Alonso showing his lack of class - yet again

i thought that was a genuine mistake, so im not quite sure what your getting at ?

 

Well everyone, looks like Dennis blames Lewis.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/61368

 

Just read this - talk about a twisted deal today . . . from Autosport - sounds like alot of BS to me . .

Dennis says Hamilton to blame for incident

By Mark Glendenning and Pablo Elizalde Saturday, August 4th 2007, 17:27 GMT


McLaren team boss Ron Dennis has confirmed Lewis Hamilton was to blame for the qualifying incident involving the Briton and teammate Fernando Alonso, after the rookie driver ignored team orders earlier in the session.

Alonso has been widely criticised after he waited for some ten seconds before leaving the pitlane during his final stop for tyres.

The delay meant that Hamilton had to sit behind Alonso and was then unable to complete his final flying lap.

The incident is under investigation by the race stewards.

Although the Spaniard had been waved by his "lolly pop" mechanic to leave the pitlane, Dennis revealed Alonso's engineer had instructed him to wait as a consequence of Hamilton disobeying the team's orders earlier on.

"He was being counted down by his engineer," Dennis told reporters after qualifying. "He's under the control of his engineer. He determined when he goes. That's the sequence.

"And if you think that was a deliberate thing, then you can think what you want. I have given you exactly what happened."

Dennis said Hamilton's decision to disobey the team's orders had compromised the team's plans during qualifying.

"They were out of sequence because Lewis should have slowed and let Fernando past. And he didn't. He charged off. That's how we got out of sequence," Dennis added.

He further explained: "We have various procedures within the team and prior to practice we determine how it is going to be run, what our strategy is, and how that's going to be enacted on the circuit.

"There are some procedural issues there on qualifying. One of the things that you'll have seen several times over the course of this season is long periods of time where the car has gone down to the end of pitlane and sat for a long time.

"In this situation, we are timed to when we can dispatch the car based on when the car reaches a given temperature, and then we know how long we can hold it at the pitlane.

"The cars are dispatched as soon as possible. In this instance, Lewis's car got up to that temperature first, we went Lewis, we sent Fernando, and the fuel burn characteristics [mean that] there is a small advantage which we play from driver to driver according to the nature of the circuit.

"In this instance, it was Fernando's time to get the advantage of the longer fuel burn. The arrangement was, OK, we're down at the end of the pitlane, we reverse positions in the first lap. That didn't occur as arranged. That was somewhat disappointing and caused some tensions on the pitwall.

"We were, from that moment on, out of sequence because the cars were in the wrong place on the circuit and that unfolded into the pitstops. It complicated the situation into the result, which was Lewis not getting his final timed lap.

"So this really started from that position, and from our drivers not swapping position to get the right fuel burn in order to arrive at the point where we cut the end result to the end.

"Now, as you have often asked the question, and let me make it a very honest answer, it is extremely difficult to deal with two such competitive drivers. There are definite pressures within the team. We make no secret of it. They are both very competitive, and they both want to win, and we are trying our very hardest to balance those pressures.

"Today we were part of a process where it didn't work, and the end result is more pressure on the team. But what you hear is the exact truth of what happened, and we will manage it inside the team through the balance of the season.

"Obviously Lewis feels more uncomfortable with the situation than Fernando. That's life, that's the way it is, and if he feels too hot to talk about it then that's the way it is.

"But what I've done is, I have given you an exact understanding of what took place today. And it's just pressure, competitiveness, and that's the way it is. We've just got to get on and deal with it, but we're not hiding from it.

"We're sat on the front row of the most difficult Grand Prix to win as regards to overtaking, and therefore we want to get on with the race.

"Fernando is here. Have I explained it accurately? [Alonso gives a thumbs-up]. OK. That's the way it is."

 

Another point is that the track is as bad as Monaco for overtaking this would have been paramount on FH's mind

Just hope lewis blazes past him in pit stops

 

whats that got to do with FA holding him up for 10 secs and causing him to miss the end of the session ?
(not having a go at you carol, just alonshole pi$$e$ me off big time)

 

Which is pretty interesting in and of itself...... Of course, most here will "pooh-pooh" *anything* that Lucifer says, but maybe ignoring team orders was the reason LH was pretty circumspect in the press conference - It seems that he's just made his first mistake.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Boy the British Press is having a field day with this one. www.planetf1.com

 

I think RD will retire with stress after this year

 

hahaha..good one Steve! no wonder he seems to be losing hair on his head lately

 

I know you aren't Nick ! ! I wonder the same thing too. Regarding your earlier post about the tyre change in Q3 - it just seemed so very strange that occurred during the final minutes when timing on the track for pole position was critical.

I don't remember reading anything thus far about penalities assessed by the FIA or not but how can they not assess Alonshole something when he readily admitted holding up his teammate . .or is that left to the team principal for a slap on the wrist punishment??

