What will Alonso do? --by Nigel Roebuck

I don't really want to get into that discussion. My point was not to criticise Kimi for lamenting the car's faults, but rather that all (or at least most) drivers do this. Ripping Alonso or singling him out for doing it is silly.

 

Given Mattiaci on camera with SKY, saying keeping a driver happy is not a priority, a divorce is probably certain.

 

Unfortunately, I think you may be correct.

As I mentioned elsewhere recently, I was warming to this Mariacci chap, even though he didn't know one end of an F1 car from the other. But I'm starting to have serious doubts - it's starting to look like, to me anyway, his ego may be bigger than LdM's. Anyone that questions him will get shown the door. Not good.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Meanwhile, Button seems uncertain of his future with McLaren:

Button unsure of F1 future - SuperSport - Motorsport

 

Dimi PAPADOPOULOS @f1enigma
Omnicorse : Marchionne said that Montezemolo will reply on the future of Alonso in the press conference shortly bit.ly/1xFkz78

 

BBC Sport - Japanese Grand Prix: Fernando Alonso not ruling out Ferrari exit

Alonso not ruling out exit.


With all the momentum it gathered over the last 24 hours I think he might just leave this year.

 

He is working the political angle to make Ferrari look like they just dont want him. Needless drama. Not happy FA - leave and move on. Life is short. Silly.

 

You mean like you warmed to Flavio Briattore who managed Benetton/Renault to 4 WDC ?

LOL

 

James Allen has written article about the exit. I've posted it in the Major Ferrari Rumors thread.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/143422562-post829.html

 

I doubt it's as simple as all that. There are contracts involved. I read the statement as Alonso saying the ball is squarely in Ferrari's court (where he has put it).

 

Said nothing

 

Impo he's out and ron Dennis doesn't want him at honda it would be great time to sign him for Ferrari because everyone In F1 is broke . Like I've said before his act is old in F1 he is well know for going to the press and saying my toys are old and it's not fair . When you a major company do you want a nut behind the wheel saying this car sucks as I've said he's a pr nightmare just ask Ron

 

Honda will pay for the contract bits. Contracts have been broken many, many times.

 

Oy.

 

Doesn't mean there's not posturing that must be done in the process. There are often clauses written into contracts that make it necessary to take a step-by-step, methodical approach to breaking them, even if everyone knows what the end result will be.

 

As far as I know Ferrari has not met these clauses. I'm sure these clauses have been looked at ad-infinitum over the last few months otherwise there would never be so much noise and it would've been denied by Ferrari and Alonso a long, long time ago.

Now we're hearing that Alonso said that ''his future is in the hands of Ferrari''.

I'm saying it now: Alonso will not drive for Ferrari next year, and he'll leave the team with 0 titles.

 

Precisely. He doesn't want to be booed at Monza, so he needs it to look like Ferrari don't want him. That Mattiachi is obliging is a bit unexpected. I guess it's a case of the "new boss" getting rid of the old boss' guys.

I can understand Alonso not wanting to be part of a Ferrari rebuilding project. He's at the twilight of his career and watching lesser drivers winning races and WDC's while he's still the more capable pilot. However, is he certain he'll have a championship contender in short order from Honda/McLaren? Past is not always precedent.

 

That reminds me of Prost who also came to the Scuderia with a few championships under his belt and plenty of expectations to thrive there.
He left empty-handed and in acrimony.

I can see the parallel with Alonso. Past reputation means nothing it the car don't work.

Prost went to win 1 more WDC. I hope Alonso can do the same.

 

Mattiaci's public not caring about what driver is happy or not is all that needs to be said. FA has been demoted as team inspiration, results or not. Certainly for Mattiaci FA is an employee even as capable as he is. Its not really that complicated. He either leaves or stays. FA is not stupid and the appearance of how it ends is as important as how it really was or is.

Oh and LdM is no longer there to comfort him.

 

+1

IMO this year was Ferrari's last chance (I've mentioned it before). Instead of making a jump forwards they've just dropped more.

Red Bull...from their appaling pre season where they did almost no mileage are easily 2nd best team, except on all out power circuits where Williams take their place, whilst Ferrari only just fights with Williams here and there.

Had Ferrari made a clear jump forward this year and at least got to compete with the Red Bull so far and get regular podiums, this situations wouldn't be here right now.

Alonso is no fool, he knows the talent that Mclaren has been hiring this year and he can afford to take a gamble now on looking like a true superstar in 2016 with Mclaren/Honda or it can be blamed on Honda not getting their **** together. 2 more seasons at Ferrari still under performing and that's that...He'll leave F1 frustrated.

 

The departure of LdM was all that was needed to further empower Mattiaci. LdM could do nothing to stop this and it was more than telling in the SKY interview with him(Mattiaci).

The cultural drama is so apparent(spanish/italian) and its Ferrari .

 

OBTW...

PitLaneTalk
@pitlanetalk
@KongKurs Honda are calling the shots. They want nothing to do with the current line-up and that includes both Button and K-Mag.

 

What I mean is, whether Ferrari and Alonso have been looking at the contract for a long time or not, there are usually conditions with dates attached to them...milestones, etc. This often necessitates people saying the right things at the right times to meet those conditions, regardless of their future intentions. Parties on both sides will often simply not be able to say what they mean or what they want to say until such a time as the contract does not obligate them to certain things.

I agree that FA won't be at Ferrari next year. Hell, I've been predicting that since before last season was over. PitLaneTalk said the contract's already signed with McLaren. I believe it. That doesn't mean people can just say what they want with contracts involved. No need to step on any toes if you're getting what you want.

Luca is not gone yet. He's there for a few more days. That's why he was commenting regarding the situation.

 

strong words there...I know they want a super start driver (Alo, Vet or Ham) and someone to join him alongside...); not sure whats so bad about Button though? He's LOVED by the Japs. Perhaps he's too old for them?

K mag needs time to mature still, apart from his first race he has not impressed me much. Far too many silly mistakes and just doing dumb things. No surprise there IMO.