Alonso still dreaming of Ferrari move...

Good for Alonso and what a shame that Ferrari didn't pick him for 09, hope it does not come back to bite them in the arse. The best driver available and they did not take him.

 

Maybe it could be the issue of loyalty and trust. How can he or any other driver be trusted in a close knit team such as Ferrari, if he is prepared to sail them up the river, especially with the Tifosi in tow. Be it right or wrong morally as seen from outside the team.
It became clear last year as to why he stabbed his team in the back, it was to suck up to Ferrari.
And i know that alot on here will say, "but he did the right thing because Maclaren were cheating". But to me its like grassing up a family member.

 

Well if Kimi turns around and dominates next year, remember these words. Every driver has a hard time at some point in their careers. I don't think this will go into next season, and I think Kimi will come out on top of this and remind us why he's called the Ice man.

 

God I hope you're right!

 

Me too!! Kimi has consistently showing he can still lap faster than anyone......but unfortunately at the end of the race when it's too late. He is definitely not done in my opinion, just going through a bad season. I think he'll approach '09 with renewed determination, especially if Hamfist wins.

Alonso would be making the dumbest move in all of F1 history if he went to a titanic loser like Honduh, regardless of how much they would pay him. He already makes lots of money, it would be such an obvious sellout to himself and the fans to chase dollar signs and throw away another year of his youth.

 

Swiped from another forum. Not Alonso at Ferrari, but a good interview:

Translated Q&A with Alonso:

Q: Are you happier with your results this year now you've won two consecutive races ?
Alonso: ''Being seventh in the standings that is ? Honestly, this is not what I want. I'd like to win the title, or at least be in the fight for it. On the other hand I'm happy being at Renault. I feel at home again, finally. I like fighting and have started to love Formula 1 again. Let's forget about the results, which haven't been great in the first part of the season. I've refound the joy to fight. The successes in Singapore and Fuji are the icing on the cake.''

Q: You've won two worldtitles, then you had problemful year at McLaren, in which you fought for the title nevertheless. Returning to Renault you realised a podium finish would be the equivalent of a win. How did you react ?
Alonso: ''Right from the start of the season we had understood that in Australia we wouldn't be ready to fight for anything. Two or three races went by and the worldtitle already belonged to others. I've told myself: let's try and get some podium finishes. But at the eigtht and ninth race we were still a long way off from that objective also. Right, I thought this year there's nothing we can do. What choice did I have ? Suddenly there were two or three rather important developments, big ones. And there was a bit of luck involved as well.''

Q: It must be Asia that brought you the luck you were looking for...
Alonso: ''In reality the car was already going better for some races before that. But at Spa we still weren't at the level of the big ones, in Italy the race was rather bizarre with all the rain. But once you're able to develop the car benefically you will actually obtain something.''

Q: Would you say that there's a nice life lesson to be learned from this year's situation ?
Alonso: ''Hmm, no. In this sport you have ten or twelve years to reach your goals and get the maximum out of it. Losing out two years dropping back in the pecking order isn't a good idea. But I don't consider this year as a one that is lost. I no longer loved Formula 1, now I've gone back to having a good time. I think that's a gain.''

Q: When you first became worldchampion you said you were looking for a new motivation because you had already reached the top. When you won the second title you expressed your intentions of not willing to get old in Formula 1. And still, here you are, more determined than ever before.
Alonso: ''It's true. After my second title I had thought of retiring little after. But I've changed my mind. Now I like what I do, my life is about racing. You must try and manage yourself well, not taking the championship too seriously, taking a rest and relax during the wintertime. And there's a certain approach to the races as well, not wearing yourself out. I'm able to do this all, and so I think I want to win many more championships and the only way of doing that is remaining in Formula 1 for many years still.''

Q: Do you want to become like Schumacher ?
Alonso: ''Well, he retired when he was a bit too old. We musn't forget I already made my debut with Minardi when I was 19.''

Q: There have been a lot ot talks about you and Ferrari.
Alonso: ''Yes, but it were the papers that wrote Alonso - Ferrari, Ferrari - Alonso. I admit that one day I really would like to drive there. Because it's best team in the history of Formula 1, and when your a Ferrari driver you're part of the history. It would be great for me and my career. At the same time I want to win races and championships and Renault has promised me this for a couple of seasons.''

Q: When will you become worldchampion again ?
Alonso: ''Next year. No, just joking. It could happen. But Formula 1 is more complicated than what it seems. In 2009 with the new regulations it could happen that you find yourself in first place but in eigtht or ninth place just as well. However, I know how the teams are preparing, so I don't despair as far as fighting for the title next year is concerned.''