I think it will be intersting after this season is over to see what driver changes will be in the works. . .

Carol

Hi Brian . .glad to see you on here, it must be early morning for you?

 

ok he made a mistake (we all do it)
but thats still no reason for a professional and experienced sportsman (FA) to act like a 5yr old child and ruin someone elses chances.

 

If the lollipopman isn't responsible for the countdown then why was he doing exactly that on the second stop of Alonso?
Nice team insight by Dennis. No respect.

 

it was odd.
but personally i didnt see anything ominous in it - eg ppl do make mistakes sometimes.

+1

agreed.
i wonder (or maybe worry) just how long LH is tied into McLaren.
if he wants to move his options maybe very limited as he wont have the ££ to buy his way out of the contract.

 

I think ronny is lieing again just so his team wont take a penalty. He is unbelievable

 

rather, it seems hamilton ignored instructions 5 or 6 times and caused his own situation...

http://www.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/070804200238.shtml

 

a very good an early morning to you Carol. 230 am here about to watch Roswell in a while. Great pics you posted in the other thread

 

but that still doesn't make sense why Fred would wait. typical.

 

read it again - specifically the last 2 paragraphs.

in fact i'll put it here.

"After Hamilton's radio order refusal, Alonso said the pit stop delay was to rectify the fact that he had lost a lap in the crucial 'fuel burn' phase.

Apparently... However it is not clear why that is relevant in terms of qualification ‘blocking’, which traditionally earns a penalty..."

that to me says FA was in the wrong and no one can see how he isnt.

 

The more cynical among us will see this as Dennis' desperate attempt to keep both cars at the front of qualifying. I don't know if I would throw Hamilton in front of the bus on this though...he's the one who got screwed and now he's being blamed outright?

Lucifer may be jeopardizing his relationship with the driver of the future...and I have to admit that after the events of this week, I agree with Flavio Briatore; Dennis is only lying when his lips move.

 

Because Fernando is Alonshole. To put it in perspective, remember these incidents when evaluating his latest row:

-2006: Alonso gets upset that Kubica passes him during practice at the "loose nut behind the wheel" grand prix (I forget the circuit), and ensues playing a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse as retribution

-2007: Same as the Kubica incident, but this time with Felipe Massa (France?)

-But Alonso has threatened to widen the tension with his British teammate and team even further by speculating as to why so many long faces could be seen in McLaren overalls after qualifying.

"Because I am first and Hamilton is second," he told Marca. "This is something that is very hard for me to say, but that is what I see.
"

This guy is immature and irresponsible on the track, and he needs to be penalized before he makes something go seriously wrong on the track. He loses his temper and acts like a frigging child behind the wheel of an F1 car.

FIA, tighten up this loose cannon.

 

First off, good morning Brian - why are you conversing with us at 0230?? thanks for the comments on the Spa photos from last week.

Secondly, I must be ranked among the more cynical on here as I too see it a desperate attempt to keep both cars at the front. I think he's weasled his way out of any FIA penalities on this one by creating a Lewis scapegoat. From Dennis' comments, it's obvious that they had team orders in play. Honestly, I admire Lewis for his desire to race. I'm sure all eyes will be on the Mc Laren pit stops tomorrow and definitely on the start of the race. I put my Alonso teddy bear in the trunk of the C320C, it is no longer is allowed in the back seat with the others.

Carol

 

In the future please refrain from using Alonso and class or any word that would make him seem like a gentleman in your title thread……………..thank you.

P.S. This goes for everyone else

 

I think the issue is that regardless of 'team orders' (which aren't supposed to exist), Alonso is openly saying he blocked Hamilton's final run at pole. Regardless of Hamilton not letting him past, blocking gets penalized. I don't think the fact they are teammates will alter that, but who knows...

 

What I want to know is if he is penalized does he get the privilege of starting in the back ?

 

I'm beginning to get the feeling that nothing will occur . . you're absolutely correct about Alonso stating he blocked Lewis but somehow I think it may just get swept under the carpet. I was trying to remember back when there was an issue and the FIA was to make a decision and the decision was not announced until just prior to the start of the race. I'll be disappointed if Alonso is not reprimanded by the FIA for his actions.

Wonder what the outcome of Fisi and Yamamoto will be? can't penalize Yamamoto too much more 'cuz he's already at the end of the rope.

Enough . . I'm gonna go feed cows and horses.

Carol

One last thought - why did Dennis go to Alonso's physico guy or whatever the heck he's suppose to be and jerk off his headseat if Hamilton was in the wrong??? Why did this guy seem to be smiling??? inquiring mind here . .

Next last thought - just read this on Autosport: (read into it as you like but I read a very hot tempered Alonso scared by his better teammate and a VERY CALM COLLECTED LEWIS) - perhaps Alonso will take a seat with STR next year - Todt's assessment of him never being on the Ferrari team is well founded...

