http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_3896422,00.html it was getting to peaceful here Fernando Alonso has taken a swipe at former employers McLaren and clearly still harbours a degree of bitterness towards the team. Alonso feels if he had remained at McLaren his life would have been a miserable one, fearing he would be driving with little support and playing second fiddle to Lewis Hamilton. Alonso and McLaren went their separate ways at the end of last season, a move instigated by what unfolded at the Hungarian Grand Prix a year ago. On that occasion, the Spaniard effectively held McLaren boss Ron Dennis to ransom by demanding number one status over Hamilton or he would reveal all relating to the spy scandal. It signalled Alonso's eventual downfall and a return to Renault, the team that made him a two-time world champion in 2005 and 2006. The move has not exactly gone to plan as Alonso has struggled in an uncompetitive car, taking only 13 points from 10 races and yet to appear on the podium. But a year on from arguably the worst weekend of his career, Alonso remarked: "I'm much happier this year for sure. "Last year I had a possibility to fight for the championship again, and it was okay. "I knew this year it would not be possible any more, but if I was racing for McLaren at this moment maybe I would be in the position I am now - without the possibility to win. "At least I am happy to be with Renault, with the full support of the team and knowing everybody is working night and day to give me the best car possible." When pointedly asked whether he had patched up his differences with Dennis, Alonso shied away from a definitive answer. "Everyone makes his choices and he was very clear on his philosophy and way to run the team and to compete like that," added Alonso. "As a professional I'm not like that and we chose different ways. "It's all okay with everybody. You just need to make choices. He made that choice, and I made mine." Alonso, who turned 27 on Tuesday, may be happier within himself now he is no longer with McLaren, but he concedes to frustration behind the wheel of his Renault. "There is a little bit of that when you do a perfect race, but you finish sixth or seventh and there is nothing more you can do," added Alonso. "It is not what I have been used to for the last three or four years when I have been on pole and on the podium. "But it is part of the job, the sport is like that. You go up and down. Every year is a new challenge with new difficulties. "Now it is difficult. We need to recover a little bit of confidence and build a winning team again. "We are in that phase, but I am not worried. I am just 27 years old and I still have many years to come. "Even Michael Schumacher, the guy with more titles (seven), spent four years at Ferrari not winning. "So I need to be patient, and I need to work harder than ever now to win again as soon as possible." It means Alonso is currently fighting over the scraps, with Renault in a three-way battle with Toyota and Red Bull for fourth place in the Constructors' Championship. "The goal for the rest of the season is very clear - to try to be fourth," confirmed Alonso. "Now we are sixth, but only two points from Toyota and one from Red Bull. "The last race in Germany when we scored eight points (from Nelson Piquet) was a big step for us in terms of confidence and motivation to keep pushing. "It didn't change too much within the team, but now we are closer to our goal." Alonso might talk a good game, but there is no escaping the fact his future is unclear, primarily because he refuses to nail his colours to the mast. When asked again, he replied: "I have a contract with Renault for the long term. "But at the end of every season you need to look at what the possibilities are. "Now is not the time to think about it, but in September, October I will have a think and we will decide."
Alonso's complete comments are in the Hungarian GP Thursday Interview's thread. Interesting comments about his wife.
Which prompted me to go and read the whole darn interview...... It doesn't come across in print, but it reads to me like he was making a joke about his marital situation - "Having a laugh" is all IMHO. Especially after HK says (paraphrasing slightly): "I don't give a siht what the G/F says, I'm doing what I want" FA: "Wait two years!" I suspect, if we could *hear* the interview, there were a few "guffaws"...... Cheers, Ian
i would not blame Fred entirely for destroying the team last season. yea, with that ransom thing sure thing. but i must add Hammi was the one that technically started this whole thing at Budapest last year, whic in contrast, Fred should nothave done what he did anyways.
