauber will show strength. McLaren will be sporadic, as will Renault. Toyota will show up at least once. Williams could be a spoiler. The Mass/Raikkonen duo will win most of the races, it will be up to them as to who will be WDC in 2007. Alonso may win two races, with only three more podiums if he is really lucky.

I just to not see, nor share your enthusiasm for Alonso. The more I see, the less impressive he really is. He did not beat Schumacher for the World Championship. They just happen to be on the same track at the same time. Alonso is one of the best of the rest, but that is as far as it goes. In my opinion, he is not even as good as Raikkonen.

Yesterday, in Brazil, the best drive came from the car that finished 4th. For that car was occupied by the best of all.

 

FA has been the best and most consistent driver for past two years. For anyone to say otherwise is talking out of his azz. WDC is WDC. Give credit where it is due.

He's the guy to beat. No one else has shown game yet.

 

Re 'Alonso didn't win the championship'....uh, I think he did.

The rules say the guy with the most points wins.....Alonso brought home what he needed to win. That meant a disciplined drive, which not every one can deliver.

Your thoughtful response is diminished by not accepting the facts....and what does that say about MS's competition? How can MS be God's gift if only he is competent? Were others of MS's championships similarly clouded by a lack of competition?

 

First off, did Renault release FA from his contract? McLaren won't release KR until Jan 1. (Ron Dennis is still a wanker).

As for KR, he will need to get serious; I think part of his attitude @ McLaren stemmed from the fact that he was a "lame duck" and more often than not the car broke down; at Ferrari I think he'll be in for a rude awakening-and I think he'll rise to the occasion....

 

There is going to be more competition next year than any time in the past 10. No idea who will win the WDC, but I think Ferrari is in the best position, as far as the constructor's championship goes....

 

I doubt Alonso will get title in 07, but in 2-3 years he will.

 

+1, I think it will go down between Kimi and Fernando in a repeat of 05.

 

first off, FA is a good driver, no second thing about it. but him winning the WDC next year? not gonna happen. i'm not saying he's not gonna win it again, he will of course, but not next year.

Mac needs to get their act together first. they have to finish consistently on the podium first before thinking about winning. look at the team this year. the way the team handled certain situations, ie, JPM's situation...is just plain silly. it shows the team's weak points.

with the tyre monopoly next season, i see the WDCs and WCC going back to Maranello. depends how fast kimi suits and blend in with the team, i see massa having an upperhand over kimi.

i'm not sure how to speculate about renault. they are bullet-proof at the moment, but with a rookie, and fisi, it's hard to say. all i know is, fisi better shine next season, cos if he doesn't he should be thinking of retirement in 2008.

i really hope BMW and Honda can get their act together. after some ' shaky ' situation with JV, the coast look clear for BMW for next season. i hope both nick and robert will be challenging the front runners.

Honda have shown some promise lately. lets just hope they can continue. RBR should be another team to watch.

 

FA won his two WDC fair and square. He was the best driver in 2005 and 2006 but I think it may be difficult for him to win the 2007 simply because with everything being equal, one can't deny the facts that 1) Bridgestones are new to them and 2) MB still has yet to shown their reliability yet when compared to Ferrari and Renault. As for the drivers, FA now has a reputation as a pre-madona that can potentially unsettle a team but KR has a reputation of being a party animal who is lazy (No idea where this one came from tho). IMO, both are faster than everyone else on the grid until proven otherwise but FA holds the edge in the On-track maturity catagory. Both are unproven in the development front, and I think this will be the key to winning the 2007 WDC.

To say that FA is better than MS overall is as stupid as saying MS is better than AS or other great drivers before them overall. FA beat MS in 2005 and 2006, better car, package, tyres or whatever, bottomline is that FA won and he deserves credit for that. However, to say the FA is better than MS overall before FA's career is over is the most ridiculous statement that anyone can make, unless you know nothing about racing, especially F1 racing.

Fisi was also faster than FA several times this year, so by your same logic, Fisi is at least FA's equal in shear abilities, right? I think it is safe to say that FA is better than GF and MS is better than FM. And I think it is also safe to say that KR is better than FM judging from their young careers so far.

If KR is as lazy as some says (I still have no idea where this came from) then 2007 is the year for him to grow up and settle down. Ferrari and Tifosi are not as forgiving as the people in the McLaren camp.

 

A contract is a contract. Ron Dennis has been one of the most contract abiding team owner over the years, and will enforce any contract in return.