You have already seen 11 races with this," Alonso said. "Sometimes we stop for 10 seconds, sometimes 20, sometimes 45 - like the first one (today), because of the traffic and everything.

"[This happened] I think first of all because of the first pitstop, which was a 45-second delay - they were holding me up for 40, and then the [problem with] the [tyre] blanket, so 45-50 seconds.

"I was completely out of schedule. I should have been in front of the group, in front of everybody, trying to do the lap, and I think it was very difficult to manage where I was and for how long they needed to stop me in the stop, because I was not in the perfect place to position myself with the traffic."

Alonso dismissed rumours that he stayed in the pits because his personal trainer told him to stay put.

"If you understand a little bit, it is impossible for the physio to have the ability to speak with us on the radio," the Spaniard responded. "Everybody else would hear as well.

"I crossed the line with two seconds, I think, before the end of the session, so I nearly... I tried to completely the out-lap quickly, otherwise I would have had the same problem that Lewis did. So I was in a risky position as well.

"It is impossible for anyone to calculate these two seconds, or something. It's just, as Ron said, everything was a little bit out of control. It is not a possibility to think in a difficult way."

When he was asked yet again why he would stay stationary at the pit box for ten seconds, Alonso snapped: "Again! Four times! I told you four times already: we have had 11 races. If you watch qualifying, both cars stop and go out when the team say to go out. They count down over the radio, and when they get to zero you release the clutch and you go."

Hamilton came in at that point, apologising for the delay ("I was watching GP2 and didn't realise we had this"), and soon after made it clear that he had his own view of the incident.

"I felt that the team did a good enough job to get me into the pitlane first, so I went as quick as I could," he said. "There was easily enough time to do another lap.

"I came in and I took my time - the team told me, 'take your time, because Fernando is doing his pitstop, but he'll be gone quite soon'. I could see on the screen that he was still not done, so I slowly, slowly pulled up, and eventually I saw the lollipop went up, and he didn't go.

"I just sat there, I put it into neutral and I just waited, and saw the time fly by. I think from coming in and waiting, I lost something like half a minute.

"But you know, I am still satisfied with the job that we've all done here. The team did a great job, as always."

Asked about the team orders he ignored earlier on, Hamilton said: "I was at the end of the pitlane; there was me, Fernando and Kimi. Just with the situation, I didn't want to disrupt the opportunity that I had.

"I didn't want to mess up my opportunity by changing places or whatever there was to do, and be open to being overtaken by Kimi and losing my place.

"So then it would have not allowed me to get an extra lap. So that's why we had the disagreement, because I didn't agree with it and I didn't do what they wanted me to do."

Hamilton, though, rebuffed the suggestion that Alonso's wait in the pit box was normal.

"That's not something we do," he said. "We obviously try to manage it as well as possible, whether it is me who comes in and Fernando has to queue. You come in, the team do a fantastic job of getting the tyres on, and you're out as soon as possible to do your lap. You don't wait for traffic.

"When you are in the pitlane they maybe tell you to slow down for five seconds so that the Williams can go past, and then you go out; you've got clean air. They don't tell you to wait on the spot."

When reporters pointed out to the two that they seem to have a disagreement on the incident, Alonso interjected: "I think there is disagreement because that is what you want.

"Ron spent the first five minutes explaining to you all the truth, and he was, I think, quite honest with everybody.

"You asked him a couple of times about the second pitstop, he told you again that it was a countdown monitored by the engineers, but you do not want to hear that. So that is the only disagreement.

"My engineer always monitors me on the radio with the countdown, as Ron said 10 minutes ago. I repeat. And that's the way I have done the last 11 qualifyings."

He wasn't helped much, however, by Hamilton: "If you look at the last 11 qualifyings, if you are on your own and you are not impeding your teammate, then perhaps you can wait a couple of seconds. Not half a minute."

And, again going back to his own part in the event, Hamilton reiterated his position: "The strategy was to let Fernando past, as Ron has obviously told you. But as I said, I was at the end of the pitlane, and there was me, Fernando and Kimi.

"I thought that by letting Fernando past, I was open to being overtaken by Kimi. So I thought, 'OK, I'll just go for it'. I didn't think it was a huge problem.

"If he had stayed with me, we would both have got an extra lap, because there was plenty of time. But he backed off quite a bit and lost a lot of time, so he wasn't able to get an extra lap.

"It was a split-second decision. I had a choice. I either keep going and get an extra lap, which would help me, and at the end we are there to be fair and compete. I didn't impede him."

And Hamilton revealed this wasn't the first time he was asked to move over for Alonso. "It's the first time I have made a decision, but I have had to let him past before," he said.

But, Hamilton added, "We're not disagreeing. I just told you my side, he's telling you his side. I'm not disagreeing with him. That's his opinion."