Q: Almost a year later, who do you see as the responsable person for your difficult relation with McLaren ? Hamilton, Dennis, the whole team ?
Alonso: ''Hamilton doesn't have anything to do with it. We had respect for each other, we had a good relationship and both of us wanted to win. That's normal. The problems originated in the team, the way they dealt with situations. They weren't clear with Lewis and they weren't clear with me either. In my position I didn't have difficulties leaving the team and it's what I've done.''

Q: Do you not think there's something to reproach yourself over in this respect ?
Alonso: ''Certainly I've made mistakes, like everyone. But I'm a professional, I ought to be honest with my bosses, with everyone in the team. If I see something wrong then I say it, and I say the truth. Last year at McLaren the truth was ugly and they didn't like it.''

Q: Kubica said: 'Perhaps Alonso doesn't come to BMW Sauber because it reminds him too much of McLaren.'''
Alonso: ''First of all I don't know BMW Sauber. And then in the 24 years I've been racing I've only had problems with one team. What a coincidence that it's the team Senna, Prost, Montoya and Raikkonen had problems with also. Frankly, I don't think I was the problem.''

Q: In which way do you intend to help Massa against Hamilton ?
Alonso: ''I've said it and I repeat it: I'll do my own race. If Felipe wins and I'm on the podium as well in front of Hamilton, then I'm happy. But I won't let Massa overtake me in the race. I need points also. Having said this: I fear we'll be much slower compared to Ferrari and McLaren here.''

Q: You know Lewis, why does he tend to make mistakes in decisive moments ?
Alonso: ''Everyone has problems when it comes to controlling their nerves in a tense situation. It was pretty foreseeable that he would suffer in the season final. This time, we'll see. At Fuji he wasn't too sensible: he took some useless risks at the start, but so did Massa.''

Q: Do the many penalties the stewards have been handing out influence the way you drive ?
Alonso: ''The rules are still the same as before. Perhaps they've been willing to be more severe for some time in this respect in order to prevent nasty things from happening in the final, decisive races. I'm fine with everything, I don't think it's a matter of greater or less severity. Instead, what is needed is certainty about the rules and perhaps stewards that are ex-drivers. In a way that you can be certain that someone that commits a certain infringment gets punished, not sometimes yes, sometimes no.''

Q: In a moment when you're about to make a move on track you perhaps decide not to do it with this kind of atmosphere...
Alonso: ''I wouldn't say so. Being behind the wheel the adrenaline is so high that once the rules and the stewards have come to mind, it's already too late.''

Q: Do the continuous interventions of the stewards not harm the spectacle ?
Alonso: ''Maybe yes, from a fans' point of view. But when you go at a speed of 300 km/h there needs to be mutual respect and some drivers don't have that as long as their not forced to have it.''

Q: A standard engine is what Formula 1 is moving towards. What do you reckon ?
Alonso: ''Great for the drivers, dreaful for Formula 1. What would be the point of racing with a Ferrari, Renault or Toyota when they have engines that have been constructed by others ?''

Q: You're the only one missing on the list of Spanish triumphs in the world of sports this year.
Alonso: ''I'm happy just the same: tennis, football, cycling, we've won everywhere. As for me, it'll be my turn in 2009.''

Q: Your teamboss, Briatore, is on the fore when it comes to campaigning against the high costs in Formula 1. Worried ?
Alonso: ''Not really. I've heard a lot of talks and it's undeniable there's a global econimic crisis. But a solution would be found when people stop wasting money on useless things.''

Q: Apart from you, who's the best driver in Formula 1 ?
Alonso: '''Kubica.''

 

+1.

Kimi is VERY worthy of being a WDC. It didnt show so much this year, If alonso drove for ferrari this year there is no doubt that he would have been world champion again....saying that, if raikkonen continued having his performance as we saw of him last year, he would be one again as well...

I dont rate massa as high as alonso and raikkonen because he is not as consistend as alonso, and not always as quick as kimi.

But to me, only 1 current driver is the best and that is kubica. up until today, he was just 12 point behind the leaders simply by being consistent. He only won 1 single GP compared to massa's and lewis' 4 (?).

If ferrari bags him some thing similar to the schumacher era could be simulated.

 

Everytime he gains respect again he throws it away.

Renault bend over backwards for him. They helped him with 2 championships during the MS era. They are finally competitive again going into next year. What does he say? He is already looking for a new team.