Why should he release KR before time and give him the chance to start working for Ferrari before 2007. It would be like giving an advantage to a rival.

Montoya was released early because he was not joining a rival team.

 

very true. but there's still a chance for him actually. it really depends if dennis wants to release him.. but i recall Ferrari doing the same thing for Rubens...

 

IMHO-remember it is only my opinion-all things being "equal"-cars, tires, etc. MS wipes the floor with the rest of the current F1 field.....

Having said that, 2007 will be a huge breadth of fresh air with all the changes.

Has Lewis Hamilton been confirmed at McLaren for 2007?

 

True but the majority of time that provision isn't strictly enforced...is Ron scared that Kimi is going to take McLaren's race winning technical secrets to Ferrari? That will be a very light load......

 

Nope. not yet. all i know is, he's going to have a shootout with PDLR to see who secure the 2nd seat. IMO, it has to be lewis.

 

The reliability of the Ferraris is something I'm questioning right now since they used the 2007-2010 spec engine in the last couple races. McLaren will bounce back, but I'm not sure if it will be next year. I think it will be a Ferrari vs. McLaren season since Renault won't have as good a driver as Alonso.

 

I don't think that Ron Dennis is scared of anything, he is a seasoned team owner with years of experience and success, even if 2006 wasn't particularly good for his team.
Secrets? I don't think there are any 'secrets' there, either

But why gives a driver who leaves you, the chance of days of testing with his new team, new car, new tyres, and hand a rival an advantage by giving him the time to addapt to his new environment? Ron Dennis is no fool, and wouldn't give 10 extra days of testing to a rival.

Beside there may be contractual reasons, like prior engagements for PR appearance for McLaren sponsors, insurance cover, etc... Kimi may have received his retainer in advance until 12/31/06, and don't want to hand some of it back...

 

As FA has said many times, it really means something to have raced against MS and won - twice WC.

The next few years will be mentioned as the "post-Schumaker era". There will be a subtle implication that whoever wins WC, it will be "Yeah, but that was without MS". I feel that will apply to whomever wins next year. Unless FA wins a 3rd - then it will be the Alonso era!

I think Kimi is due....look at how James Hunt got his act together in 1976 when presented with a great opportunty. I give Massa alot of credit, he's matured alot, but I just can't like him.

Henry

 

You need to read my post again, and not take a comment out of context and use just a portion of a sentence. I did not say that Alonso did not win the WDC, that is a given. My point is that he did not beat Schumacher for the championship. He beat a driver in a car that suffered from tire issues for the first half of the season, and reliablity issues for the final two events. Alonso had no competition for the first half of the season. The only real competition between the two drivers was from Canada through to China. And it seems when both cars were on par, the clear winner was the Ferrari.

And I will not argue that with 2-3 of Schumacher's championships, he really did not have strong competition. They too were gifts, as were Alonso's two WDC's.

As for who is the faster driver, Raikkonen or Alonso, I would believe that in Jean Todt's mind, it is clearly Raikkonen. There was little consideration, if any, given to Alonso to join Ferrari. That should tell you something about the feelings in the pits as to who is the faster. And I would place more substance in that opinion than any of ours.

 

Wow what an excellent post. Right on the money.

 

It makes me chuckle whenever I see a rhetorical comparison made between Alonso and Kimi. Since, in my mind, Kimi has more natural talent and is a better driver than Michael, I can't see Alonso even entering the picture. Kimi has the ability to wring more out of a given car than anyone I have ever seen. His last place to win in Bahrain was mind boggling. Show me when Michael has done this, let alone Alonso. Kimi is unmotivated, not lazy. He needs a challenge (i.e., a car worth driving), not a rude awakening.

 

Kimi will win the 2007 WDC.
In the second half of 2006 and particlarly in the last two races, the Ferrari is the class of the field. Engine development is now frozen. All cars will be on Bridgestones next year, and the Ferrari will have a clear advantage in making the '07 tires suit their car. Kimi is blindingly quick, fearless and makes few mistakes. Fisi at Renault will not be able to get the most from his car as Alonso had been able to do. This was clearly established in 2006. Alsono will get the most out of the McLaren package, but it will not be enough. Massa will be in the right car, but he not a complete driver (yet). Look at Kimi's performances in the wet, at Monaco, at Spa, battling 10 spot penalties, etc. Next year, he is the right driver in the right car at the right time. Stay tuned.......................................