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As Hamilton enters is Dennis set to leave?

Discussion in 'F1' started by racerx3317, Dec 20, 2006.

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  1. racerx3317

    racerx3317 F1 Veteran

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    #1 racerx3317, Dec 20, 2006
    He may not even have made his Formula One race debut yet, but Lewis Hamilton could already be set to lose the man most pivotal in his promotion to the top flight.

    Rumours have been swirling around for some time that McLaren team principal Ron Dennis is seriously considering selling his 60 per cent, £250m stake in the outfit and handing over the reins to someone else, most likely engine supplier Mercedes-Benz or McLaren shareholder Mansour Ojjeh. With thoughts now turned towards the new season, although nothing has so far been substantiated, the noises refuse to go away.

    "If an opportunity presents itself and can make McLaren better, it is supported by its management and I embrace it," the 59-year-old told British newspaper The People. "But I would never endorse a simple exit strategy. We have some really exciting programmes outside our Formula One team and want the company to grow."

    Where this leaves Hamilton is unclear, but what it would almost certainly mean is the man who has acted as his mentor as he has risen up through the ranks would no longer be in full control, at least not in the long term.

    Meanwhile, McLaren's new pairing have been displaying their potential in testing at Jerez, with Hamilton even topping the timesheets last week ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella. Alonso also drove his first laps in one of the silver machines, after his former Renault team lifted its ban on him not sitting in a McLaren until the New Year.

    "I'm pleased that I was able to drive my new McLaren car earlier than expected and would like to thank Renault and Flavio Briatore for agreeing to this," Alonso said.

    Former Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan believes whatever happens, McLaren has an undisputed star of the future on its hands in 21-year-old GP2 winner Hamilton.

    "At last Ron has seen sense and given a rookie a chance," the Irishman told The People. "What Ron has done marks a unique moment in his history at McLaren and it is brilliant.

    "You have to go back to 1980 to find McLaren's last Formula One rookie – Alain Prost – and that was the year before Ron's first season in charge.

    "Dennis believes in experience first and has always played it safe and to be fair it has paid off. Now he has not only picked his first rookie, but is raising him alongside another new member to the team in Alonso."



    Interesting, I hope it doesn't happen though.
     
  2. william

    william Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 william, Dec 20, 2006
    Did Eddie Jordan really said that?
    Alain Prost, a rookie when he joined McLaren?

    He must be joking!! Alain Prost came 2nd in the WDC in a Renault turbo the year before he joined McLaren, and had been in F1 for 2 years!
    What about that for a rookie?

    Prost was snatched by Ron Dennis during the inter-season when Renault sacked Prost after an argument with the team manager (not sure if it was Gerard Larousse or Jean Sage now). Prost blamed the team for not preparing his car correctly during a high-level meeting at Renault and asked for the team manager to be sacked: "It's him or me!". They sacked him instead...

    Dennis had already Lauda and Watson on his book and came to an 'understanding' with Watson to release him to recruit Prost.

    After Prost's departure, the Renault team went from bad to worse with Warwick, Tambay, etc... until it closed its door.

    The Renault-Prost saga cost France never to have a French car winning the WCC with a French driver winning a WDC.
     
  3. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #3 tifosi12, Dec 20, 2006
    Eddie Jordan is right: 1980 was Alain Prost's 1st year in F1. In a McLaren. I happen to remember this because he was darn fast as a rookie and created quite a stir.
     
  4. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

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    #4 PSk, Dec 20, 2006
    ... and wasn't he let go for crashing to many times or something. Only to return to the team once he had matured into the professor.

    Prost is still one of my top drivers of the modern time, if not the top.
    Pete
     
  5. Senna1994

    Senna1994 F1 World Champ

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    #5 Senna1994, Dec 20, 2006
    Pete you are thinking of Andrea De "Crasheras" who got the 2nd McLaren seat due to his fathers Marlboro connections in Italy. Prost was in his Rookie year at McLaren when Teddy Mayer and Tyler Alexander ran the team. He had so many problems with the car, that Renault came offering a big pot of gold and he left to replace Jabouille and team up with Arnoux in 81.

    Prost was one of the greatest drivers and it was a privelege to watch such a smooth driver. He was a time when there was a glut of excellent drivers and fantastic cars (the turbo era).
     
  6. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 tifosi12, Dec 20, 2006
    Amen.

    <sigh>
     
  7. Wolfgang5150

    Wolfgang5150 F1 Rookie

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    #7 Wolfgang5150, Dec 20, 2006
    The only thing I hate about the turbo era was the lack of the high airbox like on the normally aspirated cars. Pre 1977-post 1988. I love that look. Given the fact that the airbox commands such a premiuim sponsorship sot, I wonder how that will be addressed when urbos are allowed back in. I would think the teams, and sponsors are going to be reluctant to let that space disappear. Any thoughts?
    Kevin S.
    Orchard Park, NY
     
  8. Wolfgang5150

    Wolfgang5150 F1 Rookie

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    #8 Wolfgang5150, Dec 20, 2006
    That should say 'such a premium sponsorship spot'..........
     
  9. Senna3xWC

    Senna3xWC F1 Rookie

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    #9 Senna3xWC, Dec 21, 2006
    Ron Dennis' first rookie was Michael Andretti in 1993.
     
  10. SPEEDCORE

    SPEEDCORE Four Time F1 World Champ

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    #10 SPEEDCORE, Dec 21, 2006
    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    (if it's true)
     
  11. william

    william Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #11 william, Dec 21, 2006
    Humble pie all around! I was wrong!

    I checked Prost biography and it's true, he raced for one season at McLaren BEFORE going to Renault. I had completely overlooked that, so Eddie Jordan was right, BUT with one small proviso: Ron Dennis was not in charge of McLaren in 1980.

    It looks to me that it's completely out of character for Ron Dennis to take a rookie in his team. I remember him saying in an inteview once that rookie can get fast very quickly in a team, but the presence of a rookie's inexperience is shown in the repairs bill.
     
  12. tifosi12

    tifosi12 Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #12 tifosi12, Dec 21, 2006
    No worries, it happens to all of us.
     
  13. Dono

    Dono Karting

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    #13 Dono, Dec 23, 2006
    +2
     
  14. 410SA

    410SA F1 Veteran

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    #14 410SA, Dec 23, 2006
    I believe that is precisely what the original post said. "You have to go back to 1980 to find McLaren's last Formula One rookie &#8211; Alain Prost &#8211; and that WAS THE YEAR BEFORE RON'S FIRST SEASON IN CHARGE."
    It appears that you may have jumped the gun the gun a couple of times here in your desire to criticize the original post.
     
  15. LightGuy

    LightGuy Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #15 LightGuy, Dec 23, 2006
    I too favor the tall airbox in looks,
    With Carbonfiber is would serve as an additional roll hoop.
    Nothing wrong with more advertising area. Whats it at now ? like $100,000 per square inch ?
     

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