Rather than bring his team from the **** to top team again he wants to leave AGAIN.

It would be Karma at its best IF Kimi wins the WDC next year and then IF they bring in Alonso to be his teammate. There is no way Ferrari is going to favor Alonso(a newcomer) over a two time champion.

 

IMHO Alonso should stay with Renault and win a couple more WDC there..

 

I think it's pretty clear to everyone except Alonso that, with his car development skills, he should integrate himself better with Renault rather than looking to be just a "hired gun" elsewhere.

Massa's advantage this year is how fully he works with the team. He may not be the best technical driver out there at times, but at the moment he's more of the "complete package".

Alonso -- out of necessity -- has made a lot of progress towards becoming the complete package, this year. But he's still looking to just have a winning ride handed to him. Gah.

 

I'm sure the team was delighted with his performance in Silverstone. They're currently praying for a dry Interlagos.

 

Did anyone else miss the keyword in the title? It's "dreaming"........

 

Hey your not the Red Bull Team Manager? If so what is your true feelings of Coulthard *****ing out Heidfeld yesterday. Also why don't you guys start using the Ferrari Engine. Thanks in advance Mr. Horner, I saw you next to DC getting interviewed by Windsor.

 

Alonso & Vettle in 2010. The former for the right now,
and the latter for the future.

 

Or perhaps praying that they don't try to run two stints on tires in the wet?

This is like a religion with people: they keep repeating their mantra, but ignore the details:

Hungary '06: The Bridgestone inters sucked. Massa was on inters when he should have been on full wets, and on full wets when he should have been on inters. And Massa still finished 7th to Schumi's 8th place.
Nurburgring '07: Massa fended off Alonso through the deluge that put a half dozen drivers (including Hamilton) into the gravel. It was an unbalanced set of inters that let Alonso get around him at the end.
Japan '07: Both cars were on inters when full wets were mandated, forcing both drivers to push hard. But the speed TV commentators didn't notice the helmets -- half of those "Massa" spins were Kimi.
Monaco '08: Massa slid into the same escape road Shumi had used in an earlier wet Monaco race, without hitting anything. And then put down such fast laps that he still got around Kubi in the pit rotation despite an overly long pit stop. Being over-fuelled in the first stop plus a second bad strategy stop ran him back to third. Monaco was a pit strategy issue, not a "driving in the wet" issue. Massa's drive in the wet was brilliant.
Silverstone '08: The team had both drivers run two stints on the same inters when it started raining again. Kimi could sit back and lose time, but Massa had to try to push the car beyond its limits.
(Belgium '08: Massa could accept the car's limits, while it was Kimi who spun like a top trying to get more than the car could give.)

If you look at the details: Massa isn't bad in the wet. The Ferrari isn't good in the wet, the team strategy sucks in the wet, and isn't all that great at any street circuit.

People might sneer at watching a race with a clipboard, but I'm seeing the race, not just accepting the announcers' errors.
(Notice in China how Hobbs said Massa had never won except from pole? Wrong. He won from second in both Bahrain and France, and only a failed engine prevented him from winning from third in Hungary.)


Supporting one driver doesn't mean you have to blindly be hating on another.


While you might not notice it, I actually support Hamilton, too: I'd like to see him become more than he is. But I don't see him improving while he's being propped up by rabid fans. And he isn't going to become one of the greats unless he learns to use more brain and less ego.

Heck, I'm even starting to like Alonso, now that he has to do his "talking" on the track. (I actually found myself cheering for his pass in China.)
(He still makes silly comments in front of the press, though.)

 

While on the whole this is one of your better attempts at justifying Massa's role as a Ferrari driver, Fact's are facts with the clip board, no one cares or remembers the why's and therefore's just the performance.

I stated in a earlier post you a clever guy, And I like a underdog myself, but there comes a point when you are defending them, that you start bordering over the credible line. You say you support LH!! well of late I would rather question that, but actually I don't why, because you are only using it to attack back, likewise I have done the same with Massa...

Oh and of course you have the FIA on your side...

 

LOL I wish that was me

 

Coming back on the topic:

Does anybody know where Alonso really stands today? AFAIK he still hasn't signed with Renault for next year. Who knows, he might be taking Kimi's seat for 09.

Granted I find that not very realistic, but it is possible. I'm sure the team wasn't very happy with Kimi's comments at the press conference when asked about team orders. One of the engineer's touted the party line (bad tire set), not very convincingly, but still. Kimi didn't really lie into the microphone.

 

Not to worry; everyone in the paddock sees this. Except himself. Comical.